Ferdiad

Ferdiad

Ferdiad (also Fer Diad, Ferdia, Fear Diadh), son of Damán, son of Dáire, of the Fir Domnann, is a warrior of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the "Táin Bó Cúailnge", Ferdiad finds himself on opposite sides to his best friend and foster-brother Cúchulainn, with whom he had trained in arms under the renowned warrior woman Scáthach. He and Cúchulainn are equal in all martial feats, with two exceptions: the "Gáe Bulg", a barbed spear which Scáthach has taught only Cúchulainn to use; and Ferdiad's horny skin, which no weapon can pierce.

When Ailill and Medb, king and queen of Connacht, invade Ulster to steal the bull Donn Cúailnge, their progress is held up by Cúchulainn, who demands single combat. After Cúchulainn has defeated a series of Connacht champions, Medb sends for Ferdiad, but only agrees to fight Cúchulainn after Findabair, Ailill and Medb's daughter, has seductively plied him with alcohol, and Medb has variously bribed, shamed and goaded him to do so. They fight in the ford for three days, until Ferdiad gets the upper hand. Cúchulainn calls to his charioteer for the "Gáe Bolga", which he floats down the river to him. Cúchulainn throws a light spear at Ferdiad's chest, causing him to raise his shield, and then picks up the "Gáe Bolga" between his toes and thrusts it into Fer Diad's unprotected anus, killing him. The ford where he died is named "Áth Fhirdiad" (Ferdiad's ford, modern "Baile Átha Fhirdhia" or Ardee, County Louth) after him. [Cecile O'Rahilly, "Táin Bó Cúailnge Recension 1", Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976, pp. 195-208] [Cecile O'Rahilly, "Táin Bó Cúalnge from the Book of Leinster", Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1967, pp. 211-234]

Scholars believe that the fight between Cuchulainn and Ferdiad is a late addition to the Táin, originating not earlier than the eleventh century and drawing on earlier episodes in the story.Fact|date=March 2008 "Ferdiad" means "man/warrior of the pair" ("Diad" related to "dïas", "two persons").Fact|date=March 2008

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ferdiad — Ferdiad, dans la mythologie celtique irlandaise, est un héros, compagnon de Cúchulainn. Son nom complet est « Ferdiad mac Damain mac Dare », c’est à dire « fils de Damain, fils de Dare », avec pour sens : fils de la fumée …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ferdiad — noun In Irish mythology, Cúchulainns best friend and foster brother …   Wiktionary

  • Gáe Bulg — The Gáe Bulg (also Gáe Bulga , Gáe Bolg , Gáe Bolga , meaning notched spear , belly spear , swelling spear , bellows dart , or possibly lightning spear ) was the spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. It was given to him by… …   Wikipedia

  • Cú Chulainn — For other uses, see Cú Chulainn (disambiguation). Cuchulain Slays the Hound of Culain , illustration by Stephen Reid from Eleanor Hull s The Boys Cuchulain, 1904 Cú Chulainn ([kuːˈxʊlˠɪnʲ] ( …   Wikipedia

  • Táin Bó Cúailnge — Táin redirects here. For the genre of early Irish literature, see Táin Bó. Cú Chulainn in battle, from T. W. Rolleston, Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race, 1911; illustration by Joseph Christian Leyendecker Táin Bó Cúailnge (Irish pronunciation …   Wikipedia

  • Bétail de Cooley — Táin Bó Cúailnge Littérature Par catégories …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Folklore de l'Irlande — Mythologie celtique irlandaise Alors que la civilisation celtique a essaimé dans une grande partie de l’Europe, c’est en Irlande et en Gaule que l on trouve la plus importante documentation. Les sources irlandaises sont essentiellement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gae Bolga — Le gae bolga, dans la mythologie celtique irlandaise, est l’arme magique du héros Cúchulainn. Différentes hypothèses ont été émises quant à la signification du nom, il semble que le sens soit « javelot foudre ». Dans le « Cycle d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gae bolga — Le gae bolga, dans la mythologie celtique irlandaise, est l’arme magique du héros Cúchulainn. Différentes hypothèses ont été émises quant à la signification du nom, il semble que le sens soit « javelot foudre ». Dans le « Cycle d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • La Tain — Táin Bó Cúailnge Littérature Par catégories …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”