4. GAUL
A vast area of Europe where France, Belgium,
Switzerland and some surrounding areas are now
located
5. Gaulish Mythology
• Begins as an early Celtic Mythology
• Eventually merges with Roman
polytheism
• One of the areas of French Mythology
• Gauls did not write about their own
religion, so much of what is known about
their mythology is found in Latin works
from Roman authors.
6. Irish Mythology
• Was a part of the religion of
the Irish before Christianity
took hold
• Was later preserved to some
extent in storytelling
10. 1. Mythological Cycle
• Least intact
• Describes the state of Irish mythology
• Consists of numerous prose tales and
poems found in medieval manuscripts:
1. Lebor Gabala Erenn
2. Annals of the Four Masters
3. Seathrun Ceitinn’s History of Ireland
11. 2. Ulster Cycle
• Takes place as Christianity is taking hold in
Ireland
• Describes heroes rather than gods and
goddesses
• Deals with the lives of Conchobar mac Nessa,
king of Ulster, the great hero Cuchulainn, and
of their friends, lovers and enemies
• Stories are written mainly in prose
• Centerpiece is TAIN BO CUAILNGE (Cattle Raid
of Cooley)
12. 3. Fenian Cycle
• A body of prose and verse centering on
the exploits of the mythical hero Fionn
mac Cumhaill and his warriors, the
Fianna
• Also known as the Fianna Cycle, Fionn
Cycle, Finn Cycle and Ossianic Cycle
13. 4. Historical Cycles
• Also known as the Cycles of Kings
• A body of Old and Middle Irish
literature
• Contain stories of the legendary
kings of Ireland
14. Court Poets or Medieval Irish Bards
• Record the history of the family and the
genealogy of the king they served
• Did in poems that blended the
mythological and the historical to a
greater or lesser degree
• Resulted to the Historical Cycles
15. Greatest Glory of the
Cycle:
Buile Shuibhne
(The Frenzy of Sweeney)
12th century
19. Scottish Origins
• Several were created during the
Historical Period
• One was adapted from the 10th
century Latin life of St. Cathroe of
Metz
20. Hebridian Myths and Legends
1. Water spirits
• Kelpies
• Blue Men of the Minch
• Seonaidh
• Merpeople
• Water Monsters
2. Wulvers
3. Will-o-the-Wisp
4. Fairies
5. Changeling
22. Blue Men of the Minch
• Also known as storm kelpies
• Occupy the stretch of water between
Lewis and Mainland Scotland
• Looks for sailors to drown and
stricken boats to sink
24. Merpeople
• Creature of half man and
half fish
• Claimed that a
mermaid’s grave is in
Benbecula
• Accounts stated that the
upper part of the
creature was the size of
an infant, while the
bottom was like a
salmon.
25. Loch Monsters
• Resembles a capsized
boat
• Has been reported
swimming for one and a
half centuries
• Locals say lambs were
once offered annually to
the creature.
26. Will-o-the-wisp
• Have been reported in the areas of
Sandwick
• Lights that float around the area
normally announce approaching death of
a local
• Some say that light belongs to an Irish
merchant who was robbed and
murdered on the island.
29. Changeling
• Typically described as
being the offspring of a
fairy, troll elf or other
legendary creature that
has been secretly left in
the place of a human child
• Sometimes the term is
also used to refer to the
child who was taken.
30. Fir Bolg
• First established kingship and a
system of justice in Ireland
• Represent a genuine historical
people
31. Tuatha De Danaan
• “Peoples of the Goddess Danu”
• Defeated the Fir Bolg King,
Eochaid mac Eirc, in the First
Battle of Magh Tuiredh
32. Dindshenchas
• Another source of mythological
tradition
• “Lore of places”
• Poems and prose tales recounting
traditions of the origins of place-
names and events and personages
associated with those places
33. Conaire Mor
• “The Great Son”
• Son of Eterscel, the High King of Ireland
• Reign is long and peaceful
• Belonged to the legendary Clanna Dedad,
the legendary royal family of the Erainn
• Last king in the direct male line from
Conaire Mor was Alexander III of
Scotland.
