The Order of Scáthach (Irish myth)
The Order of Scáthach is a notable aspect of Irish mythology, particularly within the Ulster cycle, where it highlights the esteemed warrior woman Scáthach and her role as a mentor to legendary heroes. Central to this tradition is the young hero Cúchulainn, who undergoes rigorous training under Scáthach's guidance in Scotland. The narrative explores themes of valor, courtship, and the complexities of heroism through Cúchulainn’s quest to prove himself worthy of marriage to Emer, the woman he loves. Scáthach is depicted as not only a master of martial arts, teaching various combat skills, but also as a prophetic figure who reveals aspects of the future to her students. This training ultimately equips Cúchulainn with formidable weapons, including the famed spear Gae Bulga. The stories surrounding Scáthach and Cúchulainn reflect the rich tapestry of Irish folklore, emphasizing the dynamic roles of women in ancient warrior cultures. The legends also prompt discussions about the historical presence of women in combat, showcasing Scáthach as a powerful and influential character within the broader epic of the Ulster cycle.
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The Order of Scáthach (Irish myth)
Author: Traditional Celtic
Time Period: 999 BCE–1 BCE; 1 CE–500 CE
Country or Culture: Ireland
Genre: Myth
PLOT SUMMARY
The greatest of the men under King Conchobar in Ulster is his nephew Cúchulainn. Although he is younger than many of the other men, he defeats any challengers who test his force, wisdom, and quickness. The men of Ulster become worried that Cúchulainn will steal their wives and sleep with their daughters, so they decide to find him a woman to marry.
Conchobar sends out nine men to each province of Erinn (Ireland) to find Cúchulainn a bride. These men search for a year but cannot find a woman suitable for him. The warrior does have a particular woman on his mind though: Emer, the daughter of chieftain Forgall the Wily. He goes to address Emer and to prove to her his worthiness. When Forgall is told that Cúchulainn had been speaking with his daughter, he knows that she is in love with him. He disguises himself as a foreigner and seeks counsel with Conchobar. The men of Ulster, including Cúchulainn, welcome him. Forgall states to Conchobar that Cúchulainn could become one of the greatest warriors of Europe if he receives training in Scotland from King Domnall the Soldierly and the revered warrior woman Scáthach. Forgall thinks this ordeal will be too much for the young warrior, and hopes he will not come back alive. Cúchulainn consents to the training and bids farewell to Emer.
After completing his training in spear-fighting techniques with Domnall, Cúchulainn travels west to the home of Scáthach. Cúchulainn endures several hardships on his way to her, including travels through the Plain of Ill-Luck and the Perilous Glen. At the house, Scáthach’s daughter Uathach pretends to be a servant and brings him food and drink. He is aroused by her, and takes hold of her, accidentally breaking one her fingers. One of Scáthach’s champions, Cochar, comes to defend Uathach, but he is no match for Cúchulainn, who cuts off his head. Sorry for killing one of her best men, Cúchulainn pledges allegiance to Scáthach and promises to defend her army.
During the training of Cúchulainn, Scáthach is at war with a female warrior chieftain named Aífe. Cúchulainn joins a battle and, after defeating many of her men, he takes Aife hostage and makes her grant him three wishes: never to attack Scáthach again, to sleep with him, and to bear him a son. Aífe complies, and Cúchulainn gives her a gold ring to give to his son, with instructions that he come find Cúchulainn in Ireland when the ring fits his finger.
Cúchulainn returns to Scáthach and there revives himself and completes his training. She teaches him many fighting feats using chariots, spears, ropes, and more. Eventually Cúchulainn is called to return to his own land, but before he leaves, Scáthach tells him his future and sings to him.
In Ulster, Cúchulainn finds an army of men set against him by Forgall, who still will not let Cúchulainn marry his daughter. Cúchulainn defeats Forgall’s forces and Forgall himself falls from a wall and dies. Cúchulainn takes Emer away with him, and they are wed and never parted again.
SIGNIFICANCE
This tale is part of “The Wooing of Emer” of the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology. The legends of this cycle are usually set in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht around the time of Christ. They tend to deal with the heroic exploits of King Conchobar and Cúchulainn. There is a short and long revision of this legend, with the long one being one of the lengthiest stories in the Ulster cycle. It is considered an introductory story to the legend of Táin Bó Cúailnge, also known as “The Cattle Raid of Cooley,” which is one of the central tales of the Ulster cycle.
A total of eight manuscripts of “The Wooing of Emer” exist, which has led scholars to believe it was a favorite legend of the Irish. Wooing or courtship stories appear frequently in the Ulster cycle, alongside tales of feasts, births, and battles. The longest version appears in the Book of Leinster, a text that dates to the tenth or eleventh century.
Cúchulainn was the most prominent hero of the cycle. Much of the cycle’s legends are concerned with his life, and many contemporary examinations see him as an archetypal Irish hero. Following his training as outlined in this legend, Cúchulainn goes on to defeat his foster brother Fer Díad (Ferdiad), who also trained under Scáthach, who was one of the great warrior women of Irish legend.
Scáthach was said to have lived on an island off of Scotland, where she trained warriors in the fighting skills they needed to become great heroes. She alone could teach a variety of martial arts, including chariot-feat, salmon-feat, and thunder-feat. Cúchulainn’s feared spear, the Gae Bulga, was given to him by Scáthach. This mythical weapon has been compared to King Arthur’s sword Excalibur, which he also received from a woman. With the Gae Bulga, Cúchulainn slew many men in single combat, including his foster brother Ferdiad.
In some tales, Scáthach was also able to tell warriors what would befall them in the future, like she does in the story above. In some accounts of this story, however, she refuses to tell Cúchulainn his future, because she knows he will murder his son, Connal. Different versions also have Scáthach as Connal’s mother, rather than Aife.
Researchers have used the Irish legends of women warriors such as Scáthach to argue that women participated in battles alongside men, while others contest these claims due to laws of the time that limited women’s activities. Either way, Scáthach was a powerful female warrior and essential character of the Ulster cycle.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Caldecott, Moyra. Women in Celtic Myth: Tales of Extraordinary Women from the Ancient Celtic Tradition. Rochester: Destiny, 1992. Print.
Gantz, Jeffrey. Early Irish Myths and Sagas. New York: Penguin, 1982. Print.
Gregory, Augusta. Cuchulain of Muirthemne. 1902. Whitefish: Kessinger, 2010. Print.
Kinsella, Thomas, trans. The Táin: Translated From the Irish Epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.
“The Wooing of Emer by Cú Chulainn.” Trans. Kuno Meyer. CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts. University College, Cork, 2011. Web. 13 June 2013.