Celtic Gods and Heroes by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt

Author:Marie-Louise Sjoestedt [Marie-Louise Sjoestedt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

Two versions of the story of his supernatural birth are extant⁹⁴. The earlier of the two will be summarized here.

The fields around Emain Macha had been devastated by a flock of birds which devoured to the roots everything that grew there. With some misgiving, for they suspect the presence of some mysterious power, the people of Ulster harness nine chariots to hunt the birds. They are led by king Conchobor, whose charioteer is his daughter, or, as some say, his sister Dechtire. They follow the birds which are in nine flocks, with twenty in every flock, tied in pairs with chains of gold, and singing sweetly. Night overtakes the hunters near Brug na Bóinne, the most famous fairy dwelling in Ireland and the home of the Dagda. The chariots are unharnessed, and two warriors go in search of a lodging. They come to a little house inhabited by a man and a woman. In their necessity, they bring the whole company there, and by some miracle the house proves big enough to shelter them all, and the food enough to satisfy and intoxicate them. During the night the woman gives birth to a son. At the same time a mare foals twin foals which are bestowed upon the newly born child. These will become the two famous horses of the hero, The Grey of Macha and the Black of Saingliu.

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