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An Echtra or Echtrae (pl. Echtrai), is a type of pre-Christian Old Irish literature about a hero's adventures in the Otherworld or with otherworldly beings.
Definition and etymology
[edit]In Irish literature Echtrae and Immram are tales of voyages to an Otherworld. In general the "Echtrae" are set in a pagan context.[1] In contrast the Immram, though containing mythological story elements, are set in post-pagan Ireland, and the main protagonist is Christian,[2] and the journey is usually by sea.[3]
A point of contention in absolute definition exists in the case of "Immram Brain maic Febail".[1] Despite the naming this tale is considered to form part of the Echtrae milieu, and may have been named as an Immram due to a conflation of Bran (Brain) and St. Brendan.[2]
Generally, echtra was the Old Irish word for "adventure" (literally meaning an "outing".[1]), as well as a cognate for the Latin extra,[4] The modern and middle Irish language word is eachtra.
The Dictionary of the Irish Language notes alternative usage meanings in addition to the primary "expedition, voyage, journey" - these include "a warlike expedition", and the more general "tale", or "history".[5]
Description
[edit]Though Echtrai often involve a journey to an otherworld, the exact destination or journey can vary - voyages take place by sea in Echtrae Conli; in a journey underneath a lake in Echtrae Laegairi; or into a fairy mound (Sidhe) in Echtrae Nerai;[1] alternatively the story may not include such a journey but instead involve an interaction with otherworldly beings : in Echtrae Nerai, set on Samhain, the hero Nera sees prophetic visions whilst in the presence of a hanged man;[3] whilst in Echtra Mac nEchach Muid-medóin, the hero Níall gains the sovereignty of Ireland by kissing a hag guarding a well.[3]
Works
[edit]Lists compiled from (Dumville 1976), (Duignan 2010) :
- Echtra Condla (or Echtrae Chonnlai, adventure of Conle)
- Echtrae Cormaic maic Airt i Tir Tairngiri
- Echtrae Laegairi maic Crimthann
- Echtrae Nerai (aka Táin Bó Aingen)
- Ectra Airt maic Cuinn
- Echtrae mac nEchach Mugmedoin
- Tales not titled Echtra, but considered part of milieu
- Baile in Scáil (The Phantom's Frenzy)
- The Five Lugaids
- Tochmarc Emire
- Serglige Con Chulainn
- Siaburcharpat Con Culaind
- Imram Bran
- Lost tales
- Echtrae Con Culainn
- Echtrae Chrimthaind Nia Nair
- Echtrae Fiamain
- Echtrae Con Roi
- Echtrae Chonaill
- Echtrae Chonchobair
- Echtrae Machae ingine Aeda Ruaid
- Echtrae Nechtain maic Alfroinn
- Echtrae Ailchm d maic Amalgaid
- Echtrae Find i nDerc Ferna
- Echtrae Aedain maic Gabrain
- Echtrae Mael Uma maic Baitain
- Echtrae Mongain maic Fiachna
- Echtrae Fergussa maic Leti
- Echtrae Oengusae maic Fergusa Finn
- Echtrae Chuinn Chetchathaig
- Echtrae Muirquertoig maic hErco
There are also visits to the otherworld undertaken by the hero Cuchulainn, including : Forfess Fer Fálgae, Fled Bricrenn ocus Loinges mac nDuil Dermait, and Compert Con Culainn
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Dumville 1976, p. 73.
- ^ a b "Echtrae", Jone's Celtic Encyclopedia
- ^ a b c Koch, John T., "Echtai", Celtic Culture - A historical encyclopedia, p. 646
- ^ Hart, Aoife Assumpta (2016), Ancestral Recall: The Celtic Revival and Japanese Modernism, McGill-Queens University Press
- ^ "Echtra", www.dil.ie
Sources
[edit]- MacKillop, James (1998), Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-860967-4
- Dumville, David N. (1976), "Echtrae and Immram: Some Problems of Definition", Ériu, 27, Royal Irish Academy: 73–94, JSTOR 30007669
- Duignan, Leonie (2010), The Echtrae as an Early Irish Literatary Genre (thesis), NUI Maynooth
