Story Archaeology

The richly interwoven stories that make up the Táin tradition contain a wide diversity of characters. There is much to explore. Even their back stories have back stories! In this episode, we explore the back stories of two such characters: the well-known Ulster king, Conchobar Mac Nessa, and the lesser-known Ulster hero, Conall Cernach. Join the Story Archaeologists in the first of two episodes that uncover the significance of a few portentous conceptions and births.   Read the texts for yourself!   Scéla Conchobar, "The Tidings of Conchobar", from the Book of Leinster. edited by R. I. Best and Osborn Bergin translation by Whitley Stokes     Compert Conchobair, "The Conception of Conchobar", from Rawlinson B512 (incorrectly referred to in the episode as from the Yellow Book of Lecan) edited by Vernam Hull translation on the Celtic Literature Collective     Compert Conchobair, "The Conception of Conchobar", from Stowe 992 translation by Kuno Meyer