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Remarks On The Theological Aspect Of The Hell-Motif In Síaburcharpat Con Culaind, Darcy Ireland

Theology Student Scholarship

The early Middle Irish story Síaburcharpat Con Culaind unfortunately suffers from a lack of scholarly attention, particularly from the theological perspective. This paper proposes that the five quatrains which occupy lines 9438-9458 of the Lebor na hUidre copy together serve as the potent, appropriate apex to a tale which not only functions as an ode to Cú Chulainn but also as a forum through which are raised theological queries concerning the fate under the Christian dispensation of pre-Christian Celtic legendary figures.

Initial focus will be cast on the significance of the hell-motif within the Síaburcharpat (including a remark on the …