MYTHOLOGY (noun.)
1. a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.
2. the study of myths
─ IN WHICH THE ADMINS GIVE YOU INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE MANY BELIEFS OF MULTIPLE MMYTHOLOGIES
( updates...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THE SALMON OF KNOWLEDGE
This is a tale about Fionn mac Cumhaill, the leader of the Fianna of Ireland, who - at the time this story takes place - is only a young boy.
Fionn was sent to live on the banks of the river Boyne with a wise poet called Finnegas who was renown throughout Ireland for his vast knowledge.
Finnegas was known not only for his skills in composing and reciting poetry, but for his unique insight and knowledge about the world. He knew more about the secrets of all animals and plants and stars than any other man in Ireland.
It was because of Finnegas' range of knowledge and wisdom that Fionn was sent to live with him. In exchange for the stories and all the things Finnegas taught the young boy, Fionn would help about the house by cleaning, cooking and fishing for the old man.
One day, Fionn's endless curiousity got the better of him, and he asked thd old man a question: "Is there a way to know everything?"
Finnegas had once asked himself the same question, and it was because of that that he now lived next to the river Boyne. The dark druids of older times had claimed that living in a motionless, dark pool underneath the shade of the overhanging hazel tree was the Salmon of Knowledge.
According to prophecy, the one who would eat the Salmon would gain all the knowledge in the world because the Salmon had gained it from eating the nuts off the magical hazel tree.
Finnegas had been attempting to catch that salmon for years now, but he had been unsuccessful - until one day, not long after Fionn had come to live with him, he went fishing and finally managed to capture the Salmon.
He reeled it in and ran up to Fionn, ordering the boy to cook it immediately.
As Fionn set up the fire and spit to cook the salmon, Finnegas warned him to cook it, but do not eat it by any circumstances.
When Finnegas returned, the salmon was cooked and laid out, ready for him to eat. However, when he looked at Fionn, the old man noticed something different about him - almost like a certain light of wisdom shone in his eyes.
When he asked Fionn if he ate any of the salmon, Fionn told him no.
When he asked the boy if he'd tasted it's skin, Fionn said no.
"But," Fionn added. "When I was turning it onto the spit I burned my thumb so I put it in my mouth to ease the pain."
Finnegas was devestated. That had been enough. Now Fionn had tasted the Salmon of Knowledge - even if it was only a tiny bit - the young boy now held all the knowledge and wisdom of the world within him.
Fionn had unintentionally fulfilled the prophecy, and by doing so, he grew up to be one of the wisest poets, warriors and leaders Ireland had ever known.
