Láeg- Celtic FigureMortal"Charioteer of Cú Chulainn"
Also known as: Láeg mac Riangabra and Lóeg
Description
Láeg drove Cú Chulainn's chariot to every ford and battlefield of the Ulster Cycle, then crossed alone into the Otherworld as his master's scout. When the final conspiracy closed around Cú Chulainn, a spear struck Láeg first, stripping the hero of his last companion before the end.
Mythology & Lore
Charioteer and Companion
Láeg mac Riangabra was the charioteer of Cú Chulainn and his most constant companion. He guided Cú Chulainn's horses, the Grey of Macha and the Black of Sainglend, with supreme skill, driving them through single combats, ambushes, and pitched battles.
The Táin and the Otherworld
During the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Láeg drove Cú Chulainn to the fords where the hero fought his succession of single combats against the champions of Connacht. He tended Cú Chulainn's wounds between fights, urged him on when his strength flagged, and kept watch while his master rested. In Serglige Con Culainn, when Fand summoned Cú Chulainn to the Otherworld, Láeg went first as a scout, crossing into the síd to assess the situation and report back on what awaited.
Death at the Final Battle
Láeg died alongside Cú Chulainn at the hero's last stand. When Cú Chulainn's enemies, the sons of Calatín, conspired to bring him to his final battle, Láeg drove the chariot one last time. During the fighting, a spear struck Láeg and killed him. His death left Cú Chulainn without his charioteer, his horses scattered, and his isolation complete.
Relationships
- Allied with