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The druids, who were in charge of the affairs of death, intervened equally in the affairs of birth and life. In Ireland, they "baptized" a person, choosing a name for him depending on any peculiarity or significant circumstances. Precisely, this is how Cuchulainn, formerly called Setanta, [257 - Setanta recalls the Celtic name for "road" (Ir. Set, Welsh hynt, Bret. Hent), cf. also the people of the Setantians (Ptolem., II, 3, 3).] got its name from the druid Katbad, killing the watchdog (archu - arch, Argus) of the blacksmith Kulann.
He pronounced himself such a just judgment that King Conchobar and his druid Katbad were delighted with him: “What decision will you make in this case, kid? - This is Conchobar speaking.
- If there is a puppy of the same breed in Ireland, I will raise him until he is as powerful as his father. Until that time, I myself will be the dog guarding the herds, property and lands of Kulann.
“You made a good decision, kid,” Conchobar replies.
“To tell the truth,” says Katbad, “We couldn't have found a better solution. Why don't you call yourself Julin Ku? ('Culann the Dog')
- No, - the boy objects, - I prefer my name - Setanta, son of Suultam.
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- Do not say that, kid, - Katbad answers - FOR people and, Ireland and Scotland, will barely hear this name, they will only talk about it.
- Whatever my name, it will be good for me, - he agrees. And from that time this famous name remained behind him - Cuchulainn, because he killed the dog of the blacksmith Culann [258 - "Bad Joke", XI, 214-215] - ahi. He shouted, as soon as he approached Emine:
The “naming” of the name to King Konchobar is even more interesting: “This is how this son was born: in each hand he had a worm. He went to the Conchobar River, and the river parted before him. And then he named him Conchobar after that river. Conchobar, son of Fakhtna. Katbad took him in his arms, gave him a name and predicted his future "[259 -" a cruel joke ", XII, 240 -" The birth of Conchobar "// Per. T. Mikhailova.]
A simple sign might be enough. When, at the beginning of "The Expulsion of the Sons of Usnekh," the Ulads gathered for a big feast in Fedlimid's house, it was discovered that the latter's wife was pregnant. Druid Katbad prophesies that the child will be a girl of extraordinary beauty, with snow-white skin, with blond strands, with wonderful blue eyes, with purple ruddy cheeks, with flawless teeth and lips red like coral. But he adds that the settlements will fight among themselves for this treasure!
“Katabad put his hand on the woman’s stomach and felt a thrill under his palm.
“Truly,” he said, “this is a girl. Dayure - her name will be [the girl's name means "quivering"]. And a lot of evil will happen because of her. " [260 -… Per T. Mikhailova]
Choosing a name and place name
We do not know whether the Gallic druids played the same role in naming the name, but this is exactly what the theophoric anthroponyms that abound in the collection of A. Holder's names: [266 - Altceltischer Sprachschatz, I – III.] Esunert, “possessing the power of Jesus”, Dagolit, "adherent to the rite" and many others are not like the names that the "laity" themselves would have adopted. The same remark, however, applies to toponyms and ethnonyms: Lugudunum, “the city of Luga” (Lyon); Mediolan, “Central Plain” (Milan); bituriges, "kings of the world" or "eternal kings" (Burj, Berry); Senones, "Ancient" - all these names cannot be traces left by the "desacralized" mentality.
The ancient Roman historian, author of the partially preserved History from the Founding of the City (Ab urbe condita) Titus Livy (Livius, Titus, 59 BC-17 AD) gives some evidence of how Milan was founded in the course of a military campaign, which was often mistakenly considered as one of the possible variants of the rite of the "Sacred Spring" (ver sacrum) [267 - Ver sacrum - Latin name for the Indo-European custom of resettlement of young people who have reached a certain age to new places. In modern science, this custom is considered one of the possible reasons for the migration of Indo-European peoples. (Ed. Note)]: “… They defeated the Tusk in the battle at the Ticina River. When they learned that the place they had chosen for the settlement was called the Insubrskoe field, they considered this a good omen, since one of the branches of the Aedui tribe is called Insubras. They founded the city of Mediolan there.”[268 - Liv., V, 34. - Per. S. A. Ivanova // Titus Livy. History of Rome from the founding of the city. T. 1. (Ed. Transl. M. L. Gasparov and G. S. Knabe. M., 1989) … See "Actes du Premier Colloque d'Etudes celtiques et protoceltiques", CMteaumeillant, 1960, p. 142-158.]
Celtic Druids. Book by Françoise Leroux
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