Little Mayhem

Frustratingly unproductive lately... I have been working on an application for a freelance contract so that's kept me busy, as well as the family crest (which I still have a lot of work to do on).

Below I've posted some WIPs for the Charater of the week (C.H.O.W.) activity at conceptart.org. This week's description:

Cú Chulainn

Cú Chulainn is an Irish hero from Celtic/Gaelic culture. He also appears in Scottish and Manx storytelling. He was a knight of the 1st century and often compared to Achilles in Greek Mythology. When enraged he would become a ‘bezerker’ as in Viking culture. He was slain in a fight and like El Cid in later history, was propped up in an heroic pose, spear in hand to strike fear into his enemies even after death, and it was only when a raven landed on his shoulder that his demise was revealed.

He was seen as an Irish hero, riding a chariot, and defending Ulster against usurpers including Queen Medb of Connaught and even appeared to Saint Patrick as a ghost.

Cú Chulainn‘s appearance is open to interpretation, but he is described as clean shaven, young ( he died at 27 ), and some tales tell he had seven fingers on each hand and seven toes on each foot. And seven pupils in each eye. There is much description of him on his Wikipedia page, as there is of his life. There should be plenty of inspiration there in his adventures for an interesting version of this mythological hero.

Remember, knights of the 1st century would have been nothing like middle-ages knights. Their appearance would have been more ‘Asterix the Gaul’ than traditionally styled Arthurian knights. So leather, furs and armour more suited to Romano-Britain and Europe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/cuchulainn.htm

Although not strictly a two parter, this ChOW will be followed up with a linked character next week.