The mythic warrior who taught the legendary hero Cú Chulainn how to fight, Scáthach is one of the most fearsome figures in all of Irish mythology.
PinterestKnown as “The Shadow” in ancient Irish myth, the Scottish warrior queen Scáthach lived in a castle on the Isle of Skye, where she taught martial arts.
Her name means “The Shadowy One” in Gaelic. She lived in the impregnable fortress of Dún Scáith, the Castle of Shadows, on the Isle of Skye. And in Irish mythology, the warrior queen Scáthach trained the most legendary of warriors, including the Ulster hero Cú Chulainn.
Indeed, much of what we know of Scáthach (also known as Sgathach) comes from myth surrounding Cú Chulainn himself. So who was Scáthach? What role did she play in stories from Irish mythology? And why is she considered one of the most legendary women warriors of all time?
Here’s everything you need to know about Scáthach, the formidable figure from Irish myth who taught the warriors of ancient lore how to fight.
Who Was Scáthach, The Warrior Queen Of Irish Mythology?
Stories of Scáthach are contained in the Red Branch Cycle — also known as the Ulster Cycle — which is a collection of medieval Irish legends and one of four cycles of Irish mythology. A warrior herself, she also had magical powers and the gift of foresight. She was the daughter of a powerful king, sometimes described as ruling Scythia (Eastern Europe and Asia) and sometimes Lethra (the French regions of Brittany, Normandy, and the Loire).
Scáthach, however, established her fortress of Dún Scáith on the Isle of Skye, just off the northwest coast of Scotland around 200 B.C.E.
At Dún Scáith, Scáthach trained warriors — but only those brave and skilled enough to reach her. Her fortress was considered near impregnable, and those hoping to benefit from her teachings had to first get past Scáthach’s daughter, Uathach, who fiercely guarded the castle gates.
Photimageon/Alamy Stock PhotoThe ruins of Dún Scáith, where Scáthach trained the fiercest warriors in Irish mythology — but only those who succeeded in reaching her impregnable fortress.
Those who made it past Uathach and into Dún Scáith would meet with Scáthach, who would share her knowledge. She taught warriors how to use a pole vault to leap over walls, to fight underwater, and to use a weapon she had invented: the gáe bolg, a javelin made from the bones of a sea monster.
Scáthach was known for training the fiercest and most able warriors. But one rose above all the rest: the Ulster hero Cú Chulainn.
Cú Chulainn, The Mythological Ulster Hero Trained By Scáthach
Public DomainAn early 20th-century description of Cú Chulainn in battle.
According to Ulster myth, Cú Chulainn sought Scáthach’s help because he wanted to marry a woman named Emer. Emer’s father, Chief Forgall Monach, refused unless Cú Chulainn prove himself first. He suggested that Cú Chulainn train with Scáthach, hoping that Cú Chulainn wouldn’t survive the journey to Dún Scáith — or his the encounter with the legendary woman warrior who lived in the fortress.
But Cú Chulainn was able to make his way to the Isle of Skye unharmed. One version of the legend states that he impressed Scáthach off the bat by getting past her daughter Uathach — and leaping over her moat in just two jumps. Another claims that Cú Chulainn not only penetrated the fortress, but threatened Scáthach with his sword and demanded that she teach him.
Either way, Scáthach agreed to train him. She also foretold his future, and told Cú Chulainn that he would not live longer than 30 years (according to Ulster myth, Cú Chulainn did indeed die at the age of 27.)
Then, their work together began. Over seven years, Scáthach would make Cú Chulainn into one of the greatest warriors of all time.
The Dramatic Story Of Scáthach, Cú Chulainn, And Aífe
During his training, Cú Chulainn also got into other adventures (and misadventures) as well. He had a passionate affair with Uathach, and killed her fiancé, Cochar Croibhe, when he challenged Cú Chulainn to a dual. Cú Chulainn also battled Scáthach’s detested sister Aífe (or Aoife).
Though Scáthach’s tried to keep Cú Chulainn out of the battle by giving him a sleeping draught, Cú Chulainn was too strong and woke up in time to fight. What’s more, he acted as Scáthach’s champion and fought one-on-one with Aífe. Knowing how much Aífe valued her horses and chariot, Cú Chulainn was able to trick her by saying that they were in danger — and triumph.
Public DomainA depiction of Aífe, the sister of Scáthach, who Cú Chulainn defeated in battle — and then had a son with.
Despite this, Cú Chulainn then slept with Aífe — and purportedly had a son with her (who played a role in later Cú Chulainn legends.) He also allegedly slept with Scáthach before he returned to marry Emer. At that point, Scáthach gifted her prized pupil with the gáe bolg javelin.
At that point, Cú Chulainn put Scáthach’s training to good use. When he returned home to claim his bride, Chief Forgall Monach refused to give up his daughter’s hand in marriage. So Cú Chulainn killed Chief Forgall Monach and two dozen of his his men. Then, he and Emer finally got married.
Public DomainAn early 20th century depiction of Cú Chulainn and Emer, whose marriage was made possible by Cú Chulainn’s training with Scáthach.
Cú Chulainn’s story didn’t end there. On the contrary, it was just beginning. The Ulster hero went on many more adventures and defended Ulster single-handedly against Maeve, the queen of Connaught. It’s perhaps because of Scáthach’s training that Cú Chulainn was able to triumph, cementing his place in Ulster lore as one of the greatest heroes of all time.
So whatever happened to Scáthach, the talented warrior taught Cú Chulainn everything he knew?
The Story Of The “Shadowy One” After Training Cú Chulainn
Though much of Scáthach’s legend is intertwined with Cú Chulainn, her story continued long after Cú Chulainn left Dún Scáith.
According to myth, Scáthach’s later became the Celtic goddess of the dead. She was responsible for guiding the souls of men who had fallen in battle to the Celtic underworld of Tír na nÓg, or the Land of Eternal Youth.
This is allegedly a timeless place where the gods live.
Public DomainA depiction of Tír na nÓg.
Scáthach has become something of a timeless figure as well. Long after she was described in myth, she’s also become a character in modern day video games, comics, and works of fiction. Ruins of a castle also remain at Dún Scáith on the Isle of Skye — though they only date back to the Middle Ages.
Still, Scáthach will be remembered long after she allegedly existed in third century B.C.E. Not only did Scáthach have incredible abilities as a fighter and a foreseer, but she trained some of the most important warriors in Celtic mythology. Without Scáthach’s guidance and her gift of the gáe bolg perhaps Cú Chulainn would not have become the hero of Ulster myth that he did.
After reading about Scáthach, learn about other central figures in Irish mythology and lore, the Morrígan and the Banshees.
