Emer facts for kids
Emer is a very important character in old Irish myths, especially in the stories of the Ulster Cycle. She is known as the daughter of Forgall Monach and the brave wife of the legendary hero Cú Chulainn. Her name is still used in modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic today.
Emer's Story
The Wooing of Emer
The story of how Cú Chulainn and Emer met is called Tochmarc Emire, which means "The Wooing of Emer." The heroes of Ulster were looking for a good wife for Cú Chulainn, but he only wanted Emer. He visited her at her father Forgall's home and they spoke in clever riddles. Emer said she would marry Cú Chulainn only when he proved himself worthy through great deeds.
However, Emer's father, Forgall, did not want them to marry. He secretly went to Ulster and suggested that Cú Chulainn should go to Scotland to train with a famous warrior-woman named Scáthach. Forgall hoped that the training would be too dangerous and Cú Chulainn would be killed. But Cú Chulainn accepted the challenge and learned many amazing fighting skills from Scáthach.
While Cú Chulainn was away, Forgall tried to offer Emer to another king, Lugaid mac Noís. But Lugaid refused because he heard that Emer loved Cú Chulainn.
When Cú Chulainn returned from Scotland, he was a skilled warrior. But Forgall still refused to let him marry Emer. So, Cú Chulainn bravely attacked Forgall's fortress. He defeated many of Forgall's men, took Emer, and also stole Forgall's treasure. Forgall himself fell from the fortress walls and died. Another warrior tried to stop Cú Chulainn and Emer, but Cú Chulainn defeated him too. After all these brave acts, Emer agreed to marry him.
There was an old custom in Ulster where the king, Conchobar mac Nessa, had a special role in all marriages. King Conchobar was worried about how Cú Chulainn would react if he followed this custom. But he also didn't want to lose his authority. So, a wise solution was found: the druid Cathbad would sleep between Conchobar and Emer on their wedding night. This way, the custom was honored, and Cú Chulainn was also respected.
Emer's Only Jealousy
Even though Cú Chulainn had other loves, Emer only became truly jealous once. This happened when Cú Chulainn fell under a spell and fell in love with Fand. Fand was the wife of Manannán mac Lir, the powerful king of the sea. This story is told in Serglige Con Culainn, which means "The Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulainn."
At first, Emer decided to try and defeat Fand. But when she saw how deeply Fand loved Cú Chulainn, Emer changed her mind. She decided to let Cú Chulainn be with Fand. Fand was very touched by Emer's kindness and generosity. Because of this, Fand decided to return to her own husband. Manannán, the sea king, then shook his magical cloak between Cú Chulainn and Fand. This made sure they would never meet again. To help Cú Chulainn and Emer forget the whole difficult situation, they both drank a special potion.
Other Stories About Emer
Emer also appears in other stories. When Cú Chulainn's son, Connla, came to Ireland looking for his father, Emer recognized him. She tried to convince Cú Chulainn not to fight or harm him, but sadly, her efforts were not successful.
Emer was known for having six special qualities that were highly valued in women. These were: great beauty, a gentle voice, kind words, wisdom, excellent skill at needlework, and purity.
See also
In Spanish: Emer para niños
