Salmon of Knowledge facts for kids
The Salmon of Knowledge (Irish: bradán feasa) is a special creature from Irish mythology. It's a magical salmon that holds all the knowledge in the world. Sometimes, this salmon is thought to be Fintan mac Bóchra, a very wise person who could turn into a salmon.
The Story of Fionn and the Salmon
The most famous story about the Salmon of Knowledge is found in The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. This tale tells us about the early life of a famous Irish hero named Fionn mac Cumhaill.
The story says that an ordinary salmon lived in a place called the Well of Wisdom. This well was surrounded by nine hazel trees. One day, nine hazelnuts fell from these trees into the well. The salmon ate these special hazelnuts. When it did, the salmon gained all the knowledge in the entire world! It was believed that the first person to eat this salmon would also gain all its wisdom.
A poet named Finn Eces (also called Finegas) spent seven years trying to catch this magical salmon. Finally, he succeeded! Finn Eces then gave the fish to his young servant, Fionn. Fionn was the son of Cumhaill. Finn Eces told Fionn to cook the salmon but warned him not to eat any of it.
Fionn cooked the salmon carefully, turning it over and over. To check if it was ready, he touched the fish with his thumb. A drop of hot cooking fat burned his finger! To ease the pain, Fionn quickly sucked on his burned thumb. What Fionn didn't know was that all the salmon's amazing wisdom had gathered in that one tiny drop of fat.
When Fionn brought the cooked salmon to Finn Eces, his master noticed something different. Fionn's eyes seemed to shine with a new, deep wisdom. Finn Eces asked Fionn if he had eaten any of the fish. Fionn said no, and explained what had happened with his burned finger. Finn Eces immediately understood that Fionn had received the salmon's wisdom. So, he told Fionn to eat the rest of the fish.
Fionn ate the salmon and gained all the knowledge of the world. For the rest of his life, whenever Fionn needed to access this deep wisdom, he just had to bite his thumb. This incredible knowledge and wisdom from the Salmon of Knowledge helped Fionn become the great leader of the Fianna. The Fianna were famous heroes in Irish myths.
Other Wisdom Stories
In Irish mythology, there are other ancient beings who are very old and wise. They are sometimes described as taking the shape of a salmon. Two important examples are Fintan mac Bóchra and Tuan mac Cairill.
Similar stories about gaining wisdom by eating something special can be found in other cultures too:
- In Welsh mythology, there's a story about the poet Taliesin. He gained his wisdom in a similar way, and it also involved changing shape, like turning into a fish or an otter.
- In the Icelandic Volsunga Saga, the hero Sigurd tastes the heart of a dragon he has slain. By doing this, he gains the ability to understand the speech of birds. The birds then warn him about a planned betrayal.
- Another tale from the 12th century, told by Saxo Grammaticus, describes how a character named Eric became wise by eating a special stew.
These stories show a common idea in old legends: that eating certain magical creatures or parts of them can give someone special knowledge or powers.
Images for kids
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Close-up view of scales on The Big Fish or Salmon of Knowledge sculpture in Belfast
See also
In Spanish: Salmón de la Sabiduría para niños
