The Unbelievably Tragic Story of Cú Chulainn | Fate & Fabled
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- Опубликовано: 29 мар 2023
- In Irish folklore, Cú Chulainn was one of the greatest warriors ever to live. From his first battle against a vicious hound at the age of 6 to his last against an entire army just two decades later, Cú Chulainn lived a legendary, but short life. Some might call him a tragic hero, but is it tragic to get everything you ever wanted?
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Hosted by Dr. Moiya McTier & Dr. Emily Zarka, FATE & FABLED explores the stories and characters of mythologies from all around the world - why they came to be and how they impact us still today.
Host / Writer: Moiya McTier, PhD
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Thomas Fernandes
Editor / Animator: Steven Simone
Assistant Editor: Jordyn Buckland
Illustrator: Sophie Calhoun
Script Editors: Emily Zarka, PhD & Moiya McTier, PhD
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy
Additional Footage: Shutterstock
Music: APM Music
Executive in Charge (PBS): Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming (PBS): John Campbell
Fate & Fabled is produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
Descriptive Audio & Captions provided by The Described and Captioned Media Program
Growing up in Ireland I've been learning about this guy for years. He's basically like an Irish Hercules. I wish this guy was more well-known world wide.
Celtic mythology is underrated, my favorite would have to be the Dagda.
The Gae Bulg definitely shows up in many RPGs, especially the Final Fantasy series.
You will surprise how popular he is in certain fandom (Fate/ Stay Night more specifically from Fate Zero). Although they took many liberty on how he is portrayed, his backstory and character stay true to the original interpretation.
He's one of the heroes I was introduced to via the Fate franchise. Him, and others.
The MOBA Smite has him as a playable character. I knew about him that way.
It's worth pointing out that he also ended up killing both his son and his best friend, though in different circumstances and not at the same time- his son was being a cocky brat and Cu Chulainn didn't know who he was, while his best friend, Ferdiad, was eventually forced to fight him as part of Queen Mebd's army.
It didn't help that his son was specifically instructed by his mother not to tell anyone but his father who he was. The two, of course, got to fighting before either could introduce themselves.
My partners theatre company created an original play called the Hound of Chulainn based on this myth. We are part of an organisation that trains people in doing theatrical violence, and we do scenes from mostly plays and some other works for an Adjudicator to keep our weapons certifications up to date. The scene from that play where Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad fight - foster brothers and best friends who are a close to well-matched in skill as anyone can be to Cu Chulainn, destined in this fight for one to end the other, and neither seeming to understand the consequences of this fight in quite the same way - it's wonderful and heartbreaking. I've performed that scene and seen it performed for tests many many times at this point, but it never fails to pierce my chest watching the mix of desperation, pride, humility, enjoyment, love, confusion, from acceptance, surprise, and grief in that scene. I really wish more people could see it.
Fell in love with characters like Cu, Medb, and Finn the the Fate anime and games. Absolutely thrilled to have more Celtic content.
Fate seems to like their Irish spearmen. Both lancers in the original Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Zero were from Celtic mythology
Eyyyyy I'm here for this.
And always remember, "Being Lancer is suffering!"😛
“RANSA GA SHINDA!”
-Almost everyone at some point in Fate Grand Carnival
@@RocketSlug not a lot of mythological heroes were known spear users
Cú Chulainn is probobly one of the most badass mythical figures I have ever heard of. The man was literally the hulk but even more metal. I love it.
He wasn't anything like hulk at all. It only shows how little you know about him and mythology in general.
@@Ousvec He transformed into a monster sometimes when sufficiently angered, that is kind of enough to be compared to the hulk
The pronounciation of his name correctly is a welcome suprise we don’t hear often when he gets mentioned online, usually Irish names get butchered !
It is glorious to not only have Cú Chulainn show up in his own episode of Storied/Fate & Fabled, but to FINALLY get to hear the proper pronunciation! Correct Gaelic pronunciations are few and very far between here in Australia.
Isn't that their job?
@@itsgonnabeanaurfromme Well I suppose their job is to teach people about folklore and stuff, and here on youtube a lot of Irish folklore/mythology covered has very poor Irish pronounciation, so it’s more of a welcome suprise
I find the hard ch jarring. I grew up hearing the ch pronounced as in German ich or Scottish loch
@@breretla yeah the correct way the "ch" is pronounced is with /x/ when broad (with vowel A O U,l and /ç/ when slender (I E)
But many even in ireland opt for /k/
Honestly, one of the greatest heroes of folklore in general. And I really love the backstory of his famous name and what it actually means.
Short version: his birth name was Setanta. When he was a teenager, he was late to a dinner at the home of Cullen the Smith---who'd let his big, fierce, watchdog out. The dog attacked him and he killed it bare-handed. Then, make up for doing so, he took on the watchdog job until another could be bred and reared. Thus be became 'The Hound of Cullen.' _Cu_ is Irish Gaelic for dog.
@@julietfischer5056 yes exactly. I really liked that nice detail when I first read it
Fun detail about Cú Chulainn is that his beardlessness was enough of a problem that, as a kid, he once stuck grass to his face so that he could get the older boys to fight him.
Awww, that’s cute
Green bearded irish guy
As an Irish man I first heard the story of Cú Chulainn as a child,although that version was a more sanitized or child friendly version. I learned many of the more grisly details when I was older.It's always nice to see Irish mythology get some recognition. An interesting little bit of trivia is that the character Sláine from the comic 2000 AD is partially based on Cú Chulainn. All in all I really enjoyed this video.
Celtic myth and legend doesn't get enough love.
The whole reason the men of Ulster were cursed was because a pregnant woman was forced to race against horses. Also, in another version, it was labor pain not just menstrual.
When I studied the cycle I was to understand it was birth pangs the warriors suffered with for their curse, far more debilitating than menstrual cramps for sure
Her name was Macha btw and she was the Queen of the Túatha De Danán if I’m not mistaken.
@@Tim_Beitel Thanks! I'd forgotten how to spell that. I think I read once Macha was one part of The Morrigan. Celtic Myth has several triple goddesses iirc.
@@theasinclaire52 yup. Also when she gives birth her babies are stillborn from the exertion of the race. I feel like this story is really important. And it serves as a reminder of how men have been taking women for granted and mistreating them for centuries. So much so that someone in ancient Ireland told a story about it. Maybe that’s just my interpretation of it, though
@@Tim_Beitel I like your interpretation. Maybe more men would have a little more empathy if they could experience what we do.
Sounds more like the Irish equivalent of Achilles both Heroes had a fatal flaw and a maddening rage they couldn't control.
I cannot for the life of me understand where the 'He's an Irish Heracles' line comes from, other than they're both very strong. But as you say, he has always had more in line with Achilles: destined to live short but glorious lives and the focal figures of their people's most important respective epics. Fionn is a figure much more in line with Heracles, as both are pan-Gaelic/ Hellenic heroes with countless stories set throughout their respective worlds.
@@trevorhanley833fate unlimited blade works abridged
Love you both, seeing you paired up to tell us this story was even better!
No mention of the Morrigan and her importance in dealing with the Hound of Ulster's fate? She has such a big role to play on how his life unfolds.
Or Ferdiad for that matter!
I came here to say the same.
The Morrigan Academy in Ireland setting the record straight there
We need more movies, books, video games about Irish folklore, mythology and history
I adore Irish mythology so I'm so glad that you have covered one of the greatest figures in the genre. Thank you!
From Miracle of Sound's "The Tale of Cú Chulainn"
"And the name Cú Chulainn
Was sung out loud that night
In a tale of rage and ruin and of might
And the name Cú Chulainn
So furious and wild
To remain in myth and memory
A legend of the isle"
My favorite Lancer!
Lancer ga shinda!
The men of Ulster were cursed with menstrual/labour pains by the goddess Macha in revenge for humiliating her by forcing her to race the kings horses. Queen Medb discovered this and picked the date to attack for that reason. The story went that Macha married a farmer after his wife died and asked him not to let anyone know who she was. Years later, the farmer went to a feast and got drunk claiming his pregnant wife could best the kings horses in a race. The enraged king of Ulster demanded his wife race or he would execute the farmer. Macha won easily but went into labour immediately after giving birth to twins. She cursed all the assembled men of Ulster that they would feel "a woman's pain" on the day of their greatest need. The spot she gave birth on was reputedly known as Emhain Macha or the town of Armagh today.
I learned about this character from playing Persona and Raidou Kuzunoha. Of course, having only written forms of exposure, I always "pronounced" (air quotes because it's in my head, never had any reason to say it out loud) the name like "Choo Choo Lane".
I am extremely thankful to now know how it's properly pronounced and will not embarass myself in future conversations.
I first saw him in Final Fantasy Tactics albeit with a mistranslated name he was depicted differently there then eventually I discovered Shin Megami Tensei games where his Setanta and Cu Chulainn incarnations (and even Scathach) can be played.
Cu chulainn. Ah yes, first introduced to me via the Fate series of anime and visual novel works and was my introduction to the world of Irish mythology. Famously unlucky both in his OG myth and modern takes...
Lancer ga shin da!!!
kono hito de nashi!!!
i'm here for this
🫥
I really enjoyed the two person storytelling.
Right? Excellent technique.
I am really inspired by your work.
The story of Cù Chulainn is Amazing.
More than a Hero, he becomes a Symbol.
Heh, my first introduction to him was in college D&D group, where one of our players had Sétanta as a character, armed with javelins and doing impossible damage (specialization). He was big into Celtic folklore, so I had to look it up.
...also, the men having menstrual pain was a curse they brought on themselves...that's also a good story.
He was in the 1st ed Deities & Demigods along with Lugh
@@AuntieDawnsKitchen Thanks! I came in at AD&D, which I guess is 2nd edition these days. Have a couple books from 1st edition, but were never used for a campaign I played. Buddy "upgrading" gave them to me.
Male Warriors: "How can you fight over all this pain?"[while they were under the enemy queen's curse]
Female Warriors: " The secret is: I'm always in pain!"
2:09
Dr. Z's little "Whew!" just gave me so much life, I'll live 'til I'm at least 128.
Inspired by my cockatiel Archimedes!-*Dr.Z*
I love learning about mythologies outside the "big 3 (Greek, Egyptian, and Norse)"
Never clicked a video as fast as this one. The story of Cú Chulainn is one of my favorites!
I learned about Cu Chulainn from the excellent Miracle of Sound song about him. Highly recommend giving it a listen! It's called "The Tale of Cu Chulainn."
And The Pouges, The Sick Bed of Cu Chuliann.
Huh, this is the first time I've heard the curse being described as menstrual pain. Every other telling that I've read or heard said that the army was afflicted with labor pain. Which I can't say that I've read every version of this story that exists, but that definitely is an unfamiliar detail.
It is labor "pangs", as may be read in the original text! It is specifically labor pangs, as to reflect the curse by Macha, who was unfairly forced to give birth during a race. There's a wonderful translation widely available by Thomas Kinsella (an an updated one by Ciarán Carson, with slightly different core texts selected).
I love the fact that you included the H. R. Miller image of Emer rebuking Cú Chulainn, also another fascinating tale on it's own.
I think the only thing funny about it is that when this character was adapted onto the Fate series by Type-Moon, there’s a certain running gag about his tragic nature, fully blown into epic proportions when the parodic Carnival Phantasm and its sequel Fate Grand Carnival came into be. Those unfamiliar with his origins possibly known him from this game series, and his unusual list of tragic ends.
Man I was obsessed with this character ever since I read a book about world myths as a kid. The fact that one eyeball goes into his head, the other WAY out and that his mouth gets so wide when he gets mad was so cool to me (still is lol).
Great episode! I love the story and the dynamic you two bring into it.
Fate/Stay night gang, where you at! 👀
Birds fly, fish swim, and Lancer dies.
@@innegativeion Lancer is gonna die again.
Lancer ga shinda
A really nice snapshot of Cú Chulainn. Well done! In an extra interesting titbit, I recently attended a queer retelling of his life focussing on his relationship with his best friend/lover Ferdia, who eventually became the champion of the rival army in the ulster cycle who he had to face in battle. Stories evolve with the times, and (as an Irish storyteller) I'm really impressed with the work you put into this one. Comhghairdeas libh !
Just the other night I was watching the Fate / Stay Night movies, so this is a bit of a serendipitous treat.
He is a mainstay in Rate Stay the Night and the Type Moon series. Funny thing is that he gets pitted against Hercules as the Berserker. CuChulain famously had a Berserker form of his own so that seemed a little peculiar. I knew about him since my High School days.
Wasn't expecting SMITE to be brought up in a Fate & Fabled video, but I'm here for it! I've always been a fan of mythology, but playing the game with my husband introduced me to more gods, goddesses, and folkloric heroes that I otherwise would've likely never heard of, which I think is pretty neat!
Wow, love seeing this!
Ah, Satanta. ❤ More Irish myths, please! Love this programme!
Awesome thanks guys love your videos ❤
Great video! Cú Chulainn is one of my favorite heroes from mythology.
The Celtic Incredible Hulk. Now this gets interesting...
How dare you just stand there and flex your functional pockets by putting your hands in them!
Dr. Z, and everyone, The Irish band, The Pouges song, The Sick Bed of Cu Chulainn is a worthwhile entry in the tales of this mythical hero.
(As this is a family friendly channel, let me say there are just a bit of not family friendly lyriics in the song.)
Y'all should do Pwyll and Rhiannon! My favorite Fleetwood Mac song is about her!
Poor Rhiannon. She really got shafted in her story.
@@theasinclaire52 she really does. Taken by the sky.
They really undersold just how gnarly his riastrad were:
“The first warp-spasm seized Cúchulainn, and made him into a monstrous thing, hideous and shapeless, unheard of. His shanks and his joints, every knuckle and angle and organ from head to foot, shook like a tree in the flood or a reed in the stream. His body made a furious twist inside his skin, so that his feet and shins switched to the rear and his heels and calves switched to the front... On his head the temple-sinews stretched to the nape of his neck, each mighty, immense, measureless knob as big as the head of a month-old child... he sucked one eye so deep into his head that a wild crane couldn't probe it onto his cheek out of the depths of his skull; the other eye fell out along his cheek. His mouth weirdly distorted: his cheek peeled back from his jaws until the gullet appeared, his lungs and his liver flapped in his mouth and throat, his lower jaw struck the upper a lion-killing blow, and fiery flakes large as a ram's fleece reached his mouth from his throat... The hair of his head twisted like the tangle of a red thornbush stuck in a gap; if a royal apple tree with all its kingly fruit were shaken above him, scarce an apple would reach the ground but each would be spiked on a bristle of his hair as it stood up on his scalp with rage.”
Thank you very much!
I most especially love when y'all cover these type of myths, because it's SO NICE to hear everything pronounced. I have never mastered any pronunciations of ANY Celtic mythological figures, to my shame :( Not even the ones mentioned in my favorite book of tales surrounding Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
I don't mean to be negative but as an irish lady I can tell you that while the pronunciation isn't way off some of syllable emphasis is very " American " and grates quite badly. If you want correct pronunciation best to listen to a proper irish language speaker, not an American presenter.
@@georginaturner1237 That's insulting.
@@AmandaFromWisconsin It is.
@Amanda From Wisconsin it's rude of me to point out that someone using an anglicised spelling and making no effort to alter their own American accent is mispronouncing the names in my native culture's myths and legends? Wow. A foreign presenter, who's expertise is in the literature not the language, isn't likely to be correct. Irish speakers use different areas of the mouth and in some cases different phonics completely to say these names. I pointed out absolutely accurately that she was American and therefore not authentic. I have no idea what your issue is but I'm not interested in anyone being lead to believe that her way of speaking is an accurate representation of my culture. It's quite ridiculous.
The description of the smooth face, and not being laid low by menstrual pain, had me imagining Cu as trans masc.
But, the story was cool, I enjoyed it, and it filled in some gaps in my knowledge base.
Great episode, it's a treat to see Dr. Z and Dr. McT team up!
I'm not sure where I first read about Cú Chulainn, but one of my favorite random adaptations is a '70s concept album by the rock band Horslips called "The Táin."
Oh, excellent! One of my favorite legends, the Hounnd of Cullen, and the Order of the Red Branch.
This is great stuff!
2:09 LOL Love you Dr.Z
One of my favorite dnd spells is geas. It allows you to bestow a geas that deals psychic damage to a target once broken, and requires multiple saves to even do that. It's incredibly useful for certain settings
Love this team up!
I've read a few books about CuChulaim. I'm surprised no one has made a movie about him yet.
I recommend everyone find the boom "Red Branch" and read it if you're interested in this person/myth.
Please, do a video talking about the Curupira! He is a folkorical being from Brazil. He has a very interisting background and i think you would really like it.
My Manx cat is named Finn McCool, but I know relatively little of his namesake, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Would love to see an episode on that legend.
Thank you.
Could you please do a video on Macca who caused the curse? It's an awesome story!
Heck yeah! Let's go!!
you gotta do some videos on Kalevala someday. these are great!
There's an amazing song done by an irish singer Gavin Dunne (Miracle Of Sound) all about this guy, it's a reeeeeally good one with a wonderful irish musical style
You forgot to mention that he tied himself to that stone with his own entrails! And that when his killer approached his dead body, it chopped the guy's arm off.
Metal. As. Fuck.
As someone obsessed with mythology, I appreciate the research and history on such a prominent, yet not as well knowns, mythological figure.
As someone obsessed with games, I appreciate now *maybe* knowing how to pronounce Gáe Bulg.
Yooooo! My boy Lancer over here! I was waiting for his turn on this channel and, yeah, his luck really sucks.
I’ve actually been researching him recently😅 like for the last two weeks
What an interesting and enjoyable video :)
"Pray tell me the story of young Cuchulainn
How his eyes were dark
his expression sullen"
Roisin Dubh - Thin Lizzy
Excellent work on some pretty difficult pronunciations for a non Irish person. Really liked this video
Dr. Z has Irish ancestry.
It's pretty progressive that even in these times men were aware that menstrual pains can be debilitating enough to stop you from going into battle. It seems that in the past people were more informed on some aspects of biology than many are today.
Also, damn good argument to use when someone tells you menstrual pains aren't that bad... "Hey, if Ulster's army got incapacitated by this, then you know it's bad"
Woo! Fate and Fabled!
Brasileiros que não tem maturidade pra esse título: vocês não estão sozinhos.
FINALLY!!! Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, and the epic of gilgamesh, would be greate too, love their stories
I first came across Cu Chulainn from the show "Gargoyles". They had an episode about the Hound of Ulster and Cu Chulainn's modern day reincarnation.
Fate stay/night Lancer was an absolute unit of a Servant
No references to his duel with Ferdiad, his friend/"brother"/ and lover? When I first read the Tain, it was that episode that struck me the most. Also the fact that Cu C only won that duel, and the war, by the skin of his teeth. This is meant to be a short video, cool, but you missed certain very important parts of his story. Either way, it was well done.
Blue tights ! Blue tights !
Only one problem with Fate and Fabled explanation of Cu Chulainn's story in this episode. Failed to mention that it wasn't just Cu Chulainn's flaw "Hubris" that got him killed. It was the Phantom Queen, Moragan, who fell in love with him but Cu Chulainn rejected her advances thus was cursed until his death. That's what happened.
What a rare case of YT actually knowing what I need, when just within the hour I was musing over the fact that I have NO idea how to pronounce Cu Chulainn.
Cattle was valuable everywhere in ancient times! Hell cattle is STILL valuable
I swear Cu is an shonen anime protagonist who somehow ended up in ancient Ireland
@Cameron Grow
Nope!
Cu is an Shonen Tokusatsu protagonist than an Shonen Anime protagonist.
Damn i first found this dude in fate stay night
Appreciate that they pronounced the names correctly.
Wish Id seen this come out a month ago. I've been getting into celtic lore and legend. Mostly Irish but also scottish, and welsh. as well as the ancient celtiberians and the gauls of course.
Ah, Cu Chulainn my favorite dog!!
Poor Irish Hercules. Lancer ga shinda!
Oh please do a video on
Finvarra, also called Finvara,[1] Finn Bheara,[2] Finbeara[3] or Fionnbharr,[4] is the king of the Daoine Sidhe of western Ireland in Irish folklore. In some legends, he is also the ruler of the dead.[5] Finvarra is a benevolent figure, associated with horses, who ensures good harvests and rewards mortals with riches.[6]
According to legend, Finvarra lives beneath Cnoc Meadha or Knockma, a hill near Tuam in County Galway; this hill was traditionally associated with the fairies. There is a cairn on the hill, marked as "Finvarra's castle" on at least one map.[7]
Dáithí Ó hÓgáin suggests that Finvarra's name comes from findbharr, “fair top,” originally referring to the top of the hill or a cairn there, and was later repurposed as the name of a deity who lived there.[8]
Legends of Finvarra and his connection with Knockma survived into later folklore, where he was considered the king of the fairies, particularly of Connacht.[12] Local beliefs held that the doings of the fairies influenced the local crops. Whenever Finvarra lived in the hill it was a good year for the country, and when he was absent, it would be a bad year.[2] His battles and hurling matches affected the health of the crops; when his people defeated the fairies of other provinces, the crops of Connacht bloomed.[8] There was a rivalry between the Munster fairy king and Finvarra. Famine was attributed to disturbances in the fairy world, and one folk informant claimed to have seen the "good people" fighting in the sky over Knock Ma.[1] According to many tales, Finvarra would invite humans into his underground palace for feasts.[8][3]
Finvarra has a beautiful queen named Onagh or Una,[13] or other versions, Nuala.[3][14] However, he often steals away human women as lovers. In the story of "Ethna the Bride," Finvarra kidnaps Ethna, the loveliest woman in Ireland. Her husband is able to win her back by digging into the fairy hill of Knockma and salting the earth. Ethna returns but falls into a deep sleep since Finvarra has kept her soul. Her husband revives her by removing a girdle and fairy pin that she had been dressed in by the fairies.[15] With Finvarra's role as a ruler of the dead, this story bears a resemblance to the ballad of Sir Orfeo.[5] It also has similarities to the story of Midir and Étaín.
In another story, a man who foolishly stays out late on Halloween is swept along with a group of fairies on their way to a fair. He meets their king Finvarra and his wife, and realizes that the people around him are spirits of the dead. They force him to dance until he passes out, and he wakes up the next morning in a stone circle, covered in bruises.[16]
Finnbheara can also be benevolent in folk legends, such as one where he heals a woman. He is strongly associated with horses. In one story, he goes to a blacksmith to have his three-legged horse shod, and the next day a pound note flies to the blacksmith on the wind.[17] In another tradition, Finvar watched over the Kirwan family who lived in Castle Hackett near Knockma. Finvar and his people would carouse and drink in the Castle cellars, but left the cellars always well-stocked and the wine improved. They would also exercise the race-horses late at night, granting them speed and good fortune in the races.[18] In another story, a member of the Hacket family was unable to find a good jockey for a race, so Finnbheara himself appeared, rode the horse, and disappeared after winning the race.[8]
Irish myth has so much in common with vedic stories. The concept of boons and curses is nearly identical to the concept of geis. And in my eyes cu chullain is basically an irish karnan with an irrepressible rage
oh yeah! my boy cuchulainn finally gets to fate and fabled..
Love that Gargoyles touched upon this legend. And I would be remiss if the renowned “Song of the Sea” wasn’t given a shout out.
Biiiitch... why did I just find out that Setanta and Cu Chulainn are the same fucking person?! All those Fate Stay/Night fanfics featuring Scathach are starting to make so much more sense now.😭
My favorite mythical hero I really hope I can play him in a movie one day
My professor (an avid Celtophile) pronounced it something like Coo-Hoo-Lin.
This is how I learned to pronounce his name.
Your professor pronounces it incorrectly
@@msdabrenn How should it be pronounced, then?
@@madbradfreeman Coo Cullen
@@justbeyondthecornerproduct3540 Yes! Rhymes with sullen.
Irish rockers Thin Lizzy even give him a nod in their epic homage to the culture of the Emerald Isle "Róisín Dubh":
Pray, tell me the story of young Cu Chulainn
How his eyes were dark his expression sullen
And how he'd fight and always won
And how they cried when he was fallen
Thin Lizzy is a ligit piece of Irish cultural history. They themselves are a bit of a Black Rose.
that one line from hozier's "swan upon leda" makes more sense now 😶
There's a really cool graphic novel from Dark Horse that came recently all about Cu Chulainn. It's really cool.
I am going to look for it, thanks for posting!
This is a uniquely academic and insightful mythology guide for RUclips. I went to university to study this stuff. Much respect!