Gods, Myths and Heroes - Part 56

 Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad

Today we have a Celtic myth about Cu Chulainn, who has been called the Irish Achilles, from the Irish Ulster Cycle.  Cu Chulainn was the son of the god Lugh and a mortal mother.  He lived in Ulster (northern Ireland).  As a child, he was named Setanta until he was attacked by the fierce guard dog of the smith Culann.  After killing the dog in self defense, he offered to take its place as a guard until a replacement could be found, earning the name Cu Chulainn (the hound of Culann).

Above, from the Tain Wall in Dublin, which depicts incidents in the story of Cu Chulainn, we see the boy Setanta fighting the dog.

Homosexuality was accepted in Celtic culture.  Aristotle wrote in the 4th century BC that the Celtic peoples "openly approve of male love."  In the 1st century, the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus noted that Celtic men preferred to have sex with each other, and it was an insult if a guest refused an offer of sex from a Celtic man.

So it was with Cu Chulainn and his foster brother Ferdiad, who was his best friend as well as his lover.  Above, a modern painting showing Aengus, the Irish god of youth and love, at right, blessing Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad.

Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad were both great fighters, equal in the use of all weapons with two exceptions: Ferdiad had horn-like skin which no weapon could pierce, and Cu Chulainn had a magic spear called the Gáe Bulg.  He was given this spear by the great warrior Scáthach, who, by the way, was a woman.  This spear had to be thrown with the feet, not the hands, and once it pierced its victim, seven barbs (or thirty, depending on the version of the myth) sprang out, killing the victim.

Ferdiad had been exiled from Ulster for some reason, and he went to Connacht (western Ireland).  He became a warrior in the army of Connacht.  When Connacht invaded Ulster,  Cu Chulainn invoked the right of single combat to defend a ford that the Connacht army had to cross.  According to the rules, one warrior from each side would fight each other, and both sides would accept the outcome.  Of course, Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad ended up fighting each other.  They fought for three days at the ford (above, on the Tain Wall).

Some writers today say that Cu Chulainn and Ferdiad were just friends, not lovers, but consider this: at the end of each day of fighting in the strangely ritualistic single combat at the ford, they threw down their weapons, and then “they came up to each other and each put his arm round the other’s neck and gave him three kisses.”  That sounds to me like they were more than friends.

On the last day of their fight, Cu Chulainn sent for the Gáe Bulg spear.  Cu Chulainn threw a light spear at Ferdiad's chest, causing him to raise his shield, and then Cu Chulainn picked up the Gáe Bulg with his toes and thrust it up Ferdiad's asshole.  Yes, that's really part of the myth.  I couldn't find any paintings or sculptures illustrating this interesting combat technique, so we'll have to imagine that the rod above is the Gáe Bulg.  Ferdiad's skin could not be pierced, but his asshole could, as Cu Chulainn presumably knew from personal experience.  Then the barbs of the Gáe Bulg sprang out inside Ferdiad, killing him.

Although Cu Chulainn had won a great victory, he was overcome with remorse at killing his friend and lover.  Above is a statue in Ardee, County Lough, Ireland, the town where the ford where they fought is located.  It shows Cu Chulainn carrying away the body of Ferdiad after he killed him.  A unique Irish tragedy.

World Naked Bike Ride - Part 65

 Amsterdam 2022

This guy caught my attention in the Amsterdam World Naked Bike Ride in 2022.  Less = More.  Certainly true when it comes to clothing.

Here he is from the front in Frankendael park, where the riders gather before the ride starts.  I think the glasses are a gimmick.  In most of the other photos, he's either not wearing them or peering over them.

Is he bending down to get something, or as an invitation to Pinocchio, whom we have seen before at these events? 

Maybe it worked.

The riders head out along the Amstel river.

They stop on the Magere bridge.  It's a drawbridge, so maybe they had to wait for boat traffic.

On the bridge, we get a good look at his body paint, including the tongue.

And here he is peering over his glasses at us.  Less is definitely more.

We end with this newly married couple who showed up in Frankendael park for wedding pictures while the WNBR riders were gathering.  That will give them something to remember!

Thanksgiving 2024

Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving, and today's post is about stuffing.  And who better to show us how to do stuffing than Adrian De Berardinis, the Bear Naked Chef (above)?  Adrian started his cooking show in 2015, and unlike conventional cooking shows on TV, Adrian's show was produced online and viewed on YouTube.

The Bear Naked Chef is a bear, and he's (almost) naked on his show, wearing only socks and a skimpy apron that covers his front but not his rear, as you can see in the clip above.

When he's not on his show he's even more naked.  Here he is, at left, in the kitchen with two friends.

Outside the show, there's no need to wear an apron.  Above is a shot from his Twitter page.  Bear naked, indeed!

Here's another rear view.  And that brings us to the stuffing ...

The clip above is from a video of the Bear Naked Chef and a friend showing us how they do stuffing.

Now, who else wants some stuffing?

Olympics - Part 10

2000 Olympics, Sydney

The 2000 Olympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia.  Above, a one crown coin from the Isle of Man celebrating the Sydney Olympics.

Let's look at some of the athletes who competed in the 2000 Olympics.  Boxer Hugo Hernan Garay represented Argentina.  Above, he weighs in naked at a match in 2010.

Australian diver Dean Pullar, above, won a bronze medal.

Spanish tennis player Alex Corretja also won bronze.

U.S. gymnast Steve McCain.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps competed in the 2000 Olympics at age 16.  He also competed in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, winning a total of 23 gold medals, more than any other Olympic athlete in history.  He appeared nude, above, in the ESPN Body Issue in 2014.

British swimmer Darren Mew.

Czech decathlete Roman Seberle won silver in 2000 and gold in 2004.

French decathlete Laurent Hernu posing as Atlas.

Australian swimmer Grant Hackett won gold in 2000 and 2004 and silver in 2008.

British athlete Phillips Idowu competed in the Triple Jump from 2000 to 2012 and won silver in 2008.

French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil.

We end with French swimmer Frederick Bousquet, above, who competed in the Olympics from 2000 to 2016.  He won a silver medal in the 4x100 meters freestyle relay in 2008.

In 2008, some photos of him became public.  He had taken them with a webcam.  Although his face isn't visible, he's recognizable from his tattoos.

Yes, that's him.

Next time: the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens.

Performers - Part 60

 Album Covers part 6

Here are some more album covers featuring nudes.  Among the confusion of images on Fuck You All by Capathian Forest, 2006, is a nude torso with an erection.

You can click on any of these images for a larger version.

Unholy Hangover by Cryfemal, 2011, actually shows a guy getting sucked.

Full Circle by The Doors, 1972, is much more discreet, with a naked "boy becomes man" progression.

Likewise, Then Play On by Fleetwood Mac, 1969 has restrained nudity.

But Dick Sandwich by Frenzel Rhomb, 1994, pulls no punches.

Gilgamesh's 1996 album is merely a Vulgar Display of Ass.

Another display of ass on Moontan, 1974.

We end with a rocketing, exploding cock in Cumikaze by GPF, 2019.

Vintage Military - Part 66

Celtic Warriors, part 1

Today we start a mini-series on Celtic warriors.  Above is a painting of the battle of Telamon in northern Italy in 225 BC between the Romans and the Celtic tribes.  The historian Polybius wrote that the Gaesetae (Celts) fought naked to display their confidence and intimidate the enemy.  (However, the Romans won the battle.)

Above, Celtic warriors in Britain, c. 150 BC.  Note that the man in the center, probably the chieftain, is wearing a kind of distinctive U-shaped Celtic necklace called a torc or torque.

We think of Scotland and Ireland as being Celtic, but in the time of ancient Greece and Rome, there were Celtic tribes in France, central Europe, and even into Turkey.

A painting of an ancient Scottish Celtic warrior.  Not all Celtic warriors were naked.  The ancient historian Diodorus Siculus wrote, “Some use iron breast-plates in battle, while others fight naked, trusting only in the protection which nature gives.”

By the way, Celt is pronounced "Kelt" and Celtic is pronounced "Keltic."  And yes, I know how the Boston Celtics pronounce it.

A Pict warrior, engraving by Theodore de Bry colored by John White, 1588.  The Picts were the Celts living in Scotland.  The Romans conquered England, but they never conquered Scotland or Ireland.

A Pict warrior, John White, 1585-1593.

The next three pictures are from the book Il Costumo Antico e Moderno (Ancient and Modern Costumes) by Guilio Ferrario, 1837.  Above, Ancient Celtic Warriors Dressed for Battle with a Shaman.  The shaman is presumably the one with the deer antlers.

German Militia Leaders  from the same book.  Remember, the "Germans" in the time of ancient Rome were actually Celtic tribes.

Germanic Hunters and Warriors from the same book.

A modern representation of a Celtic warrior by Maria Lashkevich based on grave goods found in Ciumești, Romania dating to the 3rd century BC.

Finally, some Celtic soldiers today.  They don't go into battle naked.  But, as a gust of wind reveals, they're naked under their kilts.

(Note: I got this photo from Big Whack Attack.  Thanks, Pat!)

Next time: Celtic warrior statues.