Stories in the landscape of Uzbekistan

Sunrise over Khiva

.One of the best travel experiences is to have all your preconceived perceptions overthrown without having time to gathered them up again. Join Chris as she explores the unexpected 'stories in the landscape' encountered in a recent trip to Uzbekistan.

market in Tashkent

Links for this episode

Find out more about Igor Savitsky and the Museum gallery in Nukus as well as the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan

Take a look at some images of the Tashkent metro.

Find out more anout the 2025 Bukhara Biannial

Explore a gallery page of images and more

The Ulugh Beg Madrasa: Samarkand

Thanks

Thanks to my wonderful travelling companions Jackie and Phil. The chances of sharing this visit with a history teacher and a comparative mythologist must have been extremely unlikely but I couldn't have had more thoughtful and interesting companions. Your insights and interests really enhanced the whole experience. Thanks also to our guide KiKi who was knowledgeable , patient and, well, fun!

Thanks also to Travel the Unknown a company I would highly recommend for their friendly, easily accessed support, choice of trips, and flexibility.

This audio re-telling of ‘The Battle of Moytura’ is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In this final part. The heroes Ogma, the Dagda along with Lugh set out to put things right ensuring the land will become green and growing once more.

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Notes for this story

In this final section. Lugh, The Dagda and Ogma go to an un-named Fomoire feasting hall to recover the Dagda's harp. The Irish harp became a symbol representingIreland from the fouding of the Irish Free State in 1922 and had appeared on flags representing national and cultural identity long before that. It still appears on passports, coins and many official documents. Whether the symbol of the harp refers back to the Dagda's 'Harp of the Four Quarters' is doubtful but the Irish harp and the unique skills and knowledge of the early harpers is certain.

If you would like to read the poetry of the Morrigan in translation you can find Isolde's unique translations here. These are very hard to find elsewhere as the early Irish is very obscure.

Moytura secion 162 -167

Appologies for the slightly husky voice. I will re-record once my voice has recovered

Statue of Turlough O'Carolan in Mohill Leitrim

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

his audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 11: The Great Battle, the Dé Danann, and the Fomoire come to blows and we discover what happens when the giant, Balor's withering eye is finally opened.

The Labby rock

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The Labby rock is a portal Domen. In folklore it is said to be the place where Nuada was buried.

You can find the site where the Moytura story is set on the high plain to the east of Lough Arrow in County Sligo.

Moytura 127 - 161

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Heapstown Cairn

This audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 10: The Well and the Forge, Dian Cécht and Goibnu keep their promises but there are tragic results for Ruadhán, son of Bres when the Fomoire strike back.

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Find out more about The Well of Octriul: Heapstown Cairn

Notes for this story

You can still see Octriallach’s cairn. It is near Loch Arrow. and today it is known as Heapstown cairn.  It is a megalithic passage tomb around 5000 years old and was once much higher than it is today.

Keening was a traditional Irish form of vocal lament for the dead practiced by women until the early part of the 20th C. This tale suggests that it was connected with Brig.

Cath Maige Tuired: 122 -126

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

This audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 9: The Muster, Lugh gathers together the finest heroes and craftsmen from the Tuatha Dé Danann to find out just what marvels they can offer!

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Notes for this story

Part 9 is shorter and just offers the one story. Although nothing much happens it represents an important 'breathing space' before the events of the main battle begin. This is one of the sections of the text that demonstrates the tales oral origins.It is there to remind the audience of the main characters and all their special abilities.

Cath Maige Tuired: 95-121

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

This audio re-telling of 'The Battle of Moytura' is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 8, What the Dagda Did Next , the 'Big Man' gets to consume a whole cauldron of food all by himself goes on to and encounters two extraordinary women Battle Poets.

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Notes for this story

I have had to take a slightly 'Lady Gregory' approach to this section as the description of the encounter between Dagda and Indech's daughter is, somewhat, explicit, and I want to ensure these re-tellings are fully appropriate for an older primary age-group, as well as an adult one.

This encounter includes an example of a poetic 'battle-rap.' The original sequence which begins with the Dagda's name wordplay has the quality of early Rosc poetry where each short alliterative line re-translates the one that goes before. For more listen to this podcast conversation or read Isolde's post on the Names of the Dagda.

It is well worth re-telling these stories as they introduce two of these powerful battle poets and illustrate the inportant roles expected to be undertaken by women in these early stories.

Cath Maige Tuired: 83 - 94

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Lugh: Jim Fitzpatrick

The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 7, The Arrival of the Ildánach , the looming dread of invadion by the Fomoire is met by the arrival of a remarkable stranger. But will this help?

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Notes for this story

This is a slightly shorter chapter, running at around 12 minutes but it is sometimes trick to find natural breaks in what is a continuous narrative.

I haven't named all of Nuada's 'experts' but the meanings of their names are fascinating. Isolde's translations do shed so much light on early medieval society.

Cath Maige Tuired: 52-82

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun. Chris

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. We find out what the Fomoire king , Elaha thinks of his son's actions among the Dé Danann and we hear the disturbing tale of Eithliu, daughter of Balor, and her baby son Lugh.

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Notes for this story:

The birth of Lugh on Balor's isle (Tory Island) is not included in the textual version of the story but has suvived as an orally transmitted story. I think this makes it extra interesting.

Balor's daughter's name has several variants. You will find her refered to as Ethliu, Ethlinn, Ethlin or Ethne. Isolde favoured Ethliu.

In one oral version, three babies are thrown into the sea. Lugh in Welsh, Lleu (Llew Llaw Gyffes) is a second, secret baby born to Arianrhod, the first, Dylan is also thrown to the sea. Read 'Lugh Who? Where did he come from?' to find out more.

Cath Maige Tuired 44 -51

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.Have fun Chris

Have fun. Chris

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum , Ben Dwyer

Jim FitzPatrick

The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 5, Betrayal, Coipre the chief poet, finally manages to find a way of getting rid of Bress. But Bress comes up with a deceitful plan involving dark consequences.

10(ish) to adult!

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Cath Maige Tuired 36 - 43

Irish mythological and hero tales were not originally written for a young audience. No they were intended for an adult audience gathered together at feasts, Óenachs and to mark special events,. Youngsters may well have been present, may have enjoyed them, but tales weren’t considered as juvenelia.

However they contain so much that younger audiences will enjoy. They are full of adventures and wonders. They have characters, both male and female who show courage, compassion, and comradeship and who demonstrate a sense of wonder, a sense of purpose, and, most definitely a sense of humour.

I tell all of these stories regularly in schools and libraries. I have also recorded them as audio stories and I am happy to share them. Why? Well first they need to be shared. Second, I love audiobooks. As a story teller, I think these stories work best in this format.

Have fun Chris

Music: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer

ceramic on glass by Chris Thompson

The battle of Moytura is better known as the Mythological story cycle. This audio re-telling is especially designed for, but not limited to, a younger audience. In part 4,The Healers, we discover how Nuada achieves another shot at the kingship, the sad fate of Miach, Dian Cécht's son and we meet his sister, Aimed, a gifted herbalist.

10(ish) to adult!

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Listen to the podcast episode on Airmed

Notes for Part 4: The healers: When Isolde and I were working on this text we did wonder if this episode conerning Miach's death and 'rebirth' in the form of new plant growth might have once had an alternate context. Etymologically speaking. Dian Cécht has the meaning 'Eager Plough.' Miach and Airmid are both words used for measures of grain. So the cutting down of Miach, his burial and the regeneration of new geowth from the site where he was 'planted' has much in common with a number of agrarian myths; for example, Isis and Osiris or even, in the Uk, John Barleycorn.

In this audo re-telling. I have just kept to the story, as it is given in the text(s), concentrating on the characters, their actions and their relationships rather than any inherant symbolism that they may carry.

Cath Maige Tuired 33 -35

a gift from Abydos

Musc: Lamentum from SacrumProfanum: Ben Dwyer