Page:The mythology of ancient Britain and Ireland (IA mythologyofancie00squiiala).pdf/75

 the High Kings of Tara, to protect Ireland, both from internal trouble and foreign invasion. The early annalists were quite certain of their historical reality, and dated their existence as a body from 300 B.C. to 284 A.D., while even so late and sound a scholar as Eugene O'Curry gave his opinion that Finn himself was as undoubtedly historical a character as Julius Caesar.

Modern Celtic students, however, tend to reverse this view. The name Fionn or Finn, meaning 'white,' or 'fair,' appears elsewhere as that of a mythical ancestor of the Gaels. His father's name Cumhal (Coul), according to Professor Rhŷs, is identical with Cămŭlos and the German Himmel (Heaven). The same writer is inclined to equate Fionn mac Cumhail with Gwyn ab Nûdd, a White son of Sky' who, we have seen, was a British god of the Other World, and, afterwards, king of the Welsh fairies. But there may have been a historical nucleus of the Fenian cycle into which myths of gods and heroes became incorporated.

This possible starting-point would show us a roving hand of picked soldiers, following the chase in summer, quartered on the towns in