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Ailill

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A legendary king of Connacht in Irish mythology, husband of Queen Medb and central figure in the Táin Bó Cúailnge of the Ulster Cycle.

Detailed Definition
Ailill mac Máta is a central figure in the Táin Bó Cúailnge, known for his rivalry with Medb and his role in instigating the cattle raid. He embodies political ambition and marital tension. Poets reference Ailill to explore themes of pride, gender dynamics, and the destructive consequences of envy in leadership.
Example
Example in poetry:
Ailill is a common name in Irish myth, notably Ailill mac Máta, husband of Queen Medb; In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Ailill’s rivalry with Medb over wealth sparks the cattle raid; His name appears in laments and dialogues showcasing marital tension and pride; Ailill’s interactions with heroes like Fergus reveal political complexity in epic poetry; Poets use Ailill to explore themes of jealousy, honor, and kingship; His character illustrates the interplay of personal and national conflict in saga literature.
Additional Notes
Ailill appears in multiple myths, most notably as Ailill mac Máta, husband of Queen Medb in the Táin Bó Cúailnge. His rivalry with Medb over wealth (“Does your side of the bed have more pillows?”) sparks the epic cattle raid, illustrating how personal pride fuels national conflict. Ailill embodies complex kingship—generous yet jealous, powerful yet secondary to his wife. Poetry students should analyze his dialogues with Medb as early examples of dramatic tension and gender dynamics. His character is essential for understanding the interplay of honor, economics, and marital politics in saga literature.
Also Known As
Ailill mac Máta The King of Cruachan Ailill of the Pillow Quarrel The Jealous Consort
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