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Labraid

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 king with horse’s ears, whose secret was revealed by a harper

Detailed Definition
Labraid Loingsech’s tale mirrors Midas’s, emphasizing the power of music and truth. He embodies the tension between shame and sovereignty. Poets reference Labraid to explore themes of hidden flaws, the liberating power of art, and the vulnerability of rulers beneath their crowns.
Example
Example in poetry:
Labraid is a king with horse’s ears, a secret known only to his barber; In the tale “The King with Horse’s Ears,” the secret bursts forth as reeds that sing the truth; Labraid’s story explores shame, secrecy, and the inevitability of revelation; Poets reference Labraid to examine the burden of hidden flaws; His myth parallels Midas, showing cross-cultural motifs of royal secrets; He symbolizes the tension between public image and private reality.
Additional Notes
Labraid Loingsech (“the Exile”) is a king with horse’s ears, a secret known only to his barber. When the barber whispers it into a hole, reeds grow that sing the truth—mirroring the Midas myth. Students should analyze Labraid as a symbol of shame, secrecy, and the inevitability of revelation. His story explores the tension between public image and private reality. Poets reference Labraid to examine the burden of hidden flaws, the power of rumor, and the way truth emerges through nature—a potent metaphor for poetic disclosure.
Also Known As
Labraid Loingsech The Exiled King He of the Horse’s Ears The Secret-Bearer
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