{{Short description|Type of pre-Christian Old Irish literature}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb | right An '''echtra''' or '''echtrae''' (pl. '''echtrai''') is a type of pre-Christian Old Irish literature about a hero's adventures in the Otherworld or with otherworldly beings.

==Definition and etymology== In Irish literature e''chtrae'' and ''immram'' are tales of voyages to an Otherworld. In general the ''echtrae'' are set in a pagan context.{{sfn|Dumville|1976|p=73}} In contrast the ''immram'', though containing mythological story elements, are set in post-pagan Ireland, and the main protagonist is Christian,<ref name="jones"/> and the journey is usually by sea.<ref name="ccac"/>

A point of contention in absolute definition exists in the case of ''Immram Brain maic Febail''.{{sfn|Dumville|1976|p=73}} Despite the naming this tale is considered to form part of the ''echtrae'' milieu, and may have been named as an ''immram'' due to a conflation of Bran (Brain) and St. Brendan.<ref name="jones"/>

Generally, ''echtra'' was the Old Irish word for 'adventure' (literally meaning an 'outing'{{sfn|Dumville|1976|p=73}}), as well as a cognate for the Latin ''extra.''<ref>{{citation| first = Aoife Assumpta |last = Hart | title = Ancestral Recall: The Celtic Revival and Japanese Modernism | publisher = McGill-Queens University Press | year = 2016 }}</ref> The modern and middle Irish language word is ''eachtra''.

The Dictionary of the Irish Language notes alternative usage meanings in addition to the primary 'expedition, voyage, journey' – these include 'a warlike expedition', and the more general 'tale', or 'history'.<ref>{{citation| url =http://www.dil.ie/search?q=echtra&search_in=headword | title = Echtra| work = www.dil.ie }}</ref>

==Description==

Though echtrai often involve a journey to an otherworld, the exact destination or journey can vary – voyages take place by sea in ''Echtrae Conli''; in a journey underneath a lake in ''Echtrae Laegairi''; or into a fairy mound (''Sidhe'') in ''Echtrae Nerai'';{{sfn|Dumville|1976|p=73}} alternatively the story may not include such a journey but instead involve an interaction with otherworldly beings: in ''Echtrae Nerai'', set on Samhain, the hero Nera sees prophetic visions whilst in the presence of a hanged man;<ref name="ccac"/> whilst in ''Echtra Mac nEchach Muid-medóin'', the hero Níall gains the sovereignty of Ireland by kissing a hag guarding a well.<ref name="ccac"/>

==Works== Lists compiled from {{harv|Dumville|1976}}, {{harv|Duignan|2010}}: *''Echtra Condla'' (or ''Echtrae Chonnlai'', adventure of Conle) *''Echtrae Cormaic maic Airt i Tir Tairngiri'' *''Echtrae Laegairi maic Crimthann'' *''Echtrae Nerai'' (aka Táin Bó Aingen) *''Ectra Airt maic Cuinn'' *''Echtrae mac nEchach Mugmedoin'' Tales not titled Echtra, but considered part of milieu include: *''Baile in Scáil'' (The Phantom's Frenzy) *''The Five Lugaids'' *''Tochmarc Emire'' *''Serglige Con Chulainn'' *''Siaburcharpat Con Culaind'' *''Imram Bran'' Lost tales include: *''Echtrae Con Culainn'' *''Echtrae Chrimthaind Nia Nair'' *''Echtrae Fiamain'' *''Echtrae Con Roi'' *''Echtrae Chonaill'' *''Echtrae Chonchobair'' *''Echtrae Machae ingine Aeda Ruaid'' *''Echtrae Nechtain maic Alfroinn'' *''Echtrae Ailchm d maic Amalgaid'' *''Echtrae Find i nDerc Ferna'' *''Echtrae Aedain maic Gabrain'' *''Echtrae Mael Uma maic Baitain'' *''Echtrae Mongain maic Fiachna'' *''Echtrae Fergussa maic Leti'' *''Echtrae Oengusae maic Fergusa Finn'' *''Echtrae Chuinn Chetchathaig'' *''Echtrae Muirquertoig maic hErco''

There are also visits to the otherworld undertaken by the hero Cuchulainn, including : ''Forfess Fer Fálgae'', ''Fled Bricrenn ocus Loinges mac nDuil Dermait'', and ''Compert Con Culainn''

==References== {{Reflist|

refs= <ref name="jones">{{citation| url =http://www.maryjones.us/jce/echtrae.html | encyclopedia = Jone's Celtic Encyclopedia | title = Echtrae }}</ref>

<ref name="ccac">{{citation| encyclopedia = Celtic Culture - A historical encyclopedia |first = John T. | last = Koch | title = Echtai | page = 646 }}</ref>

}}

===Sources=== {{refbegin}}

*{{citation | first = James |last = MacKillop | year = 1998 | title = Dictionary of Celtic Mythology | publisher = Oxford | isbn = 978-0-19-860967-4 }} *{{citation| title = Echtrae and Immram: Some Problems of Definition | first = David N. |last = Dumville | journal = Ériu | volume = 27 | pages = 73–94 | year = 1976 | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | jstor = 30007669 }} *{{citation| title = The Echtrae as an Early Irish Literatary Genre | first = Leonie | last = Duignan| type = thesis | publisher = NUI Maynooth| year =2010 }}

{{refend}}

{{Ireland topics}}

Category:Early Irish literature Category:Irish mythology Category:Voyagers in Celtic mythology Category:Medieval literature