On the coast of Northern Ireland, a vast plateau of basalt slabs and columns called the Giant’s Causeway stretches into the ocean. The scientific explanation for this is that it’s the result of molten lava contracting and fracturing as it cooled in the wake of a volcanic eruption. But an ancient Irish myth has a different accounting.
Di pantai Irlandia Utara, terdapat kumpulan dataran tinggi lempengan basal dan kolom yang dinamakan Giant's Causeway yang membentang ke laut. Ada penjelasan ilmiah mengenai hal ini yaitu akibat lava cair yang berkontraksi dan retak saat lava mendingin setelah gunung api meletus. Tapi mitos Irlandia kuno mempercayai hal berbeda.
According to legend, the giant Finn MacCool lived happily on the North Antrim coast with his wife Oonagh. Their only disturbance came from the taunts and threats of the giant Benandonner, or the red man, who lived across the sea in Scotland. The two roared insults and hurled rocks at each other in dramatic shows of strength.
Menurut legenda, seorang raksasa bernama Finn MacCool hidup bahagia di pantai utara Antrim bersama istrinya Oonagh. Satu-satunya gangguan mereka hanyalah ejekan serta ancaman dari raksasa Benandonner atau si manusia merah, yang tinggal di seberang laut di Skotlandia. Mereka saling hina dan saling melempar batu dengan pertunjukan kekuatan yang sangat dramatis.
Once, Finn tore up a great clump of land and heaved it at his rival, but it fell short of reaching land. Instead, the clump became the Isle of Man, and the crater left from the disturbed earth filled with water to become Lough Neagh. The giants’ tough talk continued, until one day Benandonner challenged Finn to a fight, face to face. And so the Irish giant tossed enough boulders into the sea to create a bridge of stepping stones to the Scottish coast.
Finn pernah mengeruk gumpalan tanah yang sangat besar dan melemparkan ke arah lawannya tapi gagal mengenai daratan. dan menjadi Isle of Man, dan kawah yang terbentuk akibat kerukan terisi air menjadi danau Lough Neagh. Permusuhan kedua raksasa itu terus berlanjut, hingga suatu hari Benandonner menantang Finn untuk bertarung, secara tatap muka. Raksasa Irlandia itu melemparkan beberapa batuan besar ke laut
Finn marched across in a fit of rage. When Scotland loomed before him, he made out the figure of Benandonner from afar. Finn was a substantial size, but at the sight of his colossal enemy thundering towards him, his courage faltered. With one look at Benandonner’s thick neck and crushing fists, Finn turned and ran.
untuk membuat sebuah jembatan batu menuju pantai Skotlandia Finn berlari menyebrang dengan penuh amarah. Ketika Scotlandia sudah dekat, Dia melihat sosok Benandonner dari jauh, Finn memang bertubuh besar, tapi setelah melihat sosok musuh yang menyerbu ke arahya, nyalinya menciut. hanya sekilas melihat leher Benandonner dan kepalan tinjunya,
Back home, with Benandonner fast approaching, Finn trembled as he described his enemy’s bulk to Oonagh. They knew that if he faced Benandonner head on, he’d be crushed. And so Oonagh hatched a cunning plan - they needed to create an illusion of size, to suggest Finn was a mountain of a man whilst keeping him out of sight.
Finn berbalik dan berlari. Sampai di rumah, dengan Benandonnar yang semakin mendekat, Finn gemetar bercerita tentang musuh raksasanya kepada Oognah. Mereka tahu jika dia menghadapinya sendiri, dia akan kalah. Oognah memiliki rencana licik -- mereka hanya perlu menciptakan ilusi,
As Benandonner neared the end of the bridge, Oonagh stuffed her husband in a huge cradle. Disguised as an enormous baby, Finn lay quiet as Benandonnner pounded on the door. The house shook as he stepped inside.
bahwa Finn berukuran sebesar gunung sementara dia bersembunyi. Saat Benandonner berada di ujung jembatan, Oognah memasukkan suaminya dalam buaian besar menyamar sebagai bayi yang sangat besar, Finn berbaring dan terdiam saat Benandonner mengetuk pintu.
Oonagh told the enraged visitor that her husband wasn’t home, but welcomed him to sit and eat while he waited. When Benandonner tore into the cakes placed before him, he cried out in pain for he’d shattered his teeth on the metal Oonagh had concealed inside. She told him that this was Finn’s favorite bread, sowing a seed of doubt in Benandonner’s mind that he was any match for his rival.
seisi rumah pun bergetar saat dia masuk. Oonagh memberi tahu tamunya yang marah bahwa suaminya sedang pergi, tapi dia mempersilakan nya masuk serta menjamunya sambil menunggu. Ketika Benandonner menggigit kue yang disuguhkan untuknya, dia menjerit kesakitan giginya tanggal saat dia menggigit logam yang diletakkan Oonagh dalam kue. Dia berkata itu adalah kue kegemaran Finn, dalam benaknya Benandonner sedikit ragu
When Finn let out a squawk, Benandonner’s attention was drawn to the gigantic baby in the corner. So hefty was the infant swaddled under piles of blankets, Benandonner shuddered at the thought of what the father would look like. He decided he’d rather not find out.
apakah dia setara dengan musuhnya. Ketika Finn merengek, Perhatian Benandonner tertuju pada bayi raksasa di sudut ruangan. Bayi kekar yang dibedong di bawah bantalan selimut, Benandonner bergidik memikirkan bagaimana rupa ayahnya.
As he fled, Benandonner tore up the rocks connecting the shores,
Dia memutuskan untuk tidak mengetahuinya.
breaking up the causeway. What remains are two identical rock formations: one on the North Antrim coast of Ireland and one at Fingal’s Cave in Scotland, right across the sea.
Ketika dia melarikan diri, Benandonner menghancurkan bebatuan yang menghubungkan pantai, memecah jalan pintas. Menyisakan dua formasi batuan yang identik: satu di pantai Antrim Utara Irlandia