The Salmon of Knowledge

As a teenager, Fionn who was then known as Demne, went to learn poetry from Finnécas (Finn the Poet). Finnécas had been searching for the Salmon of Knowledge for seven years. A druid prophesized that one who ate from it would have access to all the knowledge in the world. Much like today, knowledge meant power.

After so long searching, Finnécas finally caught the salmon. He told Demne to cook it but not taste even a tiny bit. So Demne began to cook it and burned his thumb as he was testing the fish to see if it was ready. Some of the hot fat touched his thumb and he quickly put it in his mouth to soothe his pain. He later told Finnécas. Finnécas decided that Demne should be the one to eat the Salmon of Knowledge. It could not be shared because they would both only know half of what was possible. Finnécas decided that Demne should eat the Salmon of Knowledge. Since Demne was a young, warrior-poet and his ways were not yet set, Finnécas believed the world would do better with him and one day Demne would be a great leader. Finnécas asked Demne if he was known by any other name. Demne told him that because of his blond hair and fair complexion, he was sometimes called Fionn. Finnécas declared that from that day forward, Demne would be called Fionn.

Whenever Fionn ran into a predicament, he would bite his thumb and he would find the wisdom to solve the problem.