Both Cucullinus and Achilles become heroes long before becoming men. There are stories, as mentioned above, dating back to when Cuchullin was just seven years old, fighting off ferocious attackers whilst tending the borders of Ulster. Achilles also becomes a fierce fighter, particularly in Homer's Iliad when Phoenix refers to him as a child, as he goes to war to fight with the Greek army. Although the perception of both characters is more or less the same, it is interesting to note Cucullino's honor compared to that of Achilles. While Cucullinus' heroic sense is to some extent nobler than that of Achilles, in the sense that Achilles' fury and fighting are the result of his need for revenge for the death of his cousin Patroclus, while Cucullinus fights for his land as well as for his relatives. While this is undoubtedly a much more honorable cause for going into battle, in some ways Cucullin turns out to be much more barbaric than Achilles, who thanks to Homer is able to maintain a stronger sense of civility. Even in the way their deaths are foretold we find a striking parallel. Although much more is known about Cucullinus' death, the same cannot be said about Achilles' death. The similarities lie in the way the prediction of their deaths occurred; Cucullin's death was foreshadowed by the Gray of Macha, as Achilles' death was foreshadowed by Xanthos of the Glancing