Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

battlefield phantom tests or shames the hero

battlefield_phantom_tests_or_shames_the_hero

A motif of the Initiation and Transformative Ordeal family, within the sub-family Survival, Environmental, and Endurance Ordeals. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


celtic irish

  • The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge THE PILLOW-TALK / THIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE TAIN / THE MARCH OF THE HOST / THE YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS OF CUCHULAIN; lines 2896-3005 confidence: medium

    On the dark battlefield, Cuchulain sees a man with half a head carrying half of another man; the figure asks him to carry the load, throws it at him when refused, and grapples with him.

    A mutilated battlefield figure grapples with Cuchulain; Badb mocks him for being beneath a phantom's feet, prompting him to rise and behead the opponent.

    read in the book