Motif
beloved companions forced into mortal combat
beloved_companions_forced_into_mortal_combat
A motif of the Sacred Combat and Ritual Warfare family, within the sub-family Treachery and Forbidden Kin Combat. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
celtic irish
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The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge XVIII / HERE NOW IS TOLD THE MISTHROW AT BELACH EOIN. / HERE NOW FOLLOWETH THE DISGUISING OF TAMON / HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU; lines 10827-10946 confidence: high
Cuchulain calls Ferdiad his foster-brother, comrade, and friend and pities that he fights on a woman's counsel; Ferdiad says he would be in ill repute with Medb and Erin's nobles if he left without combat.
The passage emphasizes that Cuchulain and Ferdiad are foster-brothers, comrades, friends, and brothers, yet they must fight because Ferdiad fears disgrace and Medb is named as the cause of betrayal.
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