Motif
escalating heroic single combat
escalating_heroic_single_combat
A motif of the Sacred Combat and Ritual Warfare family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
2 occurrences
2 traditions
hindu
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The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse Canto XLII. The Sally. / Canto XLIII. The Single Combats. / Canto XLIV. The Night. / Canto L. The Broken Spell.; lines 52762-52906 confidence: high
The giant leader's arrows kill Vánars; the hosts, dispirited, flee to Angad for protection, and Angad meets the giant in battle.
Angad and the giant leader move through successive phases of combat: arrows, natural missiles, mace, fists, swords, and finally beheading.
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persian
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The Shahnama of Firdausi, Vol. II VOL. II. I / KA1 KAUS 139 / ISO THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI / VOL. 11. L; lines 8287-8440 confidence: high
The champions fight with javelins, scimitars, and maces; weapons break or bend, the riders are exhausted, and the passage says they part as sire and son.
The duel proceeds through javelins, scimitars, maces, bows, and grappling, with weapons and armor repeatedly tested.
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