Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

reluctant combat between foster-brothers

reluctant_combat_between_foster_brothers

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.

2 occurrences

1 traditions


celtic irish

  • 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 9434-9566 confidence: high

    The men of Erin decide who should be sent to the ford and select Ferdiad, a great warrior of Domnann, Cuchulain's foster-brother, trained under the same instructresses.

    Ferdiad is selected to fight Cuchulain despite being his friend, comrade, and foster-brother, and he initially refuses for that reason.

    read in the book
  • 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 9732-9885 confidence: high

    Ferdiad says the gifts are great but will leave them with Medb and will not accept them if accepting means fighting Cuchulain, his foster-brother, ally, beloved, and equal in arms.

    Ferdiad refuses gifts for a fight with Cuchulain, identifies him as foster-brother and equal in arms, laments that they are being parted, yet is induced to meet him.

    read in the book