Motif
Severed head displayed as proof of victory
severed_head_displayed_as_proof_of_victory
A motif of the Divine Warrior and Sacred Combat family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
3 occurrences
3 traditions
celtic (1) · celtic irish (1) · hindu (1)
celtic
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Gods and Fighting Men BOOK FIVE: THE FATE OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR / PART TWO: THE FIANNA. / BOOK ONE: FINN, SON OF CUMHAL. / CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF FINN; lines 5887-5975 confidence: high
Aillen retreats to Sidhe Finnachaidh on Slieve Fuad; Finn follows, casts the spear through Aillen's heart, cuts off his head, brings it to Teamhair, and fixes it on a crooked pole until sunrise.
Finn cuts off Aillen's head, brings it back to Teamhair, fixes it on a crooked pole until sunrise, and shows it at daybreak as the head of the man who burned Teamhair.
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celtic irish
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Gods and Fighting Men BOOK FIVE: THE FATE OF THE CHILDREN OF LIR / PART TWO: THE FIANNA. / BOOK ONE: FINN, SON OF CUMHAL. / CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF FINN; lines 5888-5976 confidence: high
When Aillen's spells are destroyed, he returns toward Sidhe Finnachaidh on Slieve Fuad; Finn follows, casts the spear through Aillen's heart at the door, cuts off his head, and fixes it on a crooked pole at Teamhair until sunrise.
Finn brings Aillen's head back to Teamhair, fixes it on a crooked pole until sunrise, and later presents it with the pipe and harp as evidence that Teamhair is saved.
read in the book →
hindu
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2: Books 4, 5, 6 and 7 SECTION CLXXV / SECTION CLXXVI / SECTION CLXXVII / SECTION CLXXVIII; lines 56353-56434 confidence: high
The two Rakshasas strike each other, seize each other by the hair, and appear wounded with blood and sweat trickling; Ghatotkacha whirls Alayudha up, dashes him down, cuts off his head, and roars while holding the earring-decked head.
Ghatotkacha cuts off Alayudha’s head, roars while holding it, and throws it before Duryodhana.
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