Motif
small war-band inflicts disproportionate losses before annihilation
small_war_band_inflicts_disproportionate_losses_before_annihilation
A motif of the Sacred Combat and Ritual Warfare family, within the sub-family Host Battle and Siege. 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 HERE NOW FOLLOWETH THE DISGUISING OF TAMON / HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU / XXIII / HERE FOLLOWETH THE TOOTH-FIGHT OF FINTAN; lines 12389-12451 confidence: high
Fintan son of Niall Niamglonnach, father of Cethern, comes to defend Ulster's honor and avenge his son; his force numbers thrice fifty and carries shafts with spear-heads at both ends.
Fintan's thrice-fifty followers kill thrice their own number and then almost all die.
read in the book →