batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10074-l10174
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l10074-l10174
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER XI. FINN'S MADNESS / CHAPTER XII. THE RED WOMAN / CHAPTER XIII. FINN
AND THE PHANTOMS / CHAPTER XIV. THE PIGS OF ANGUS; lines 10074-10174
start: '10074'
end: '10174'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"it was no common pig was in it, but my own son."'
summary: Angus Og feasts Finn and the Fianna at Brugh na Boinne. A quarrel over
hunting and hounds leads Angus to send a deadly herd of pigs. Finn’s hounds attack
the pigs; the black leading pig is later identified by Angus as his own son. Finn
orders the wounded pigs burned and their ashes thrown into the sea to prevent
their return to life. Bran brings unknown logs that enable the burning. Angus
laments the loss of his son and other royal sons and curses Bran never to see
any deer she kills.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Angus Og makes a feast at Brugh na Boinne for Finn and the Fianna.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Finn and Angus argue about whether feasting is better than hunting and about
the ability of Finn’s hounds to kill pigs.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Angus says he will send Finn a pig that will escape his hounds and kill them
in the end.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Finn leaves the feast with his people because they are few among the Men of
Dea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: After a year, Angus asks Finn if he is ready to keep his word, and Finn has
the hounds brought out.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: A terrible herd of great pigs appears on the eastern plain, with a black pig
leading them.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Bran catches a pig, and Angus says Bran is killing his own son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The hunt ranges over several named places and leaves many pigs hurt, many
Fianna missing, and only one hundred and ten pigs alive.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Finn says the pigs will come to life again if left as they are, and orders
them burned and their ashes thrown into the sea.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The Fianna cannot burn the pigs until Bran brings three unknown logs that
light up and burn them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: Angus offers Finn one thing to spare his people, but Finn refuses unless Angus’s
house is burned.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:12
text: Angus identifies the black pig as his own son and says other royal sons fell
with him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:13
text: Angus curses Bran to never see with her eyes any deer she kills.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Angus Og
description: Son of the Dagda, host at Brugh na Boinne, sender of the pigs, and
father of the black pig.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader among the Fianna, guest of Angus, holder of Bran and Sceolan,
and commander who orders the pigs burned.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Fianna of the Gael
description: Finn’s company, present at the feast and hunt, suffering losses and
later moving toward Brugh na Boinne.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Bran
description: Finn’s hound, fosterling of fair-haired Fergus, catches a pig, later
brings three unknown logs, and receives Angus’s curse.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Sceolan and other named hounds
description: Hounds held by Finn and other Fianna members for the hunt; named hounds
include Sceolan, Adhnuall, Ablach, Lonn, Eachtach, Mac an Truim, Garraidh, and
Rith Fada.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Black leading pig
description: A black pig leading the herd, later identified by Angus as his own
son.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:12
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Great herd of pigs
description: Terrible herd of great pigs, each the height of a deer; many are hurt
in the hunt and then burned.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Royal sons among the pigs
description: Angus says the son of the King of the Narrow Sea, the son of the King
of the Sea of Gulls, the son of Ilbhrec son of Manannan, and seven score sons
of kings and queens fell with his son.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: feast host
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Angus makes a feast at Brugh na Boinne for Finn and the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: Fianna leader
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Finn speaks for his people, holds key hounds, and gives orders after the
hunt.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:9
- id: role:3
label: warrior-hunting company
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Fianna attend the feast, prepare hounds for the hunt, lose men, make
fires, and march on Brugh na Boinne.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Angus challenges the power of Finn’s hounds and promises to send a dangerous
pig.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: avengers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Oisin urges vengeance and the Fianna set out for Brugh na Boinne; Finn refuses
Angus’s offer unless rooms of the house are burned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: bereaved father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Angus laments that the black pig was his own son and grieves his burning
far away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: role:7
label: hounds of the hunt
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The hounds are brought out and released or held in the hunt against the pigs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: knowing animal helper
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Bran is said to have great sense and knowledge and brings three logs that
allow the pigs to be burned.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: pig-formed victims or quarry
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The pigs are hunted, hurt, burned, and later identified by Angus as including
his son and other royal sons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Brugh na Boinne feast-house
literal_form: beautiful house at Brugh na Boinne with golden cups and feasting
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: terrible great pigs
literal_form: herd of pigs, each the height of a deer, with a black pig in front
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:12
- id: sym:3
label: black pig
literal_form: pig blacker than a smith’s coal with bristles like thorn-trees
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:12
- id: sym:4
label: fires for burning the pigs
literal_form: seven fires to every battalion; fire used to burn the pigs
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: three unknown logs
literal_form: three logs from unknown wood brought by Bran, lighting like a candle
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:6
label: sea receiving ashes
literal_form: ashes of the burned pigs thrown into the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: curse on sight in hunting
literal_form: curse that Bran will never see any deer she kills
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Feast and quarrel at Brugh na Boinne
summary: Angus hosts Finn and the Fianna; a dispute about feasting, hunting, and
hounds leads Angus to promise a dangerous pig.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Departure from the Men of Dea
summary: Finn urges his people to leave the feast because they are few among the
Men of Dea, and they go west to Slieve Fuad.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Challenge renewed and hounds assembled
summary: After a year, Angus asks whether Finn is ready; Finn has Bran, Sceolan,
and other hounds brought out with their handlers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Hunt of the great pigs
summary: A huge herd of pigs appears. The hounds attack; Bran catches a pig that
Angus identifies as his son, and the hunt causes losses among both pigs and Fianna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Burning and scattering of ashes
summary: Finn says the pigs will return to life if left unburned. The Fianna cannot
ignite them until Bran brings three unknown logs; the pigs are burned and their
ashes thrown into the sea.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:6
label: Angus’s lament and curse
summary: As the Fianna threaten Brugh na Boinne, Angus offers a gift, laments the
deaths of his son and other royal sons, and curses Bran.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: feast leading to supernatural hunting challenge
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: A feast at Brugh na Boinne turns into a quarrel over hunting prowess, after
which Angus sends a dangerous pig challenge to Finn and his hounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the challenge through speech and later action, but
no broader comparison is asserted.
- id: motif:2
label: human or royal beings appearing as hunted animals
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The black leading pig and other pigs are later identified by Angus as his
son and other royal sons rather than common pigs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly describe the process by which the sons
became pigs, only that the pig was not common and was Angus’s son.
- id: motif:3
label: prevented return to life by burning and casting ashes into water
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- death_rebirth
basis: Finn says the pigs will come to life again if left as they are, so he orders
them burned and their ashes thrown into the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The return to life is anticipated and prevented; no actual resurrection
occurs in the passage.
- id: motif:4
label: animal helper with hidden knowledge
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Bran is described as having great sense and knowledge and brings unknown
logs that enable the otherwise impossible burning of the pigs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives Bran knowledge and effective action but does not explain
the origin or nature of the logs.
- id: motif:5
label: curse placed after kin-slaying in animal form
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Angus says Bran killed her own foster-brother and curses her to never see
any deer she kills.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The foster-brother relationship is stated in Angus’s reproach; the passage
does not give further background for it.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10074-10084
quote_or_summary: Angus Og, son of the Dagda, makes a feast at Brugh na Boinne for
Finn and the Fianna; the gathering includes splendid clothing and golden cups.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 10085-10095
quote_or_summary: Angus says the feast is a better life than hunting; Finn angrily
says it is worse without hounds, horses, battalions, and armies; they dispute
whether Finn’s hounds could kill Angus’s pigs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: 10095-10097
quote_or_summary: '"I will send you a pig," said Angus, "that will go from you and
your hounds, and that will kill them in the end."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 10098-10104
quote_or_summary: After the steward calls everyone to bed, Finn tells his people
to leave because they are few among the Men of Dea, and they go westward to Slieve
Fuad.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 10105-10116
quote_or_summary: After a year, Angus sends respectful messengers asking Finn if
he is ready. Finn says he is, and the hounds are brought out with their handlers,
including Bran and Sceolan held by Finn.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: 10117-10121
quote_or_summary: The hunters see "a terrible herd of great pigs"; one leading pig
is "blacker than a smith's coal" and has bristles "like a thicket of thorn-trees."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 10122-10130
quote_or_summary: Caoilte releases Adhnuall; Bran breaks from Finn’s leash and catches
a pig. Angus tells Bran it is not right to kill his own son, but Bran holds the
pig for the Fianna.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 10131-10137
quote_or_summary: The hunt passes over Slieve Cua, Slieve Crot, Magh Cobha, Cruachan,
Fionnabraic, and Finnias; by evening no pig is unhurt, only one hundred and ten
pigs remain alive, and ten hundred Fianna men are missing besides servants and
dogs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: 10138-10143
quote_or_summary: Finn says that if the pigs are left as they are, "they will come
to life again," and orders, "let us burn them" and throw their ashes into the
sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 10144-10150
quote_or_summary: The Fianna make many fires but cannot set fire to any pig. Bran,
having great sense and knowledge, brings three logs of unknown wood; the logs
light like a candle, the pigs are burned, and their ashes are thrown into the
sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 10151-10159
quote_or_summary: Oisin again urges vengeance, the Fianna set out for Brugh na Boinne,
and Angus offers Finn any one thing if he will spare his people. Finn refuses
gifts so long as any room in Angus’s house remains unburned.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: 10160-10170
quote_or_summary: Angus says the black pig was "no common pig" but "my own son,"
and says the son of the King of the Narrow Sea, the son of the King of the Sea
of Gulls, the son of Ilbhrec son of Manannan, and seven score sons of kings and
queens fell with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation plus summary.
- id: ev:13
type: quote
locator: 10170-10174
quote_or_summary: Angus reproaches Bran for killing her foster-brother and curses
her "that you will never see with your eyes any deer you may ever kill."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif assignments
are cautious, especially for shapeshifting, because the passage identifies royal
sons as pigs but does not describe the transformation itself. No comparison claims
were added because the passage does not itself make an explicit comparative link.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Available taxonomy references were applied only where directly supported by passage evidence.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l10074-l10174
passage_sha256=4513efdfce2420f460bb8727449e5faec1b9a92d905815801137dbbddd69af44