batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l8452-l8536
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l8452-l8536
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: 'CHAPTER XIII. CREDHE''S LAMENT / BOOK FOUR: HUNTINGS AND ENCHANTMENTS. /
CHAPTER I. THE KING OF BRITAIN''S SON / CHAPTER II. THE CAVE OF CEISCORAN; lines
8452-8536'
start: '8452'
end: '8536'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: During a hunt at Ceiscoran, Conaran of the Tuatha de Danaan orders his
three magically skilled daughters to punish Finn. They sit at a cave opening with
enchanted yarn and spindles, causing Finn and many of the Fianna to lose strength
when they pass through the yarn; the women bind them and bring them into the cave.
The hags prepare to kill the captives, but Goll son of Morna arrives, defeats
two of the women, subdues the eldest, and accepts her oath to restore Finn and
the Fianna. She releases the captives, and Fergus praises Goll.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Finn calls for a hunt on the plains of Magh Chonaill and in the forest parts
of Cairbre of the Nuts, then goes to the top of Ceiscoran with Bran and Sceolan.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The hunt drives deer, badgers, foxes, and birds from their places throughout
the country.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Conaran, son of Imidd, of the Tuatha de Danaan, has sway in Ceiscoran and
orders his three daughters to take vengeance on Finn for the hunting.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The three daughters sit at the opening of a cave in the hills with three strong
enchanted hanks of yarn on crooked holly-sticks and reel them off outside the
cave.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The three women are described as ugly old hags with coarse hair, red bleary
eyes, sharp crooked teeth, very long arms, nails like cow-horn tips, and spindles
in their hands.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Finn and Conan pass through the hanks of yarn, become weak and tremble, and
are bound by the hags.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Other members of the Fianna who pass through the spindles likewise lose their
strength, are tied, and are carried into the cave.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Eventually the whole group is bound by the hags and brought into the cave,
while hounds cry at the cave mouth for their masters.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The three women enter with swords intending to kill the bound captives, but
first look for any other Fianna to bring in.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Goll son of Morna comes toward the hags, fights them, and cuts through the
two nearest hags with one blow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:11
text: The oldest woman wrestles with Goll; he throws her down, binds her with shield
straps, and prepares to kill her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: The oldest woman asks for Goll's protection, says it is better to recover
Finn and the Fianna than to have her blood, and swears to give them back.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: Goll frees the oldest woman, goes with her into the hill, and orders the fastenings
removed first from Fergus and the learned men, then from Finn, Oisin, the sons
of Morna, and the rest.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: The fastenings are removed, the Fianna rise and go out to sit on the hillside,
and Fergus praises Goll.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader associated with the hunt; captured after passing through the
enchanted yarn and later released.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Bran and Sceolan
description: Finn's two dogs who accompany him to the top of Ceiscoran.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Fianna
description: The hunting company whose members are weakened, bound, brought into
the cave, and later released.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Conaran, son of Imidd
description: A figure of the Tuatha de Danaan who has sway in Ceiscoran and orders
his daughters to take vengeance on Finn.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Three daughters of Conaran / three hags
description: Three women with enchantments who sit at the cave mouth, manipulate
enchanted yarn and spindles, bind the Fianna, and intend to kill them.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Conan
description: A member of the Fianna who comes with Finn, passes through the yarn,
becomes weak, and is bound.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Goll, son of Morna, the Flame of Battle
description: A tall warrior who arrives after the Fianna are captured, defeats the
hags, compels the surviving hag to release the captives, and is praised by Fergus.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Oldest of the three women
description: The surviving hag who wrestles with Goll, is bound, asks for protection,
swears to restore the Fianna, and removes the fastenings.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Fergus of the True Lips / Fergus of the Sweet Lips
description: One of the learned men of the Fianna, named among those to be released
first, who later praises Goll.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Oisin
description: Named by Goll among those whose fastenings are to be removed after
the learned men.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: hunter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
basis: Finn calls the hunt, and the Fianna are hunting through the country before
being captured.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: hounds or hunting companions
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Bran and Sceolan accompany Finn to Ceiscoran.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: captive
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:10
basis: Finn, Conan, and the Fianna are weakened, bound, and brought into the cave;
Oisin is named among those to be released.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:12
- id: role:4
label: instigator of vengeance
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Conaran orders his daughters to take vengeance on Finn for hunting.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: enchanting captor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:8
basis: The women use enchanted yarn and spindles at the cave opening, causing weakness
and binding the hunters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: would-be executioner
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The three women come in with swords to make an end of the captives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: champion rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Goll defeats the hags, secures the surviving hag's oath, and has the captives
released.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: role:8
label: oath-giver and releaser
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The oldest woman swears to give back the Fianna and then removes their fastenings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: role:9
label: learned man and praise-speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Goll orders Fergus and the learned men released first; Fergus later praises
Goll.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: cave in the hills
literal_form: Opening of a cave in the hills at Ceiscoran; the captives are carried
into the cave or hill.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:12
- id: sym:2
label: enchanted hanks of yarn
literal_form: Three strong enchanted hanks of yarn placed on crooked holly-sticks
and reeled off outside the cave.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: spindles
literal_form: Three spindles held by the hags; people passing through them lose
strength.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: bonds and fastenings
literal_form: Tight bonds and fastenings placed on the captured Fianna and removed
after Goll's victory.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: sym:5
label: swords
literal_form: Swords carried by the hags when they enter to kill the captives, and
Goll's sword used in combat.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hunt at Ceiscoran
summary: Finn summons a hunt, goes up Ceiscoran with his dogs, and the Fianna's
hunting noise spreads through the country.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Conaran orders vengeance
summary: Conaran hears the hunt and commands his magically skilled daughters to
punish Finn.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Enchanted yarn at the cave mouth
summary: The three women sit at the cave opening with enchanted yarn on holly-sticks
and spindles.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Capture of Finn and the Fianna
summary: Finn, Conan, and successive groups of the Fianna pass through the yarn
or spindles, lose strength, are bound, and are brought into the cave.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Threatened killing of the captives
summary: The hags enter with swords intending to kill the bound Fianna but first
look for any remaining man of the Fianna.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Goll defeats the hags
summary: Goll arrives, fights the hags, kills two, wrestles down the oldest, and
binds her.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Oath and release
summary: The surviving hag swears to restore the Fianna; Goll releases her, enters
the hill with her, and the captives' fastenings are removed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: enchanted threshold capture
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The hags place enchanted yarn and spindles at the cave opening; those who
pass through lose strength and are bound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes the mechanism but does not name a formal motif type.
- id: motif:2
label: imprisonment in a cave by supernatural women
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The three daughters of a Tuatha de Danaan figure use enchantment to bind
Finn and the Fianna and bring them into the cave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not explicitly identify the cave as an underworld or
initiation space.
- id: motif:3
label: heroic rescue from cave or hill captivity
taxonomy_refs:
- hero_descent
basis: Goll defeats the captors, goes with the surviving hag into the hill, and
has the fastenings removed from Finn and the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: 'The taxonomy reference is tentative: the passage says Goll goes into
the hill/cave to release captives, but it does not present an extended descent
journey.'
- id: motif:4
label: captor spared in exchange for restoring captives
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The oldest hag asks for protection and offers to give back Finn and the Fianna
instead of being killed; Goll accepts and she releases them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The exchange is practical and oath-bound; the passage does not explicitly
frame it as a sacred exchange beyond the oath by her people's gods.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8452-8461
quote_or_summary: Finn calls a great hunt at Magh Chonaill and Cairbre of the Nuts,
goes to the top of Ceiscoran with Bran and Sceolan, and the Fianna's hunting rouses
animals throughout the country.
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: lines 8462-8467
quote_or_summary: Conaran, son of Imidd, of the Tuatha de Danaan, has sway in Ceiscoran
and orders his three enchantment-skilled daughters to take vengeance on Finn for
his hunting.
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: summary
locator: lines 8468-8472
quote_or_summary: The three women sit at a cave opening in the hills, place three
strong enchanted hanks of yarn on crooked holly-sticks, and reel them off outside
the cave.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8473-8478
quote_or_summary: Finn and Conan see three ugly old hags with coarse hair, red bleary
eyes, sharp crooked teeth, long arms, nails like cow-horn tips, and spindles in
their hands.
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: lines 8479-8483
quote_or_summary: Finn and Conan pass through the hanks of yarn; trembling and weakness
come on them, and the hags bind them tightly.
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: summary
locator: lines 8484-8493
quote_or_summary: Other Fianna, including the sons of Menhann, Caoilte, Lugaidh's
Son, sons of Baiscne, and sons of Morna, come to the place, lose strength after
encountering the spindles or hanks, and are tied.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 8494-8500
quote_or_summary: The whole number are put in bonds and brought into the cave; hounds
cry at the cave mouth for their masters, and dead hunted animals lie on the hillside.
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: lines 8501-8505
quote_or_summary: The three women enter with swords to kill the captives, first
looking out to see whether another man of the Fianna can be brought in.
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: summary
locator: lines 8506-8512
quote_or_summary: Goll, son of Morna, the Flame of Battle, approaches; the hags
meet him, fight him, and he cuts through the two nearest women with one blow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 8513-8518
quote_or_summary: The oldest woman wraps her arms around Goll; after wrestling,
he throws her down, ties her with shield straps, and takes up his sword to kill
her.
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: lines 8518-8524
quote_or_summary: The hag appeals to Goll as an unworsted champion, places her life
under his protection, and swears by her people's gods that she will give Finn
and the Fianna back.
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: summary
locator: lines 8525-8531
quote_or_summary: Goll sets the hag free, goes with her into the hill, and orders
the fastenings removed first from Fergus and the learned men, then from Finn,
Oisin, the sons of Morna, and the rest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 8532-8536
quote_or_summary: The hag removes the fastenings; the Fianna rise, go out, sit on
the hillside, and Fergus praises Goll for what he has done.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate analytic groupings; taxonomy alignment is limited because the passage
does not explicitly name formal motif families.
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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the passage does not itself make an explicit comparison to another tradition or motif corpus.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l8452-l8536
passage_sha256=e5db8ee88dd987831a4295aca5096811e6ac737419a1da7a75a0044fabe52342