batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l9050-l9097
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l9050-l9097
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER III. DONN SON OF MIDHIR / CHAPTER IV. THE HOSPITALITY OF CUANNA'S
HOUSE / CHAPTER V. CAT-HEADS AND DOG-HEADS / CHAPTER VI. LOMNA'S HEAD; lines 9050-9097
start: '9050'
end: '9097'
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: Lomna sees Coirpre secretly visit Finn's wife, encodes the matter in an
Ogham message, and is killed by Coirpre at the wife's urging. Finn identifies
Lomna's headless body by divination, follows hounds to Coirpre, and finds Lomna's
head on a spike beside the fire. After Coirpre withholds a share of fish from
the head, the head speaks and foretells vengeance; Finn arrives and kills Coirpre
and his men.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Finn has a wife from the Luigne of Midhe, and Lomna, called a fool, is in
his household.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: While Finn is hunting with the Fianna, Lomna remains at the house and sees
Coirpre secretly go to Finn's wife.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Finn's wife asks Lomna to hide what he saw, and Lomna agrees, though the concealment
troubles him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Lomna writes an Ogham message on a four-square rod using figurative phrases
about alder, silver paling, deadly night-shade, cresses, a lewd woman, a fool,
and heather.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Finn sees the message and becomes angry with his wife; she sends Coirpre a
message telling him to kill Lomna.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Coirpre cuts off Lomna's head and carries it away.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: Finn finds Lomna's headless body and uses the divination of rhymes to identify
Lomna and state that enemies killed him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: Finn orders hounds released on the track, and they lead him to Coirpre's house.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: Coirpre is in the house with three times nine men, cooking fish on a spit,
with Lomna's head on a spike beside the fire.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Coirpre divides the cooked fish among his men twice and gives no portion to
the mouth of the head.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:11
text: The passage states that withholding a share from the head is against the law
of the Fianna.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:12
text: Lomna's head speaks, accuses Coirpre of an improper division, and says the
Fianna will avenge it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:13
text: After Coirpre orders the head put outside, the head says Coirpre will be in
many pieces and that Finn will light great fires in Luigne.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:14
text: Finn enters immediately after the head's words and kills Coirpre and his men.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader associated with the Fianna; husband of the woman from the Luigne;
he reads Lomna's message, divines the corpse's identity, follows the hounds, and
kills Coirpre and his men.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Lomna
description: A fool in Finn's household who witnesses Coirpre's secret visit to
Finn's wife, writes an Ogham message, is beheaded, and whose head later speaks.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Finn's wife
description: A woman of the Luigne of Midhe who asks Lomna to conceal Coirpre's
secret visit and later sends Coirpre to kill Lomna.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Coirpre
description: A man of the Luigne who secretly visits Finn's wife, beheads Lomna,
keeps the head by the fire, withholds a portion of fish from it, and is killed
by Finn.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: The Fianna
description: Finn's company; they are hunting with Finn, ask whose body is found,
possess a law governing shares, and are named by the head as avengers.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Coirpre's men
description: Three times nine men in Coirpre's house who receive shares of fish
and are killed with Coirpre by Finn.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: The hounds
description: Hounds released by Finn on Coirpre's track, leading to the house where
Coirpre is found.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: husband
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn is married to the woman from the Luigne of Midhe.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: witness and concealed informant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Lomna sees Coirpre's secret visit, agrees to hide it, but writes an Ogham
message.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: instigator of killing
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: After learning Lomna revealed the matter, Finn's wife sends Coirpre a message
to kill him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: killer
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Coirpre cuts off Lomna's head and takes it away.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: speaking severed head
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Lomna's head, placed on a spike and then put outside, speaks twice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:6
label: diviner by rhymes
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn performs the divination of rhymes over the headless body.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: avenger
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:5
basis: The head says the Fianna will avenge the wrong, and Finn kills Coirpre and
his men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:13
- id: role:8
label: victim
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Lomna is beheaded by Coirpre.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: violator of division custom
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Coirpre divides fish without giving any portion to the head, which the passage
says is against the law of the Fianna.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: accompaniers of Coirpre
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The men are with Coirpre in the house, receive fish, and are killed with
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: role:11
label: trackers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The hounds are put on Coirpre's track and lead Finn to the house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Ogham rod
literal_form: A four-square rod marked with an Ogham message
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: severed head on a spike
literal_form: Lomna's head placed on a spike beside the fire
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: sym:3
label: fire
literal_form: The fire beside which Lomna's head is placed; later the head speaks
of great fires to be lighted by Finn in Luigne
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: sym:4
label: fish share
literal_form: Fish cooked on a spit and divided among Coirpre's men without a portion
for the head
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: hounds on the track
literal_form: Hounds released to follow Coirpre's track
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: three times nine men
literal_form: Three times nine of Coirpre's men in the house
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Secret visit witnessed
summary: Finn goes hunting with the Fianna while Lomna stays at the house and sees
Coirpre secretly go to Finn's wife.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Ogham disclosure and killing ordered
summary: Finn's wife asks Lomna to conceal what he saw; Lomna writes an Ogham message,
Finn reads it, and the wife asks Coirpre to kill Lomna.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Headless body and pursuit
summary: Coirpre beheads Lomna and takes the head; Finn returns, finds the body,
uses rhymed divination, and sends hounds on Coirpre's track.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Speaking head at Coirpre's house
summary: Finn follows the hounds to Coirpre's house, where Coirpre and his men cook
and divide fish while Lomna's head is on a spike by the fire. When Coirpre withholds
a share from the head, it speaks and foretells vengeance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:5
label: Finn's vengeance
summary: As the head foretells Coirpre's destruction, Finn enters and kills Coirpre
and his men.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: cryptic written disclosure of concealed wrongdoing
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Lomna agrees to conceal Coirpre's secret visit but then writes an Ogham message
that Finn reads.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives the Ogham wording but does not explicitly interpret
each image in it.
- id: motif:2
label: divination over a corpse to identify the victim and manner of death
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Finn performs the divination of rhymes and declares the body is Lomna's and
that enemies killed him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference to wisdom is broad; the passage specifically names
divination of rhymes rather than a general wisdom contest or teaching.
- id: motif:3
label: hounds tracking a murderer
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Finn orders hounds put on Coirpre's track, and they lead him to Coirpre's
house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: ''
- id: motif:4
label: speaking severed head accuses the wrongdoer
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Lomna's head speaks after Coirpre withholds a fish share, accusing him of
an improper division and naming Fianna vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: ''
- id: motif:5
label: prophetic severed head foretells violent retribution
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After being put outside, the head foretells Coirpre's dismemberment and fires
in Luigne, immediately before Finn arrives and kills Coirpre and his men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: ''
- id: motif:6
label: violation of customary food division triggers supernatural speech and vengeance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Coirpre gives no portion of fish to the head; the passage says this is against
the law of the Fianna, and the head then speaks of vengeance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage identifies the act as a breach of Fianna law, but does not
explain the broader legal or ritual rule.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 9050-9054
quote_or_summary: Finn takes a wife from the Luigne of Midhe, and Lomna, described
as a fool, is in his household.
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: 9055-9058
quote_or_summary: Finn goes to Tethra hunting with the Fianna; Lomna remains at
the house and sees Coirpre secretly go to Finn's wife.
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: 9059-9062
quote_or_summary: The woman begs Lomna to hide what he saw; he agrees, but it troubles
him to be involved in treachery against 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:4
type: quote
locator: 9062-9067
quote_or_summary: 'Lomna takes a four-square rod and writes an Ogham on it, including
the words: "An alder stake in a paling of silver" and other figurative phrases.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 9068-9071
quote_or_summary: Finn sees the message and becomes angry with the woman; she understands
Lomna was the source and sends Coirpre a message to kill him.
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: 9072-9073
quote_or_summary: Coirpre comes, strikes off Lomna's head, and carries it away.
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: quote
locator: 9074-9080
quote_or_summary: Finn sees the headless body, performs "the divination of rhymes,"
and says it is Lomna's body and that he was killed by enemies.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 9080-9083
quote_or_summary: Finn orders the hounds let out on the track; they follow Coirpre's
track and Finn follows them to a house.
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: 9083-9085
quote_or_summary: In the house are Coirpre and three times nine of his men cooking
fish on a spit, with Lomna's head on a spike beside the fire.
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: 9086-9089
quote_or_summary: Coirpre divides the first and second cooked fish among his men
but gives no bit to the mouth of the head; this is said to be against the law
of 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:11
type: quote
locator: 9089-9092
quote_or_summary: The head says Coirpre has shared a share that is not right and
that "the Fianna will avenge it upon you, Coirpre."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: 9092-9095
quote_or_summary: 'After Coirpre orders the head outside, it says: "It is in many
pieces you will be" and that great fires will be lighted by Finn in Luigne.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt quoted.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: 9096-9097
quote_or_summary: As the head says this, Finn comes in and makes an end of Coirpre
and his men.
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: The narrative sequence and figures are explicit. Motif labels are descriptive
and should be reviewed, especially the broad taxonomy link to wisdom for rhymed
divination.
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 itself does not explicitly compare the episode to another corpus or motif family beyond the available descriptive motif candidates.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l9050-l9097
passage_sha256=af0fb4e8da673536bb8ce03b528ca5bec14e7953a2fcc3564119a6278112ab94