batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l1134-l1161
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg-l1134-l1161
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
passage_locator:
label: THE COURTSHIP OF ETAIN / INTRODUCTION / PROLOGUE IN FAIRYLAND / FROM THE
LEABHAR NA H-UIDHRI; lines 1134-1161
start: '1134'
end: '1161'
translation: Heroic Romances of Ireland
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A young warrior leaves mysteriously. Mac O'c and Mider infer that Fuamnach
has deceived them and may harm Etain, who remains in a transformed shape. Mac
O'c returns to his glass bower, finds Etain absent, follows Fuamnach, beheads
her, and carries away her head. The passage then reports an alternate version
in which Manannan aids in the slaying of Fuamnach and Mider at Bri Leith, which
is burned.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A young warrior departs from the maidens, who do not know where he came from
or where he goes afterward.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: After Etain's disappearance, Mac O'c comes to the appointed meeting with Mider
and finds Fuamnach absent.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Mider says Fuamnach has practiced deceit and will work evil upon Etain if
she sees Etain in Ireland.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Mac O'c says Etain has been in his house, is still in the shape into which
Fuamnach transformed her, and is likely the one upon whom Fuamnach has rushed.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Mac O'c returns to his palace and finds the glass bower empty because Etain
is not there.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Mac O'c follows Fuamnach's track to Oenach Bodbgnai, in the house of Bressal
Etarlam the Druid.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Mac O'c attacks Fuamnach, strikes off her head, and carries the head toward
his own borders.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: A different tale says that, with Manannan's aid, both Fuamnach and Mider were
slain in Bri Leith.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The cited verse says that Bri Leith was burned by Manannan.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: young warrior
description: A young warrior who leaves the maidens mysteriously.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: maidens
description: The maidens from whom the young warrior departs; they do not know his
origin or destination.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Mac O'c
description: He meets Mider, returns to his palace, tracks Fuamnach, and in one
account beheads her.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Etain
description: She has disappeared, has been in Mac O'c's house, remains in a shape
into which Fuamnach transformed her, and is absent from the glass bower.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Mider
description: He meets Mac O'c, identifies Fuamnach's deceit, and in an alternate
account is slain at Bri Leith.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Fuamnach
description: She is absent from the meeting, is accused of deceit, had transformed
Etain, is tracked by Mac O'c, and is slain in both reported versions.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Bressal Etarlam the Druid
description: A druid in whose house Fuamnach is overtaken at Oenach Bodbgnai.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Manannan
description: In the alternate tale, he aids in the slaying of Fuamnach and Mider
and is named in the verse as burning Bri Leith.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Sigmall
description: 'A name mentioned in the cited verse: "Think on Sigmall."'
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: mysterious departing warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The warrior leaves and the maidens do not know his origin or destination.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: uncertain witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They observe the warrior's departure but do not know where he came from or
went.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: pursuer and slayer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Mac O'c follows Fuamnach and beheads her in the primary account.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: absent transformed woman
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Etain is missing from the bower and is described as still in a shape imposed
by Fuamnach.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: deceived party and alternate victim
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Mider says Fuamnach deceived them; a different tale says Mider was slain
at Bri Leith.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: deceiver and transformer
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Mider calls her actions deceit, and Mac O'c says she transformed Etain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: druid householder
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Fuamnach is overtaken in his house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: alternate helper or slayer
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: A different tale says Fuamnach and Mider were slain by Manannan's aid, and
the verse attributes Bri Leith's burning to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: glass bower
literal_form: bower of glass in Mac O'c's palace
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: transformed shape
literal_form: the shape into which Fuamnach transformed Etain
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: severed head
literal_form: Fuamnach's head, struck off and carried by Mac O'c
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: fire at Bri Leith
literal_form: Bri Leith burned by Manannan
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Mysterious departure of the young warrior
summary: The young warrior leaves the maidens, who remain ignorant of his origin
and destination.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Mac O'c and Mider infer Fuamnach's action
summary: At the appointed meeting after Etain's disappearance, Mider and Mac O'c
discuss Fuamnach's deceit, Etain's transformed state, and likely danger to Etain.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Empty glass bower
summary: Mac O'c returns to his palace and finds the glass bower empty because Etain
is not there.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Pursuit and beheading of Fuamnach
summary: Mac O'c tracks Fuamnach to the house of Bressal Etarlam the Druid, attacks
her, cuts off her head, and carries it away.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Alternate death tale at Bri Leith
summary: The passage reports a different account in which Manannan aids in the slaying
of Fuamnach and Mider at Bri Leith, associated in verse with the burning of Bri
Leith.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: woman held in transformed state after hostile magic
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Etain is said to remain in the shape into which Fuamnach transformed her,
after her disappearance from Mac O'c's house.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states transformation but does not describe the form in this
excerpt; the taxonomy reference is approximate because Fuamnach transforms Etain
rather than necessarily changing shape herself.
- id: motif:2
label: avenging pursuit and beheading of deceiver
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mac O'c follows Fuamnach, attacks her, strikes off her head, and carries
it away after her deceit against Etain is identified.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level action pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy
family.
- id: motif:3
label: alternate traditional ending for a mythic death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage explicitly says a different tale gives another end for Fuamnach,
involving Manannan, Mider, Bri Leith, and burning.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The comparison is internal to the passage and does not establish historical
relationship beyond the stated alternate version.
- id: motif:4
label: destruction by burning at a named place
taxonomy_refs:
- world_destroying_fire
basis: The cited verse says Bri Leith was burned by Manannan in the context of an
alternate slaying tale.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: low
cautions: The fire is localized to Bri Leith, not world-destroying; the taxonomy
reference is only a broad thematic proximity.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The passage preserves two variant accounts of Fuamnach''s end: one in which
Mac O''c beheads her after pursuit, and another in which Manannan aids in the
slaying of Fuamnach and Mider at Bri Leith.'
claim_level: same_motif
target: alternate account of Fuamnach's death within the same passage tradition
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage reports the difference but gives no external source details
or explanation of transmission.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 1134-1136
quote_or_summary: The young warrior leaves the maidens, who do not know where he
came from or where he went.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 1137-1143
quote_or_summary: After Etain's disappearance, Mac O'c meets Mider; Fuamnach is
absent, and Mider says she has deceived them and may harm Etain if she sees her
in Ireland.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 1143-1148
quote_or_summary: Mac O'c says Etain has been in his house, remains in the shape
into which Fuamnach transformed her, and is likely the one against whom Fuamnach
has rushed.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 1148-1150
quote_or_summary: Mac O'c returns to his palace and finds his bower of glass empty,
with Etain absent.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 1150-1154
quote_or_summary: Mac O'c follows Fuamnach to Oenach Bodbgnai, in the house of Bressal
Etarlam the Druid, attacks her, beheads her, and carries away the head.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 1155-1161
quote_or_summary: A different tale says Manannan aided in the slaying of Fuamnach
and Mider in Bri Leith; the quoted verse says Bri Leith was burned by Manannan.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Named figures and actions are explicit. Some motif-family assignments are
cautious because the available taxonomy only partially matches the passage-level
patterns.
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; no external comparisons added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-heroic-romances-of-ireland-leahy-gutenberg__l1134-l1161
passage_sha256=562171cb0f31b525c579952f9f206572e3e8de629f99639c579b14cc0392c86e