batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l11955-l12072
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l11955-l12072
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: XVIII / HERE NOW IS TOLD THE MISTHROW AT BELACH EOIN. / HERE NOW FOLLOWETH
THE DISGUISING OF TAMON / HERE NOW COMETH THE HEAD-PLACE OF FERCHU; lines 11955-12072
start: '11955'
end: '12072'
translation: The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Tain Bo Cualnge
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'Cethern son of Fintan asks Cuchulain for another healer because the healers
of the men of Erin have failed him. Cuchulain sends Laeg to fetch Fingin, a seer-leech
and leech of Conchobar. Fingin examines Cethern''s wounds one by one, describes
their character and cause, and Cuchulain identifies the attackers: Illann, Medb,
Oll and Othine, and Bun and Mecconn. The last wounds are grave, with spears said
to have crossed through Cethern''s heart; Fingin predicts no cure but offers plants
and charms to delay immediate death.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Cethern asks Cuchulain for another healer because the healers of the men of
Erin have failed him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Cuchulain sends Laeg to Fingin the seer-leech at Fingin's Grave-mound at Leccan
of Sliab Fuait.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Fingin comes to Cuchulain and Cethern, and Cethern shows him his stabs, cuts,
sores, and bloody wounds.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Fingin examines a wound and says it is slight, unwillingly given, and made
by someone of Cethern's own blood.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Cethern describes the attacker for that wound as a lone man with bushy hair,
a blue mantle, a silver brooch, an oval shield, a five-pointed spear, and a pronged
spare spear.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Cuchulain identifies the lone man as Illann Ilarchless, son of Fergus mac
Roig, and says the blow was a mock-blow.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Fingin examines another wound and calls it the deed of arms of a warrior-woman.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Cethern describes the woman as beautiful and tall, with golden-yellow hair,
royal clothing, golden birds on her shoulders, a purple cloak, a golden brooch,
and a red-flaming spear.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Cuchulain identifies the woman as Medb daughter of Eocho Fedlech.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Fingin examines a further wound and says two warriors inflicted two wounds
as one wound.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: Cethern describes two armed men with blue cloaks, silver brooches, silver
necklaces, long shields, silver chains, and five-pointed spears.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: Cuchulain identifies the two warriors as Oll and Othine of the bodyguard of
Ailill and Medb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:13
text: Cethern says two young warriors of the Fian each cast a spear at him, and
that he drove a spear through one of them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: Fingin says the blood is black and that the spears passed through Cethern's
heart, forming a cross through it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:15
text: Fingin prophesies no cure for the crossed heart wounds, but says he would
get healing plants and curing charms so they do not destroy Cethern immediately.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:16
text: Cuchulain identifies the final pair as Bun and Mecconn of the bodyguard of
Ailill and Medb.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Cethern son of Fintan
description: Wounded warrior who asks for healing and displays multiple bloody wounds
for examination.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Cuchulain
description: Figure who sends for Fingin and identifies several of Cethern's attackers.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Laeg
description: Messenger sent by Cuchulain to summon Fingin.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Fingin
description: Seer-leech and prophet-leech, leech to Conchobar, who examines Cethern's
wounds and speaks diagnoses and prognosis.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Illann Ilarchless son of Fergus mac Roig
description: Identified by Cuchulain as the man who gave a slight, unwilling wound
or mock-blow to Cethern.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Medb daughter of Eocho Fedlech
description: Identified by Cuchulain as the woman who wounded Cethern while dressed
in royal and golden adornments.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Oll and Othine
description: Pair identified as bodyguards of Ailill and Medb, said to wound men
when joining hostings, battles, or combats.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Bun and Mecconn
description: Pair identified as bodyguards of Ailill and Medb whose spears passed
through Cethern's heart.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: wounded patient
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Cethern seeks healing and shows his wounds to Fingin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: sender for healer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Cuchulain instructs Laeg to bring Fingin to heal Cethern.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: identifier of attackers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Cuchulain names the figures responsible for the wounds after Cethern and
Fingin describe them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Laeg hastens to Fingin with Cuchulain's message.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: seer-healer diagnostician
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Fingin is called a seer-leech and prophet-leech and interprets Cethern's
wounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: wound-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Each named figure or pair is identified as having inflicted one or more wounds
on Cethern.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: royal woman warrior
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Medb is identified as daughter of the High King of Erin and as the woman
who inflicted a wound with a spear.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: bodyguard pair
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: Oll and Othine, and Bun and Mecconn, are identified as belonging to the bodyguard
of Ailill and Medb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: bloody wounds
literal_form: Stabs, cuts, sores, and bloody wounds shown by Cethern for examination.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:2
label: Fingin's Grave-mound
literal_form: Grave-mound at Leccan of Sliab Fuait where Fingin is located.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: red-flaming spear
literal_form: Straight, ridged, red-flaming spear carried by the woman later identified
as Medb.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: golden birds on shoulders
literal_form: Two birds of gold worn on the shoulders of the woman later identified
as Medb.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: crossed spears through the heart
literal_form: Two spears passed through Cethern's heart and formed a cross through
it.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: healing plants and curing charms
literal_form: Plants and charms Fingin says he would get to prevent immediate destruction
from the wounds.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Cuchulain sends for Fingin
summary: After other healers have failed Cethern, Cuchulain sends Laeg to summon
Fingin the seer-leech from Fingin's Grave-mound.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Fingin examines Cethern's wounds
summary: Fingin arrives and Cethern displays his wounds for examination.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Wound attributed to Illann
summary: Fingin judges one wound slight and unwillingly given by someone of Cethern's
own blood; Cethern describes the lone armed man, and Cuchulain identifies Illann.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Wound attributed to Medb
summary: Fingin identifies a wound as the work of a warrior-woman; Cethern describes
the woman and her regalia, and Cuchulain names Medb.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Wound attributed to Oll and Othine
summary: Fingin says two warriors made two wounds as one; Cethern describes the
pair, and Cuchulain identifies them as Oll and Othine.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Crossed heart wound attributed to Bun and Mecconn
summary: Cethern describes two young warriors who cast spears at him. Fingin says
the spears crossed through Cethern's heart, predicts no cure, and mentions plants
and charms to delay immediate death. Cuchulain identifies the pair as Bun and
Mecconn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: seer-healer diagnoses hidden causes of wounds
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Fingin, called a seer-leech or prophet-leech, examines wounds and states
who or what kind of attacker caused them, including a prognosis for the fatal
heart wounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference to wisdom is broad; the passage frames the ability
through healing and prophecy rather than an explicit wisdom quest.
- id: motif:2
label: wound catalogue reveals sequence of attackers
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage proceeds through Cethern's wounds one by one; each wound prompts
diagnosis, description of the attacker, and identification by Cuchulain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a local narrative pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy family.
- id: motif:3
label: paired warriors create a single or crossed wound
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: One pair is said to have inflicted two wounds as one wound, and another pair's
spears pass through the heart so that they form a cross.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage identifies warrior pairs but does not make a broader symbolic
claim about twins or sacred pairing.
- id: motif:4
label: temporary healing against fatal wounds
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Fingin predicts no cure for the crossed heart wound but proposes healing
plants and curing charms to keep the wounds from destroying Cethern immediately.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not show the later application or effect of the plants
and charms within this excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 11955-11968
quote_or_summary: Cethern asks Cuchulain for another healer after other leeches
fail; Cuchulain sends Laeg to fetch Fingin the seer-leech at Fingin's Grave-mound.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 11969-11976
quote_or_summary: Laeg summons Fingin, who comes to Cuchulain and Cethern; Cethern
shows him his stabs, cuts, sores, and bloody wounds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 11977-12002
quote_or_summary: Fingin calls one wound slight and unwillingly given by someone
of Cethern's own blood. Cethern describes a lone armed man; Cuchulain identifies
him as Illann Ilarchless and calls the blow a mock-blow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 12003-12029
quote_or_summary: Fingin calls another wound the deed of a warrior-woman. Cethern
describes a richly dressed woman with golden birds on her shoulders and a red-flaming
spear; Cuchulain identifies her as Medb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 12030-12052
quote_or_summary: Fingin says two warriors inflicted two wounds as one. Cethern
describes a pair of armed men with silver ornaments; Cuchulain identifies them
as Oll and Othine of Ailill and Medb's bodyguard.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 12053-12072
quote_or_summary: Cethern describes two young warriors who cast spears at him. Fingin
says the black blood shows the spears crossed through Cethern's heart, predicts
no cure, and offers plants and charms to prevent immediate death; Cuchulain identifies
Bun and Mecconn.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; brief summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage explicitly names figures,
actions, and diagnoses. Motif labels are descriptive and partly interpretive;
only the broad wisdom taxonomy reference is used.
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 support a specific cross-textual comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l11955-l12072
passage_sha256=ff80f5d4f349705ac933a56c643feaab80caa9d9cae66a0f3ccce6320815389d