batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l14027-l14156
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg-l14027-l14156
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
passage_locator:
label: HERE FOLLOWETH ILIACH'S CLUMP-FIGHT / HERE NOW THE DEER-STALKING OF AMARGIN
IN TALTIU / THE ADVENTURES OF CUROI SON OF DARE FOLLOW NOW / THE REPEATED WARNING
OF SUALTAIM; lines 14027-14156
start: '14027'
end: '14156'
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: MacRoth reports successive armed companies arriving at the hill or mound
of Slane of Meath. Ailill asks Fergus to identify the prominent warriors, and
Fergus names Fergus son of Lete, Amargin son of Ecetsalach, Feradach Finn Fectnach,
and the three sons of Fiachna, Ros, Dare, and Imchad, who have come in quest of
their bull and would fight in its defence.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: MacRoth describes a battalion arriving at the hill in Slane of Meath, led
by a stout, scarred warrior with brown bushy hair and accompanied by black-haired,
black-eyed youths and a red flaming banner.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Ailill asks who the first warrior is, and Fergus identifies him as Fergus
son of Lete, king from Line in the north and Fergus's foster-brother.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: A second fierce company arrives at the same hill, led by a handsome warrior
wearing ornate clothing, gold ornaments, a shield, a sword, and a red venomous
spear.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Fergus identifies the second leading warrior as Amargin son of the smith Ecetsalach,
a noble poet from the Buas in the north.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: A third company arrives, led by a fair, yellow-haired hero bearing a rimmed
shield, a gold-hilted sword, a five-pointed spear, and a hollow lance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Fergus identifies the third warrior as Feradach Finn Fectnach from Nemed in
Sliab Fuait in the north.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Another company arrives at the mound in Slane of Meath, with three noble youths
in the front rank wearing matching garments and bearing matching shields, gold-hilted
swords, and spears.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Fergus identifies the three youths as Ros, Dare, and Imchad, the three sons
of Fiachna, who are in quest of their bull and would offer battle in defence of
their bull and drove.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: macRoth
description: Speaker who reports the arrival and appearance of successive companies
at Slane of Meath.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Ailill
description: Questioner who asks Fergus to identify the warriors.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fergus
description: Speaker who identifies the leading warriors and the three sons of Fiachna.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Fergus son of Lete
description: Stalwart warrior and king from Line in the north; described as Fergus's
foster-brother and as a figure of strength, courage, pride, and battle.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Amargin son of Ecetsalach
description: Ornately equipped champion and noble poet from the Buas in the north,
carrying a sword and red venomous spear.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Feradach Finn Fectnach
description: Fair yellow-haired hero from Nemed in Sliab Fuait in the north, bearing
shield, gold-hilted sword, five-pointed spear, and hollow lance.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ros
description: One of the three sons of Fiachna, identified among the three princes
and champions who come in quest of their bull.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Dare
description: One of the three sons of Fiachna, identified among the three princes
and champions who come in quest of their bull.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Imchad
description: One of the three sons of Fiachna, identified among the three princes
and champions who come in quest of their bull.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: martial observer-reporter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: MacRoth narrates the arrival, appearance, and equipment of the companies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: questioning ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Ailill repeatedly asks who the arriving warriors are.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: identifier of warriors
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Fergus answers Ailill's questions by naming the warriors and giving their
affiliations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: armed champion
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Each named warrior or group is presented with martial attributes, weapons,
or readiness for battle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: king from the north
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Fergus identifies Fergus son of Lete as the king from Line in the north.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: poet-champion
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Amargin is called the choice flower of royal poets and is also described
as a fierce warlike champion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: bull-seeking defender
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: The three sons of Fiachna are said to be in quest of their bull and willing
to fight in defence of their bull and drove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: hill or mound of Slane of Meath
literal_form: hill or mound
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: red flaming banner
literal_form: red, flaming banner
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: ornate martial equipment
literal_form: shields, gold-hilted swords, spears, lance, brooches, mantle, and
gold ornaments
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: five-pointed spear
literal_form: five-pointed spear
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: matching triadic arms and garments
literal_form: three cloaks of one colour, three brooches, three like shields, three
gold-hilted swords, and three spears
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: Brown Bull of Cualnge
literal_form: bull possessed by the three sons of Fiachna
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: First company arrives and is identified
summary: MacRoth describes a stalwart scarred warrior leading a martial company
to Slane of Meath; Ailill asks his identity and Fergus names him as Fergus son
of Lete.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Amargin's company arrives and is identified
summary: MacRoth describes a fierce company led by an ornate armed warrior; Ailill
asks his identity and Fergus names him as Amargin son of Ecetsalach, poet and
champion.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Feradach's company arrives and is identified
summary: MacRoth describes a fair yellow-haired hero with shield, sword, spear,
and lance; Ailill asks his identity and Fergus names him as Feradach Finn Fectnach.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Three sons of Fiachna arrive in quest of their bull
summary: MacRoth describes three matching armed youths at the front of a company;
Fergus identifies them as Ros, Dare, and Imchad, who seek their bull and would
fight to defend it and their drove.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: successive heroic arrivals and recognition by a knowledgeable speaker
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage repeatedly presents companies arriving, Ailill asking their identity,
and Fergus naming and characterizing the warriors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative pattern within the passage rather than a taxonomy-linked
motif.
- id: motif:2
label: martial display through physical description, weapons, and ornaments
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Each leading warrior or group is described through bodily features, clothing,
shields, swords, spears, banners, or other martial equipment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage supplies descriptive cataloguing, not explicit symbolic interpretation.
- id: motif:3
label: triadic warrior brothers with matching equipment
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Ros, Dare, and Imchad are presented as three noble youths with parallel garments,
brooches, shields, swords, and spears.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The text identifies them as sons of Fiachna but does not explicitly label
the triad as sacred or supernatural.
- id: motif:4
label: armed quest to recover or defend a valuable bull
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The three sons of Fiachna are said to be in quest of their bull and ready
to offer battle in defence of their bull and drove.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states the quest and defence motive but does not narrate the
recovery itself within this excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 14027-14061
quote_or_summary: MacRoth describes a stalwart warrior with a red flaming banner
leading a company to Slane of Meath; Fergus identifies him to Ailill as Fergus
son of Lete, king from Line in the north and his foster-brother.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 14062-14102
quote_or_summary: A fierce company arrives led by an ornate warrior with gold ornaments,
shield, sword, and a red venomous spear; Fergus identifies him as Amargin son
of Ecetsalach, noble poet from the Buas in the north.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 14103-14128
quote_or_summary: A fair yellow-haired hero arrives with shield, gold-hilted sword,
five-pointed spear, and hollow lance; Fergus identifies him as Feradach Finn Fectnach
from Nemed in Sliab Fuait.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 14129-14156
quote_or_summary: Three similarly dressed and armed youths arrive; Fergus identifies
them as Ros, Dare, and Imchad, the three sons of Fiachna, in quest of their bull
and ready to fight for their bull and drove.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/tain-bo-cualnge-dunn.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is explicit about figures, arms, arrivals, and identifications.
Motif labels are candidate narrative patterns only; no external comparison is
asserted.
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 taxonomy motif refs were assigned because the available taxonomy did not clearly match the passage-level patterns.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-tain-bo-cualnge-dunn-gutenberg__l14027-l14156
passage_sha256=198244044fd3e045d95577ad6e8b15cb68f2562e15d578f150228cfd5cd7ec31