Cath Etair

Cath Étair [ kaθ 'eːdirʴ ] ("The Battle of Étar") is the name of a story from the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology . The legend probably dates from the 11th century and is preserved in Lebor Laignech ("The Book of Leinster") and in a manuscript from the 16th century.

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The fili (poet) Aithirne Áilgesach ( áilges - “request not to be refused ”) is notorious throughout Ireland for his greed. During a tour of the island on behalf of the Ulster King Conchobar mac Nessa , he made such unreasonable demands on his hosts everywhere that he soon turned everything against himself in Connacht and Munster . When he even tried to rob 150 noblemen's wives in Leinster, the persecutors besieged the fortress Étar ( Howth , County Fingal near Dublin ), which was defended by Aithirne and 100 Ultern .

In the battle that now follows, the king of Leinster, Mes Gegra , is beheaded by the Ulster hero Conall Cernach in a duel and the besiegers are driven out. The ball mixed with lime from the brain Mes Gegras is brought back to Ulster in triumph and is later the cause of the death of King Conchobar mac Nessa (told in the saga Aided Chonchobuir ).

See also

• Myths and legends from Ireland
• List of Celtic gods and legendary figures
• Celtic head cult

literature

• Helmut Birkhan : Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 .
• Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 943 f.