Togail Bruidne Da Derga

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Togail Bruidne Da Derga [ 'toɣalʴ' vruðʴnʴe da 'dʴerga ] ("The Destruction of the Hall Da Dergas") is the title of a story from the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology . It is partially preserved in Leabhar Buidhe Lecain ("The Yellow Book of Lecan") and in a manuscript from 1300, in Lebor na hUidre ("The Book of the Dark-Colored Cow") and some manuscripts from more recent times. There were originally two versions from the 9th century that were merged in the 11th century. Notes in these later works indicate that the missing Lebor Dromma Snechta (“The Book of Druim Snechta”) must have contained a version.

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Conaire Mór is the son of the enchanting Mes Buachalla , wife of the Irish king Etarscél . In one version Etarscél himself is the father of Conaire Mórs, in another version Mes Buachalla was impregnated by an unknown bird in the form of a bird before she married. After Etarscél's death, Conaire Mór undergoes the “bull sleep ” ceremony ( bull-sleep or tarbfeis ). In this ritual, a man is fed the meat and broth of a freshly slaughtered white bull until he falls asleep satisfied. Then the druids sang magic spells about him until the new king to be chosen appears to him in a dream. This custom is also described in a subplot by Serglige Con Chulainn ocus oenét Emire (“Cú Chulainn's sick bed and Emer's only jealousy”).

At the beginning of Conaire Mór's reign, the land flourishes and there is peace and justice. However, when his foster brothers start to ruthlessly ravage the land, Conaire Mór violates the fír flathemon ("the king's justice") because he fails to punish them for it. This ultimately leads to his downfall, and he also violates some of his gessi (taboos). He cannot prevent the desire of a horribly ugly man named Fer Caille with his even uglier wife Cichuil to accompany him to the festival hall and he then refuses the witch Cailb a place by his fire. During a guest visit in the festival hall of Da Derga ("the red god") he is attacked by the foster brothers and murdered despite strong resistance and the help of Conall Cernach , only Conall Cernach can escape at the last moment.

This festival hall ( old Irish bruiden ) of the Briuga (large farmer) Da Dergas is described by Birkhan as circular, in it hundreds of warriors and a large number of servants have space. It stands in the middle of a crossroads and has seven gates, but only one is locked at a time - a sign of the owner's hospitality.

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literature

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Individual evidence

  1. Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 1015.