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Ingridsdotter, Kicki, “Motivation for incest: Clothru and the battle of Druim Criaich”, Studia Celtica Fennica 10 (2013): 45–63.

  • journal article
Citation details
Contributors
Article
“Motivation for incest: Clothru and the battle of Druim Criaich”
Periodical
Studia Celtica Fennica 10 (2013)
Studia Celtica Fennica 10 (2013).
– PDFs: <link>
Volume
10
Pages
45–63
BibTeX
Online resources
Archive
– PDF resource: journal.fi
Description
Abstract (cited)
The topic of this article is an episode found in early Irish literature in which Clothru, Medb’s sister and Eochaid Feidlech’s daughter, mates with her three brothers Bres, Nár, and Lothar before the battle of Druim Criaich, resulting in the conception of Lugaid of the red stripes. Previous work has focused mainly on mythological and political connotations of the episode, particularly Clothru’s presumed connection to sovereignty. Whereas I do agree that the episodes concerning Clothru’s incest can be read as replete with liminality, and that issues of kingship are central to all extant examples of in these episodes, here I would like to explore a reading of the texts in which I see Clothru as less bound to sovereignty and more acting within a literary motif of mediating violence and preventing strife. I will focus on the immediate textual context and subtle differences in the motivation and narrative function of the incest and the conception of a child as found in these sources. Whereas the surface motivation shifts from text to text, the underlying motivation-to keep her brothers from killing their father, remains throughout. This motivation is also comparable to other episodes in which violence is negotiated and mediated by women or men in early Irish literature. Although several scholars have noted this shift in motivation, it has not been discussed in full and merits a fuller treatment.
Subjects and topics
Sources
Texts
History, society and culture
Agents
Clothru [daughter of Eochaid Feidlech]Clothru ... daughter of Eochaid Feidlech
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)
No short description available
See more Eochaid FeidlechEochaid Feidlech
Eochu Feidlech
in Irish legendary history, high-king of Ireland, descendant of Labraid Lorc and father of multiple daughters and sons, including Medb ruler of Connacht, Clothru and the triplets known as the three Findemna.
See more Medb ChrúachnaMedb of Crúachan
Medb of Crúachan;Medb Crúachna;Medb of Connacht
(time-frame ass. with Ulster Cycle)
Queen of the Connachta, co-ruler with her husband Ailill mac Máta, in the Ulster Cycle. She is said to have a daughter, Findabair, and seven sons known as the seven Maines. Her lover is Fergus mac Róich.
See more
Keywords
battle of Druim Criaich
web page identifiers
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
March 2017, last updated: November 2020
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