Text items (beta)

Becc mac Dé is the best seer of his time, as the following anecdote illustrates. One day, he meets three men coming from Tara, each of whom asks him a question. Becc mac Dé answers them all with a single reply. Even when there are nine of them, he can answer them in the same way.

Agents

Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more

One day, Becc mac Dé is with Díarmait at Tara, who is much praised by eulogists (in t-aes admolta). Before Becc is Áed Dub, whose father is the late Suibne, king of Dál nAraide. Díarmait had killed Suibne and taken Áed Dub into fosterage. Becc predicts that a canid (terms used include cú conamail or cú ruad), possibly Áed Dub, will destroy the house. Becc continues with a strikingly detailed and seemingly impossible picture of the king’s death.

Subjects

fosterageyet to be classified
fosterage

id. 27132

Agents

Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more Áed Dub mac SuibniÁed Dub mac Suibni
(d. 588)
A king of Dál nAraide (563-588) who became chiefly known for slaying Díarmait mac Cerbaill, the Uí Néill king of Tara. The deed is depicted in Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill.
See more Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more

Lexical items

Ir. cú conamailIrish cú conamail
Search eDILIr. cú ruadIrish cú ruad
Search eDIL

Becc’s prophecy

Becc’s prophecy: Díarmait will be in the house of Banbán the hospitaller when Áed Dub offers a poisonous drink to the king’s mouth. At this time, the king will be wearing a shirt woven from a single flax-seed and a mantle woven from a single sheep; drinking ale brewed from a single grain; and eating bacon of a pig that has not been farrowed. Finally, a ridge-pole (the beam of the house) will fall on the king’s head.

Agents

Becc mac DéBecc mac Dé
(d. 550s)
legendary seer, best known from literary sources as an Irish prophet associated with Díarmait mac Cerbaill
See more Áed Dub mac SuibniÁed Dub mac Suibni
(d. 588)
A king of Dál nAraide (563-588) who became chiefly known for slaying Díarmait mac Cerbaill, the Uí Néill king of Tara. The deed is depicted in Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill.
See more Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more Banbán of Ráith BeccBanbán of Ráith Becc
layman in the tale of Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill, in which he invites Díarmait, king of Tara, to his house at Ráith Becc, where the king meets his end.
See more

All suggest that Áed should be put to death, but Díarmait prefers to send him into exile in Alba (Scotland).

Agents

Áed Dub mac SuibniÁed Dub mac Suibni
(d. 588)
A king of Dál nAraide (563-588) who became chiefly known for slaying Díarmait mac Cerbaill, the Uí Néill king of Tara. The deed is depicted in Aided Díarmata meic Cerbaill.
See more Díarmait mac CerbaillDíarmait mac Cerbaill
(supp. d. 565)
In Irish historical tradition, high-king of Ireland, son of Fergus Cerrbél.
See more