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Bibliography

Vries, Ranke de, “Medieval medicine and the healing of Caílte in Acallam na senórach”, North American Journal of Celtic Studies 5:1 (Spring, 2021): 49–82.

  • journal article
Citation details
Contributors
Article
“Medieval medicine and the healing of Caílte in Acallam na senórach
Periodical
North American Journal of Celtic Studies 5:1 (2021)
North American Journal of Celtic Studies 5:1–2 (Spring-Autumn, 2021), Ohio State University Press.
Volume
5
Pages
49–82
Description
Abstract (cited)

This article examines the healing of Caílte in the late twelfth- or early thirteenth-century text Acallam na senórach from a medieval medical perspective. According to the text, Caílte suffers from long-lasting injuries, particularly from mobility issues caused by a poisoned spear. The healing itself, performed mainly by Bé Binn, a female member of the Túatha Dé Danann, takes place in three stages: (1) healing through vomiting; (2) curing Caílte's head afflictions with a head rinse; and (3) extracting the poison and other gore from his legs. After this, as a parting gift, Bé Binn provides Caílte with a potion that restores his memory. This article argues that the healing sequence shows familiarity with medieval medical practice derived from European and Arabic medical sources up to two centuries before the appearance of the earliest medical manuscripts.

Subjects and topics
Headings
Finn Cycle Irish medicine and medical writing
Sources
Texts
History, society and culture
Agents
Caílte mac RónáinCaílte mac Rónáin
Caílte mac Crundchon meic Rónáin
(time-frame ass. with Finn Cycle)
or Caílte mac Crundchon meic Rónáin, kinsman of Finn mac Cumaill and a prominent member of his fían; accomplished warrior and hunter; one of the protagonists of Acallam na senórach
See more
Contributors
Dennis Groenewegen
Page created
March 2022