Findabair
Encyclopedia
In Irish mythology
, Findabair or Finnabair (Reformed modern Irish Fionnabhair ˈfʲɪn̪əuɾʲ), whose name likely means "White Phantom" and is etymologically
related to Gwenhwyfar, the Welsh
original of Guinevere
, was the daughter of Ailill
and Medb
of Connacht
.
Although she is not considered a main character in "The Táin
," Finnabair occupies a crucial role in the epic. Daughter to Ailill and Medb, her hand is promised to a succession of warriors in exchange for their sparring with Cú Chulainn. Her beauty and charm are the driving force which not only lead to the death of hundreds of men, but cause Fer Diad
, beloved foster-brother and best friend of Cú Chulainn
, to fight against him, and eventually die by Cú Chulainn's Gáe Bulg
.
In the "Táin Bó Cúailnge
," Finnbair’s husband Fráech
, whose story is told in the "Táin Bo Friách” is killed by Cú Chulainn in a river. Afterwards, Medb repeatedly offers her to prospective warriors, first to Nad Crantail
, then to Láríne Mac Nóis, in a truce with Cú Chulainn not to attack her army by night in exchange that he is provided with a warrior to engage in one-on-one combat with each day. Finnabair is offered to Cú Chulainn when no warrior can be found. After he accepts, she is taken to him by a fool dressed as the king, not by Ailill himself. Upon discovering this, Cú Chulainn kills the fool and puts a pillar through him and a pillar through Finnabair's tunic, thus leaving two stones in that location, called the Fool's Stone and Finnabair's Stone (Carson 100).
Finnabair is subsequently offered to Fer Diad, "saying that he was her only darling, her chosen lover from among all the men in the world." (Carson 123) The slaying of Fer Diad on Finnabair’s account is greatly lamented by Cú Chulainn, and spurs him to speak many poems about him: “And Medb’s daughter Finnabair,/ that beautiful bait you hoped/ would be yours? You might as well/try to tie sand with a rope.” (Carson 155) Her last and perhaps genuine love interest, Rochad Mac Faithemain, joined the forces of Ulster before the last great battle. To persuade him to not fight against Connacht
, Medb uses her daughter's affection to strike a truce. Finnabair spends the night with Rochad, and eventually news of this reaches the 7 Kings of Munster
, all of whom were also offered Finnabair for their allegiance. They take their complaints to Ailill's sons, which results in a battle and the eventual slaying of 700 men. Upon hearing how she has been used and had so many men die on her account, Finnabair drops dead of shame. "Hence the name Finnabair Sléibe, Finnabair of the Mountain." (Carson 174)
In the "Táin Bo Friách," Findabair loved Fráech
but he would not pay her dowry, until bribed by Medb, he agreed to take her in return for his help in battle against Ulster
in the Táin Bó Cuailnge
(Cattle Raid of Cooley).
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
, Findabair or Finnabair (Reformed modern Irish Fionnabhair ˈfʲɪn̪əuɾʲ), whose name likely means "White Phantom" and is etymologically
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
related to Gwenhwyfar, the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
original of Guinevere
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
, was the daughter of Ailill
Ailill mac Máta
Ailill mac Máta is the king of the Connachta and the husband of queen Medb in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He rules from Cruachan .-Family background, marriage and offspring:...
and Medb
Medb
Medb – Middle Irish: Meḋḃ, Meaḋḃ; early modern Irish: Meadhbh ; reformed modern Irish Méabh, Medbh; sometimes Anglicised Maeve, Maev or Maive – is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
.
Although she is not considered a main character in "The Táin
The Tain
The Tain is an EP by The Decemberists released in 2004 by Acuarela Discos and in 2005 by Kill Rock Stars. The single 18-plus minute track is the band's take on the Irish mythological epic Táin Bó Cúailnge which is often simply called The Táin...
," Finnabair occupies a crucial role in the epic. Daughter to Ailill and Medb, her hand is promised to a succession of warriors in exchange for their sparring with Cú Chulainn. Her beauty and charm are the driving force which not only lead to the death of hundreds of men, but cause Fer Diad
Ferdiad
Ferdiad , son of Damán, son of Dáire, of the Fir Domnann, is a warrior of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Ferdiad finds himself on opposite sides to his best friend and foster-brother Cúchulainn, with whom he had trained in arms under the renowned warrior...
, beloved foster-brother and best friend of Cú Chulainn
Cúchulainn
Cú Chulainn or Cúchulainn , and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin , is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore...
, to fight against him, and eventually die by Cú Chulainn's Gáe Bulg
Gáe Bulg
The Gáe Bulg , meaning "spear of mortal pain/death spear", "gapped/notched spear", or "belly spear", was the name of the spear of Cúchulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
.
In the "Táin Bó Cúailnge
Táin Bó Cúailnge
is a legendary tale from early Irish literature, often considered an epic, although it is written primarily in prose rather than verse. It tells of a war against Ulster by the Connacht queen Medb and her husband Ailill, who intend to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, opposed only by the teenage...
," Finnbair’s husband Fráech
Fráech
Fráech is a Connacht hero in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He was the nephew of Boann, goddess of the river Boyne, and was renowned for his handsomeness. He belongs to the Fir Domnann....
, whose story is told in the "Táin Bo Friách” is killed by Cú Chulainn in a river. Afterwards, Medb repeatedly offers her to prospective warriors, first to Nad Crantail
Nad Crantail
Nad Crantail is one of the warriors that Cú Chulainn fights with in single combat to delay Medb's army in attaching Ulster in the Táin Bó Cuailnge . In looking for someone who might be a match for Cú Chulainn, Medb sends for Nad Crantail. He will only agree to fight if promised Medb's daughter...
, then to Láríne Mac Nóis, in a truce with Cú Chulainn not to attack her army by night in exchange that he is provided with a warrior to engage in one-on-one combat with each day. Finnabair is offered to Cú Chulainn when no warrior can be found. After he accepts, she is taken to him by a fool dressed as the king, not by Ailill himself. Upon discovering this, Cú Chulainn kills the fool and puts a pillar through him and a pillar through Finnabair's tunic, thus leaving two stones in that location, called the Fool's Stone and Finnabair's Stone (Carson 100).
Finnabair is subsequently offered to Fer Diad, "saying that he was her only darling, her chosen lover from among all the men in the world." (Carson 123) The slaying of Fer Diad on Finnabair’s account is greatly lamented by Cú Chulainn, and spurs him to speak many poems about him: “And Medb’s daughter Finnabair,/ that beautiful bait you hoped/ would be yours? You might as well/try to tie sand with a rope.” (Carson 155) Her last and perhaps genuine love interest, Rochad Mac Faithemain, joined the forces of Ulster before the last great battle. To persuade him to not fight against Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, Medb uses her daughter's affection to strike a truce. Finnabair spends the night with Rochad, and eventually news of this reaches the 7 Kings of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, all of whom were also offered Finnabair for their allegiance. They take their complaints to Ailill's sons, which results in a battle and the eventual slaying of 700 men. Upon hearing how she has been used and had so many men die on her account, Finnabair drops dead of shame. "Hence the name Finnabair Sléibe, Finnabair of the Mountain." (Carson 174)
In the "Táin Bo Friách," Findabair loved Fráech
Fráech
Fráech is a Connacht hero in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He was the nephew of Boann, goddess of the river Boyne, and was renowned for his handsomeness. He belongs to the Fir Domnann....
but he would not pay her dowry, until bribed by Medb, he agreed to take her in return for his help in battle against Ulster
Ulaid
The Ulaid or Ulaidh were a people of early Ireland who gave their name to the modern province of Ulster...
in the Táin Bó Cuailnge
Táin Bó Cúailnge
is a legendary tale from early Irish literature, often considered an epic, although it is written primarily in prose rather than verse. It tells of a war against Ulster by the Connacht queen Medb and her husband Ailill, who intend to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, opposed only by the teenage...
(Cattle Raid of Cooley).