Though not considered a main character in the Táin, Finnabair occupies a crucial role in the epic. During the war of the Táin, her hand is offered to a succession of warriors in exchange for their sparring with Cú Chulainn. Ultimately her beauty and charms serve as the driving force behind the deaths of hundreds of men, even compelling Fer Diad to fight Cú Chulainn, his beloved foster-brother and best friend, in the single combat which leads to his death by Cú Chulainn's Gáe Bulg.
In the Táin Bó Cúailnge, Finnabair's husband Fráech (whose story is told in the Táin Bo Fraích) is killed by Cú Chulainn in a river. Afterwards, Medb repeatedly offers her daughter to prospective warriors, first to Nad Crantail, then to Láríne Mac Nóis, in a truce with Cú Chulainn with the condition that he not attack her army by night in exchange for his provision each day with a warrior with whom to engage in one-on-one combat. 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.[6]: 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."[6]: 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.”[6]: 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."[6]: 174
In the Táin Bo Fráich, 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).
^ abcdCarson, Ciarán (2007). The Táin. New York: Penguin Group (VIKING).
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April 11, 2024
findabair, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2009, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Findabair news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Findabair or Finnabair Modern Irish Fionnabhair pronounced ˈfʲɪn ˠuːɾʲ was a daughter of Ailill and Queen Medb of Connacht in Irish mythology 1 The meaning of the name is white phantom etymologically cognate with Gwenhwyfar the original Welsh form of Guinevere 2 3 4 The Dindsenchas also mention a Findabair who is the daughter of Lugaid Laigde 5 Though not considered a main character in the Tain Finnabair occupies a crucial role in the epic During the war of the Tain her hand is offered to a succession of warriors in exchange for their sparring with Cu Chulainn Ultimately her beauty and charms serve as the driving force behind the deaths of hundreds of men even compelling Fer Diad to fight Cu Chulainn his beloved foster brother and best friend in the single combat which leads to his death by Cu Chulainn s Gae Bulg In the Tain Bo Cuailnge Finnabair s husband Fraech whose story is told in the Tain Bo Fraich is killed by Cu Chulainn in a river Afterwards Medb repeatedly offers her daughter to prospective warriors first to Nad Crantail then to Larine Mac Nois in a truce with Cu Chulainn with the condition that he not attack her army by night in exchange for his provision each day with a warrior with whom to engage in one on one combat Finnabair is offered to Cu 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 Cu 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 6 100 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 6 123 The slaying of Fer Diad on Finnabair s account is greatly lamented by Cu 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 6 155 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 Sleibe Finnabair of the Mountain 6 174 In the Tain Bo Fraich Findabair loved Fraech 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 Tain Bo Cuailnge Cattle Raid of Cooley References edit Matson Gienna 2004 Celtic Mythology A to Z Chelsea House p 2 ISBN 978 1 60413 413 1 Koch John 2006 Celtic Culture A Historical Encyclopedia ABC CLIO p 681 Bromwich Rachel 2006 Trioedd Ynys Prydein 3rd ed University of Wales Press p 376 Watkins Calvert 1976 Varia I Eriu Vol 27 pp 116 122 Revue celtique Internet Archive 1870 a b c d Carson Ciaran 2007 The Tain New York Penguin Group VIKING nbsp This page or section lists people that share the same given name If an internal link led you here you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Findabair amp oldid 1203754883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
