ETAIN

Triangle: Beheading Contest

Triangle

Wooing of Etain [T1] Echu Ollathir (Rider Oldfather = The Dagda) tricks Elcmar (Spiteful), Lord of Bruig na Bóinde (Newgrange), into leaving his kingdom, then magically makes his nine-month absence seem to him like a single day, so that The Dagda can impregnate Elcmar's wife Boand (White Cow) and she can give birth to Óengus macc Óc (Angus son of Youth). The child is given to Mider (Judge) to raise as his foster-son.

Wooing of Etain [T2] When he reaches maturity, Óengus learns the identity of his true father and visits him in order to get his inheritance. The Dagda teaches Óengus how to trick Elcmar out of his kingship of Bruig na Bóinde.

Wooing of Etain [T3] Mider later visits Óengus, and is accidentally injured when a yew branch hits his eye. Though healed by Dian Cécht, Mider demands as compensation the most beautiful woman in Ireland. This is Étaín, daughter of Ailill (Elf). Both The Dagda and Óengus win her for him by terraforming. When Mider returns home with Étaín, his wife Fúamnach (Lamentation) uses druid magic to turn Étaín into a pool of water. The water turns into a worm, then a fly (or butterfly). Fúamnach causes a strong wind to blow the butterfly out to sea, where it remains for seven years.

Wooing of Etain [T4] Étaín the butterfly is rescued by Óengus, who keeps her in a crystal cage. When Fúamnach discovers this, she blows her far away into Ulaid, where she falls into the cup of the wife of King Étar. The woman swallows Étaín, becomes pregnant, and gives birth to Étaín (=Étaín Óg [Étaín the Young]) — 1012 years after her first birth as the daughter of Ailill. Óengus beheads Fúamnach.

Wooing of Etain Another 1000 years pass. The Tuatha Dé Danann now live beneath the earth in their síde and the mortal Milesians rule above ground.

Wooing of Etain [T5] The Milesian King Echu Airem (Rider Plowman) seeks a bride to legitimize his kingship; learning that Étaín daughter of King Étar is the most beautiful woman in Ireland, he takes her as his queen. One of Echu Airem's brothers, Aillil Angubae (Warlike Elf), falls lovesick for Étaín. When Echu Airem leaves on a royal circuit of Ireland, Ailill confesses his love for Étaín, and she agrees to heal him with love in a hilltop house outside the palace. At the appointed hour, a magical sleep comes over Aillil and an imposter sleeps with Étaín. This happens on three successive nights, after which the imposter reveals himself to be Mider, her original husband and a Tuatha Dé Danann king among the síde. He explains that he caused Ailill's passion for Étaín in order to arrange a reunion with her. She agrees to go away with him only if her mortal husband Echu Airem consents.

Wooing of Etain [T6] Mider plays fidchell with Echu and deliberately loses twice after having bet large stakes. Echu sets terraforming tasks for Mider to perform; he does these by night with a labor force from the sídh. Echu and Mider play fidchell a third time. Mider wins, and demands an embrace and kiss from Étaín. Echu reluctantly agrees on condition that Mider wait one month. Mider returns at the appointed time, and despite a heavy guard that Echu has placed around Étaín, Mider transforms himself and Étaín into swans; they escape through a skylight.

Wooing of Etain [T7] Echu mounts an army and besieges Mider's sídh for over a year. Echu insists that he never gave permission for Mider to take Étaín, and Mider agrees to bring her back to him the next day. At the appointed time, Mider appears with 50 women identical to Étaín in appearance and demands that Echu pick which one is his real wife. Echu has each pour wine, and claims to recognize Étaín by her superior serving abilities. Echu takes the woman back and ends hostilities with Mider. Mider later reveals that the woman Echu has chosen is in fact Echu's own daughter by Étaín, who had been pregnant when Mider took her away. As it happens, Echu has already slept with this Étáin (=Étaín 2 [Étaín Og = Étaín the Young]), who is herself now pregnant.

Wooing of Etain When her child Étaín (=Étaín 3 [Étaín Mes = Étaín the Child]) is born, the horrified Echu orders his servants to throw her into a pit of wild beasts. Instead, they abandon her in a peasant's kennel. The girl is raised by the peasant family and becomes the best at embroidery in all Ireland. [T8] Étaín 3 attracts the attention of King Eterscélae of Tara, who abducts and marries her. She becomes the mother of the legendary hero-king Conaire (Hound).

LOVER SPOUSE WOMAN COMMENT T1 Echu Ollathir (=Dagda) Elcmar Boand 9 months = 1 day T2 Oengus mac Oc Bruig na Boinde 1 day = eternity T3 Mider Fuamnach Étaín E. = butterfly T4 E. rescued by O. T5 Aillil Angubae (=Mider) Echu Airem E. reborn 1012 years later; 1000 years pass T6 E. = swan T7 Étaín 1 (mother) ~ Étaín 2 (daughter) T8 ??? Eterscélae Étaín 3 (child)

Sovereignty Goddess • woman (Étaín) cycles through multiple husbands/lovers/contenders • possession of woman (~ land) legitimizes kingship • old king/husband supplanted by young male husband-/king-to-be • men age; woman remains ageless or rejuvenates • woman (Étaín) split into three “phases” Étaín 1 wife/mother Étaín 2 (Étaín Óg) young pregnant woman Étaín 3 (Étaín Mes) child, fosterling