Tuesday, August 08, 2006

32 Descriptions from Tain Bo Cualgne

These were taken from the Book of Leinster, 1150 AD., Dunn's translation, pages 316 to 377 (which was taken from Old Irish and Highland Dress by McClintock Appendix, pages 173 to 177). What I would like to do eventually is find various translations and see what the concensus is in that regard, but for now, here's Dunn's translation. In these, we already have some questions and possible conclusions.

1) Conchobar, High King of Ulster - a) a purple mantle with fringes, five-folded, wrapped around him, b) a salmon-shaped brooch of red gold in the mantle over his breast, c) a shining-white, hooded shirt, "under red interweaving of gold," next to his white skin.

2) Cuscraid Menn, Conchobar's son - a) a green mantle wrapped around him, b) a bright-silvern pin in the mantle at his breast, c) a brown-red soldier's tunic, under interweaving of red gold, trussed up against his fair skin down to his knees.

3) Sencha mac Aillil - a) a dark-grey cloak with fringes folded around him, b) a leaf-shaped brooch of silvered bronze in the mantle over his breast, c) a white-hooded shirt, reaching to his knees, next to his skin.

4) Eogan mac Durthacht - a) a dull grey cloak girt around him, b) a silver pin in the cloak over his breast, c) a bright, sleeved tunic next to his skin.

5) Loegaire Buadach - a) a yellow, close-napped (?), cloak around him, b) a pin of yellow gold in the cloak over his breast, c) a yellow tunic with lace next to his skin.

6) Muremar mac Gerrcend - a) a dun-coloured cloak of curly wool about him, b) a brooch of pale gold in the cloak over his breast, c) a three-striped tunic of silk with red embroidery next to his skin.

7) Connud mac Morna - a) a streaked-grey cloak around him, b) a salmon-shaped brooch of copper in the cloak over his breast, c) a hooded kirtle (sic) round him reaching down to his calves.

8) Fedlimid mac Ilar Cetach - not described

9) Rochad mac Fatheman - a) a purple cloak wrapped round him, b) a brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast, c) a hooded tunic of royal silk with red hem of red gold.

10) Fergus mac Lete - not described

11) Amargin mac Ecetsalach ("The choice flower of royal poets.") - a) a green mantle "pieced together with the choicest of all colours" folded about him, b) a brooch of pale gold in the cloak over his breast, c) "Next to his skin a blue, narrow bordered cloth, with strong woven and twisted hoops of silvered bronze with - buttons of red gold on its slashes and breast-borders."

12) Feradach Finn - no description

13) Ros, Dare and Imchad - a) cloaks folded upon them, b) gold brooches "over their arms", c) sleeved tunics with embroidery of red gold.

14) Fiacha, and Fiachna, sons of Conchobar, the king - a) green cloaks wrapped about them, b) bright-silver brooches in the cloaks over their breasts, c) tunics of smooth yellow silk next to their skin.

15) Celtchar mac Uthecar - a) a streaked-grey cloak about him, b) a skewer of iron in the cloak over his breast, reaching from one of his shoulders to the other, c) a rough-three-striped tunic next to his skin.

16) Errge Echbel - a) a black, flowing mantle around him, b) a wheel-shaped brooch of tin in the mantle over his breast, c) a cunningly wrought tunic next to his skin.

17) Menn mac Salcholga - a) a many-coloured cloak about him, b) a wheel-shaped brooch of silver therein, c) "A bright, hooded shirt tucked around him, that reached down to his knees."

18) Fergna mac Findchoem - a) a cloak of red curly wool about him, b) a brooch of white silver in the cloak over his breast, c) an all-white, linen shirt next to his skin.

19) Furbaide Ferbeen, son of Conchobar, (whether the king, or some other Conchobar is not stated) - a) an exceeding fine cloak folded about him, b) a brooch of gold in the cloak over his breast, c) a tunic with red ornaments, d) a golden crown on his head.

20) The poets - "A sharp, proud folk; a stately royal company, with their apparel of many colours, as well white and blue and black and purple... a feast for the eyes of a host to gaze on their... garb."

21) Fercedne (one of the leaders of the Poets) - a) a dark grey mantle fringed with gold thread about him, b) a brooch o fgold in the mantle over his breast, c) a tunic of rare silk next to his skin, d) sandals of lamb skin.

22 & 23) Athirne, the Chief Poet. Ailill Miltenga ("Honey tongue") - a) reddish grey mantles around them, b) white silver brooches in the mantles over their breasts, c) tunic--not mentioned, d) purple sandals.

24) The Druids - "Another company - a most terrible, dreadful sight to behold them. Blue and pied and green, purple, grey and white mantles."

25) Cathba, the Chief Druid - a) a blue-purple cloak about him, b) a leaf-shaped brooch with ornamentation of gold in the cloak over his breast, c) tunic--not mentioned, d) yellow sandals.

26) Imrinn and Genonn Gruadsolus, sons of Cathba - a) green cloaks, b) brooch--not mentioned, c) blue tunics, purple sandals.

27) The Physicians - "A numberless, bright-faced band. Unwonted garments they wore; a little bag at the waist of each man of them."

28) Fingin, the Chief Physician - a) "A black, flowing robe, with edges of purple around him.", b) a many coloured, leaf-shaped brooch with gems in the robe over his breast, c) a ribbed tunic of thread of gold.

29) Glasne and Menn the leaders of Conchobar's household - a) dark grey tunics (sic) about them, b) silver pins set with stones, c) glossy tunics next to their skin.

30) Glas, Mane, and Conaing, sons of Conchobar - a) curley red kirles (sic), b) brooches of silvered bronze, c) sparkling tunics of silk with golden seams tucked up about them.

31) Conall Cernach - a) a magnificient red-brown mantle, b) a round brooch adorned with precious stones--in his mantle over his right shoulder, c) a striped tunic of silk with a golden hem next to his skin.

32) Erc, son of Fedlimid Nocruthach, Conchobar's daughter - a) a purple, fringed mantle folded about him, b) a salmon-shaped brooch of gold in the mantle over his breast, c) a bright hooded tunic of royal silk with red trimming of red gold next to his white skin.