Tochmarc Moméra: A Critical Edition and Literary Analysis Ksenia Kudenko BA, MA (Linguistics), MA (History) Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Modern Languages and Linguistics Irish and Celtic Studies Ulster University Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD March 2019 I confirm that the word count of this thesis is less than 100,000 words Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... 4 Abstract ............................................................................................................................ 5 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 7 Tale ................................................................................................................................ 7 Manuscript ..................................................................................................................... 7 Date ................................................................................................................................ 8 Title ................................................................................................................................ 8 Previous Edition ............................................................................................................ 9 Sources .......................................................................................................................... 9 Editorial Policy .............................................................................................................. 18 Edition ............................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter 1. Language and Date .................................................................................... 33 1.1. Orthography .......................................................................................................... 33 1.2. Article ................................................................................................................... 34 1.3. Noun ..................................................................................................................... 34 1.4. Pronoun ................................................................................................................. 34 1.5. Verb ...................................................................................................................... 35 1.6. Glosses .................................................................................................................. 37 1.7. Style ...................................................................................................................... 40 1.7.1. Alliterating Collocated Synonyms ............................................................................. 40 1.7.2. Non-Alliterating Collocated Synonyms ..................................................................... 42 1.7.3. Idioms ........................................................................................................................ 43 1.8. Miscellania ........................................................................................................... 44 1.9. Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 2. Literary Analysis ........................................................................................ 49 2.1.TM as an Echtra ..................................................................................................... 56 2.1.1. Three Young Men and the Prophecy ......................................................................... 59 2.1.2. The Fert Episode ....................................................................................................... 67 2.1.3. The Island .................................................................................................................. 69 2.1.4. Other Remote Lands as the Otherworld ..................................................................... 69 2.1.5. The Marriage.............................................................................................................. 72 2.1.6. The Ebro River ........................................................................................................... 79 2.1.7. TM and Macgnímartha Finn ...................................................................................... 82 2.1.7.1. The Salmon and the Transformation .................................................................. 82 2.1.7.2. Tarbfheis and Imbas Forosna ............................................................................. 94 2.1.7.3. Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 102 2.1.8. La Gloire lumineuse ................................................................................................. 103 2.1.9. The Cloak ................................................................................................................. 106 2.1.10. The Ordeal ............................................................................................................. 112 2.1.11. Comparison with Echtra Láegaire meic Crimthainn ............................................. 114 2.1.12. Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 119 2.2. Christian Influence ............................................................................................. 126 2.2.1. Old Testament Motifs .............................................................................................. 135 2.2.1.1. The Visitation of Abraham ............................................................................... 135 2.2.1.2. The Book of Tobit ............................................................................................ 143 2.2.1.3. The Story of Joseph .......................................................................................... 145 2 2.2.1.4. Joseph in Other Eóganachta Legends ............................................................... 147 2.2.1.5. Old Testament in Medieval West ..................................................................... 159 2.2.2. New Testament Motifs ............................................................................................. 161 2.2.3. Hagiographic Motifs ................................................................................................ 171 2.2.4. Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 179 2.3. Influence of the Irish Historical Doctrine ........................................................... 181 2.3.1. Éber .......................................................................................................................... 185 2.3.2. Cesair and Dún na mBarc ........................................................................................ 190 2.3.3. Three Sons of the Druid ........................................................................................... 191 2.3.4. Eight Foster-Brothers ............................................................................................... 192 2.3.5. Tower of Bregon ...................................................................................................... 195 2.3.6. Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 196 Chapter 3. Manuscript Context and Possible Transmission ................................... 198 3.1. The Manuscript and the Scribe ........................................................................... 198 3.2. Manuscript Context ............................................................................................ 200 3.3. On the margins of TM ......................................................................................... 208 3.4. Marginalia as Murchadh’s Personal Diary ......................................................... 210 3.5. Connection to the Book of Leinster .................................................................... 212 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 220 References .................................................................................................................... 231 3 Acknowledgments The three years of writing this thesis, which discusses the Otherworld voyage and initiation of the second-century Munster king, Eógan Taídlech, were a big journey and, in a way, a rite of passage for myself. During these years, I have benefited from the encouragement and guidance of many people who have accompanied me on this journey. First and foremost, I am indebted to my supervisor, Dr Maxim Fomin, for supporting me throughout the whole process, expeditiously helping me to solve the emerging difficulties, generously sharing his time and expertise, and expanding my professional horizons by organising my Erasmus exchange with the University of Western Brittany. I am also grateful to Professor Ailbhe Ó Corráin, former Director of the Research Institute