Etarcomol
Also spelled: Etarcumul
Foster-son of Ailill and Medb who insults Cúchulainn under Fergus's protection and is split to the navel.
Overview
Etarcomol follows Fergus to Delga and is warned not to insult Cúchulainn while he is talking. He stays behind, stares, and calls him a fine lad for graceful tricks with wooden weapons. Cúchulainn spares him twice for Fergus's sake, knocks him down, strips his clothes off with a sword and shaves his hair without scratching the skin, then splits him to the navel when he will not leave. Fergus drags the body to the camp by the heels, and the halves part on rocky ground and join again on the level.
I’ll have your head, or leave you mine.
Connections
Related characters
- Cúchulainn (killed by him at the ford)
- Fergus mac Roich (his protector, who drags the body to the camp)
- Medb (foster-mother, who calls it brutal treatment of a dog)
Connected to
- Laeg mac Riangabra (sees his chariot turning back to the fight)
Places
- Delga (where he stares at Cúchulainn)
Appears in chapters
Appears in
- Fergus goes to Delga with the plan of single combats at the ford, followed by Etarcomol, who has been warned not to insult Cúchulainn while he talks. At Delga. In Chapter VII: Single Combat.
- Etarcomol stays behind staring at Cúchulainn, trades insults with him, and swears to be the first to fight him tomorrow. At Delga. In Chapter VII: Single Combat.