Ferbaeth
Also spelled: Fer Báeth, Fer Baeth
Cúchulainn's foster-brother from Scáthach's school, bribed with Finnabair to fight him, killed by a thrown holly-spear.
Overview
Ailill and Medb promise Ferbaeth, Cúchulainn's foster-brother from Scáthach's school, Finnabair and kingship over his people, sit him beside her and get him drunk on their best wine. He says Cúchulainn is sworn to him for ever and that he will hack his head off anyway, and he refuses Cúchulainn's plea that night because he has promised Medb. Leaving in a fury, Cúchulainn gets a split holly point driven through his foot, pulls it out and flings it after Ferbaeth, and it goes in at the back of his head and out of his mouth. The place is called Glenn Firbaith, Ferbaeth's Glen, and in the combat with Ferdia Cúchulainn calls him "fond, foolish Ferbaeth" and says he finished him with one throw.
‘That was a throw!’ Ferbaeth said.
Connections
Related characters
- Cúchulainn (Foster-brother, killed by him in the glen)
- Fergus mac Roich (Chanted over his grave)
- Fiacha mac Fir Febe (Went with him to renounce his friendship with Cúchulainn)
- Finnabair (The prize, who handled his wine)
- Lugaid mac Nois (Comrade of his and Cúchulainn's, who named him as the next challenger)
- Scáthach (Common foster-nurse of both)
Connected to
- Laeg mac Riangabra (the champion whose coming Laeg brings news of)
- Medb (wins him with the promise of Finnabair)
Places
- Focherd (Named, by one account, for the throw that killed him)
- Glenn Firbaith (Ferbaeth's Glen, where he fell)
Appears in chapters
Appears in
- Ferbaeth, bribed with Finnabair, renounces his friendship with Cúchulainn, who is walking back in a fury when a piece of holly drives through his foot; he throws it at Ferbaeth and kills him. At Focherd. In Chapter VIII: The Bull is Found. Further Single Combats. Cúchulainn and the Morrígan.
- Some say the throw named Focherd, the Place of the Throw, and others say it was Fiacha mac Fir Febe's remark to Cúchulainn; Fergus chants over Ferbaeth that the place called Fichi shall be called Focherd forever. At Focherd. In Chapter VIII: The Bull is Found. Further Single Combats. Cúchulainn and the Morrígan.
- Ferbaeth tells Cúchulainn that he has promised Medb, and Cúchulainn leaves him in a fury. At Glenn Firbaith. In Chapter VIII: The Bull is Found. Further Single Combats. Cúchulainn and the Morrígan.
- Cúchulainn throws a piece of holly after Ferbaeth, which pierces the back of his head, and Ferbaeth dies in the glen. At Glenn Firbaith. In Chapter VIII: The Bull is Found. Further Single Combats. Cúchulainn and the Morrígan.