The Seven Maine
The seven sons of Medb and Ailill, as Medb lists them before the army marches.
Overview
Medb lists her seven sons, the Maine, when she boasts of her army before the march. The text then kills Maine more than once. One is struck down when the sons rise to look for Cúchulainn, one dies at the Cronn ford, and one puts on Ailill's crown and is killed by Cethern. The text does not say which Maine is which in the first two passages, and later Maine Athramail and Maine Máthramail wound Cethern while Ailill's seven sons are still with the army at the last battle.
Names in this list
| Name | Note |
|---|---|
| Maine Máthramail | The Motherlike. Named with Maine Athramail as one of the two who wound Cethern. |
| Maine Athramail | The Fatherlike. Named with Maine Máthramail as one of the two who wound Cethern. |
| Maine Mórgor | The strongly dutiful. Named only in Medb's list. |
| Maine Míngor | The sweetly dutiful. Named only in Medb's list. |
| Maine Móepirt | Above description. Some call him Maine Milscothach of the honeyed speech. |
| Maine Andoe | The swift, and Fiacha's cousin. Fiacha's javelin hits him at Imroll Belaig Eóin. In a second version he and Diarmait throw javelins at each other and both die. |
| Maine Cotagaib Uli | The Maine with all the qualities, who takes the likeness of both his parents. Named with Ailill as one of Cethern's attackers. |
As they were settling down again, Cúchulainn struck one of them, shattering his head.