Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Goidilic Hammer Units questions

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member Member EasternScourge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Southern United States
    Posts
    112

    Default Re: Historical Evidences

    Though before you close it,I do kind of want to know where those Irish unts with the big hammers came from.Mostly because I never thought people would actually use large hammers as weapons (not that I'm doubting they existed or anything).

  2. #2
    Krusader's Nemesis Member abou's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    4,513

    Default Re: Historical Evidences

    Here is an old, interal post by Khelvan, who unfortunately is on hiatus.

    Quote Originally Posted by khelvan
    Goidilic hammers:

    Two-handed hammers have been found in numerous burials; For instance, three two-handed hammers were found in a single burial north of Wexford in Ireland. The most prolific burial was was found in the burial of a Brehon judge/druid south of Sligo, where in were found numerous other objects.

    The Ulster Cycles and the Book of the Dun Cow mention the hammer as the favored weapon of the Volunts, Carrants, and Bannats. Feinachas (the Gaelic laws) also make mention of hammers, and who is allowed to use them (only those deemed champions by their chieftains; only cheiftains and higher arras may purchase or order production of hammers). The cycle Toighal mentions the usage of two-handed hammers (modified work hammers, actually) as a common method of countering armor from foreign invaders (usually Britons, with chain or bronze plate).

    A few stories about Cu Chullain, including some found in the Tain, have him training with a two-handed hammer as well as a sword. He had trained to fight with it under a female teacher; it was a fairly common Goidilic weapon. The poem 'Dun da nFerg' states plainly that the hammer (both one and two-handed) was the favored weapon of devoted followers of the Dagda (as he used a large hammer). Dun da nFerg is a poem about an attack on a fortress (the fort of Ferg), beset by a number of tribes from Britain, and compares them to Gallic invaders. It mentions what weapons both sides used (and talks briefly about the 'foreigners from the south sea'; Gaul). It mentions both two-handed hammers and two-handed swords, in addition to many other weapons. Every weapon and piece of armor mentioned, we've at least found chunks of in battlefield excavations (particularly one east of Gort, south of Loughrea, near the Burren), so clearly the weapons exist. According to it, while the hammers and swords were rare, they weren't THAT rare.

  3. #3
    Member Member EasternScourge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Southern United States
    Posts
    112

    Default Re: Historical Evidences

    Ok,thanks.Just wanted that cleared up.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Goidilic Hammer Units questions

    bumpin dis

    Is there any more information on the Dun na nFerg? Availability in English, etc? I can't find any mention of it (or the various other cycles and Goidilic myths, legends, histories, etc listed in the thread the above quote was taken from) in my admittedly limited searches, but this is primarily due to the fact that searching for phrases in a foreign language is inherently a hit-or-miss affair. (Note: when I speak of searches I mean in academic archives, not trawling Google, which I'd trust with Celtic histories about as far as I could throw horse barehanded.)

  5. #5

    Default Re: Goidilic Hammer Units questions

    I remember from previous posts a high level of interest in reading these 'cycles' ......that availability was only direct, and they weren't in a published form as most are in private collectors hands.

    I remember someone mention about negotiations currently happening to make them available to a wider audience.....but I dont think this is going to happen in the short term.

    Im sure someone will chime in soon with an accurate version of this.....some of which I may have remembered incorrectly. :)

  6. #6

    Default Re: Goidilic Hammer Units questions

    I hope so. I am a student of history who is trying to focus in on Celtic stuff, only to discover that, woefully, the history programs here in the South of the United States seem ever-so-focused on the American Civil War - it is as if there is some sort of grudge or bone to pick!

    Regardless it means I am limited to textual sources for my edification. If these sources are inaccessible...well. It's a terrible thing.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Historical Evidences

    nvm
    Last edited by Riadach; 06-30-2007 at 17:49.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO