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Echtra

Epic and Heroic Narrative

An echtra, plural echtrai, is a type of pre-Christian Old Irish literature about a hero's adventures in the Otherworld or with otherworldly beings.

Facts
Place of Origin
Ireland 1
Notable Example
Echtrae Nerai 1
Defining Trait
the term itself means an outing, denoting a hero's adventure with otherworldly beings 1
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Echtra, Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    An echtra or echtrae (pl. echtrai) is a type of pre-Christian Old Irish literature about a hero's adventures in the Otherworld or with otherworldly beings.
  • Description section
    in Echtrae Nerai, set on Samhain, the hero Nera sees prophetic visions whilst in the presence of a hanged man
  • Etymology section
    the Old Irish word for 'adventure' (literally meaning an 'outing')
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