Get the look: Old Irish fian warrior

The Irish and Scottish fianna were a small group of warriors, ranging from two to twelve members, forming a fian. The fian consisted of young men and teenagers who had not yet acquired possessions or status. The fian constituted a semi-mythological warrior cult that originated from the Indo-European koryos ritual. Like the Roman velites, the fianna associated themselves with the wolf or the dog. From early May (the festival of Beltaine) to the end of October (the festival of Samhain), the Fian had to live outside and hunt what nature had to offer them.

In Indo-European cultures, it was a common practice for a group of men, from teenagers to young adults, to be part of a war band (kóryos ). The men had not yet built up wealth or influence and still had to prove themselves. These small groups often formed a cult around a god, who appeared as a wolf, boar, or bear. These animals had certain traits that the young men channeled, such as cunning, strength, and aggression. Examples of this can be found throughout Indo-European cultures, such as the Germanic Berserkers, the Celtic Fianna, the Roman Velites, and the Spartan Krypteia.

After undergoing painful trials to join the group, the young men were sent away to live for several years as landless warriors in the wild. Within the group, lawless actions such as nocturnal raids and cattle rustling were common. The young men had no other possessions than their weapons and lived on the fringes of society and from what nature provided them. On one hand, their lives consisted of fighting, hunting, and raiding settlements; on the other hand, of telling heroic stories and legends, such as about the táín or cattle raids.

The initiation period within the kóryos was seen as a transitional phase preceding the status of adult warrior and was usually crowned by participation in the tribe.

Probably other Celtic and Gallic tribes also had a similar tradition of the fianna. According to the Roman writer Polybius, the Gaesatae fought naked and with primitive weapons in the Battle of Telamon, in 225 BC. 

The fianna are immortalized in the Fiannaigecht or Fenian cycle, a collection of mythological stories surrounding Fionn mac Cumhaill. In the early stories, the fianna are still truly wandering bands, but in later stories, they are more like a kind of royal bodyguard. Many stories about the fianna are related to the Scotti who colonized Dalriada (the west of Scotland). 

Some mythological figures who were part of a fian included:

Fionn mac Cumhaill: (last leader of the fian)

Cumhall: (Fionn's father, the former leader)

Gollmac Morna

Cailte mac Rónáin

Conán mac Morna

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne

Lughaid Lámhfhada

Oisín, son of Fionn

Oscar, son of Oisín

Cael Ua Neamhnainn

It is written that the members of the fianna had a hairstyle with long hair at the back, but their head was partly shaved. Some are said to have had strange marks on their faces, which may indicate body painting or tattoos. Their battle cry was Dord Fiansa.

Older Roman sources mention that they fought naked or wore only a trousers or cloak. Various depictions have been found of naked Celtic warriors wearing only a belt. The belt possibly symbolized bond to the fian and the leader of the fian. 

The Fianna are mentioned in literature up until the 12th century. However, we can assume that the church eventually put an end to this long tradition. Church members sometimes called the fianna díberga, which means raider, and maicc báis (sons of death). Various stories tell how Irish saints converted members of the fian to Christianity, leaving their way of life behind. 

However, the tradition of the fian in Ireland and Scotland evolved into similar traditions of systematic raiding by the later clans. 

Although Christianity reached Ireland from the late Roman culture, there were significant differences with the rest of Europe. Compared to Rome, Ireland and Scotland were relatively isolated. Additionally, neither country was ever part of the Roman Empire. As a result, the attitude towards Christianity was different. There was no longing for the glory days under Rome, and there was initially an interest in participation with other Christian areas. 

While the Roman Catholic Church had a hierarchical structure with a clear line of authority from bishops to the pope, Old Irish Christianity opted for a more monastic approach. Monasteries, led by abbots, played a crucial role in Irish Christianity. These monasteries became centers of learning, art, and missionary activities.

Another major difference is that Old Irish Christianity adopted many local Celtic traditions. Hence, pre-Christian stories, such as those about Cú Chulainn or Fionn mac Cumhail, have been preserved by Irish monks. We also see this in Old Irish law. Although Irish monks wrote down the legal texts, relatively few Christian influences are visible. Additionally, in early Christian Ireland, polyamory was allowed, and the saints often bore the names and attributes of Celtic gods - an example of this is Saint Brigid. 

Eventually, the church became increasingly less tolerant of the original Irish culture, particularly after the Synod of Whitby in 664, where it was decided to follow Roman practices. 

We have loosely based this composition on an image of a warrior in the 9th-century Book of Kells. This book was created by Irish monks on the island of Iona in Scotland. As early as the 5th century, Ireland converted to Christianity. However, the depicted person can be both Christian and pagan, as not much changed in the composition over the centuries.

Our character is named Conchobar, which literally translates to "Lover of Dogs." A fitting name for a member of the fianna who lives in the cult of the wolf or the dog. 

The léine or tunic was the basic of every outfit. Because Conchobar also wears a trousers, his léine is relatively short. The under tunic was made of light, undyed material.

Conchobar wears another léine of wool over his undertunic.

Most Irish did not wear trousers, but only a long tunic. King Magnus III of Norway adopted the Irish dress and was even called Magnus Barelegs. However, there are early examples of trousers, such as in the Book of Kells. The men who wore them were probably of relatively low status.

The cloak was an important part of Irish attire. Especially for traveling bands, the brat was indispensable, as it protected against weather influences and could also serve as a sleeping bag. 

The images in the Book of Kells show a relatively short cloak on the men wearing a trousers, while a brat probably reached the ankle when the wearer only wore a léine.

The fianna were lightly armed because they did not have many possessions and needed to be able to attack and retreat quickly. The spear was their weapon of choice. This multifunctional weapons could be used for both throwing and thrusting.

The shield we used is again based on the Book of Kells. We used an old shield.