The Spoon of the Breast?

[Keziah]

I’m working with the Twelve Doorways right now. Something about them really speaks to me. The ‘spoon of the breast’ is mentioned but I can’t work out where exactly it’s talking about. How have other people interpreted it?

[Dowrgi]

Hello Keziah,

The original text, Bretha (2A) has clais ochta the “hollow of the breast” lit. “spoon of the breast”, which Binchy’s article indicates as the supracrestal fossa or, in less technical terminology, the cavity of the throat. There is also a discussion of whether the twelve doors or portals are of the soul or life, in terms of the nuances of the Irish word anim.

Bennathow
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[Dowrgi]

The article is by D. A. Binchy and in the notes there is also a discussion of some of the questions regarding translation and interpretation. The article I’m referring to is available at JSTOR: Binchy, D. A. “Bretha Déin Chécht.” Ériu, vol. 20, 1966, pp. 1–66.

Bennathow
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[Dowrgi]

PS. Sorry about the odd way I’ve replied, for some reason the forum wouldn’t allow me to post my reply with the reference, hence two slightly disjointed replies.

Anyway, I hope that helps.

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