The Threefold Death is one of the most interesting themes in Celtic mythology, due largely to its inconsistency. When examining instances of the theme, one finds that the methods of death vary greatly: in Welsh Mythology Myrddin Wyllt drowns, is impaled, and falls to his death. In Irish, Diarmait mac Cerbaill drowns, burns, and is crushed, while Cú Chulainn is impaled, disembowled, and beheaded. The death of Odin (impaled, hanged, and starved) is also often cited as an instance of this theme.
The inevitable conclusion, especially when considered in light of the three death sequence theme discussed above, is that it was the tripartate nature, the number three, which mattered, rather than the means of killing.
