Hefeydd

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In Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed, the first branch of the Mabinogi, Hefeydd Hen (or Heyfedd the Old [1] ) was the father of Rhiannon. [2]

According to legend, Hefeydd Hen tried to force his daughter Rhiannon to be married against her will to Gwawl son of Clud. She met Pwyll of Dyfed at the Mound of Arberth [2] and planned to marry at her father's court in one year and one day. Their marriage was thwarted by Gwawl and his men. The feast was given to Pwyll and his men, but Rhiannon was given to Gwawl to marry in a year and a day. Pwyll then went to Hefeydd's court dressed as a beggar, asking for food. By a trick, Gwawl was captured and he and his men were defeated; forcing Hefeydd to allow Rhiannon to marry Pwyll in his court. Heyfedd Hir (Hir meaning "long" in Welsh, but also referring to distance in time [3] ), is mentioned as one of the Seven Knights left to take charge of the Island of Britain when Bran went to rescue his sister in the second branch of the Mabinogi. [2] He is also to be found in the 6th century epic poem Y Gododdin where the word "Hir" is used to describe no less than seven individuals. [4]

Caeawg, the leader, armed was he in the noisy conflict;
His was the foremost part of the advanced division, in front of the hosts.
Before his blades fell five battalions.
Of the men of Deivyr and Brenneich, uttering groans:
Twenty hundred perished in one hour.
Sooner did his flesh go to the wolf, than he to the nuptial feast;
He sooner became food for the raven, than approached the altar;
Before he entered the conflict of spears, his blood streamed to the ground.
It was the price of mead in the hall, amidst the throng.
Hyveidd Hir shall be celebrated as long as there will be a minstrel.

Y Gododdin, stanza 5 [4]

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<i>Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed</i>

Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed, "Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed," is a legendary tale from medieval Welsh literature and the first of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi. It tells of the friendship between Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, and Arawn, lord of Annwn, of the courting and marriage of Pwyll and Rhiannon and of the birth and disappearance of Pryderi. This branch introduces a number of storylines that reappear in later tales, including the alliance between Dyfed and Annwn, and the enmity between Pwyll and Gwawl. Along with the other branches, the tale can be found in the medieval Red Book of Hergest and White Book of Rhydderch.

In the earliest prose stories in Britain in the Mabinogi, the Adar Rhiannon; "birds of Rhiannon", are specifically three magical birds, whose song can "wake the dead and lull the living to sleep". They also have a non-rational effect on space as they can be remote but seem very near. They are connected with Rhiannon the Queen of Dyfed who is thought to be a British euhemerized horse goddess, so part of Welsh mythology. The Adar Rhiannon were demanded by the giant Ysbaddaden Bencawr as a marriage task for Culhwch to complete. The giant wanted the Birds to soothe him as he faced his last night of life, prophesied as the consequence of his daughter's wedding.

<i>Manawydan fab Llŷr</i>

Manawydan fab Llŷr; "Manawydan, the son of Llŷr" is a legendary tale from medieval Welsh literature and the third of the four branches of the Mabinogi. It is a direct sequel to the second branch, Branwen ferch Llŷr, and deals with the aftermath of Bran's invasion of Ireland and the horrific enchantment that transforms Dyfed into a wasteland. The chief characters of the tale are Manawydan, rightful king of Britain, his friend Pryderi, the king of Dyfed and their respective wives Rhiannon and Cigfa. Along with the other branches, the tale can be found the medieval Red Book of Hergest and White Book of Rhydderch. Allusions to the tale can be found in two old triads retained in the Trioedd Ynys Prydein.

Eufydd fab Dôn is a minor figure in Welsh mythology, the son of the mother goddess Dôn and brother to the better-known figures of Gwydion, Amaethon, Gofannon and Arianrhod. It has been suggested that he derives from the Gaulish god Ogmios and is cognate to the Irish hero Oghma Grianainech.

References

  1. "Welsh-English Dictionary". Glosbe. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Davies, Sioned (2008). The Mabinogion. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0199218783.
  3. "Welsh-English Dictionary". Glosbe. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 Jones, Mary. "Y Gododdin". Celtic Literature Collective. Retrieved 24 August 2016.