For questions on the folklore and myths of Wales.
Questions tagged [welsh]
29 questions
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Do Welsh fairies marry human women?
The Welsh Tylwyth Teg, or fairies, is said to take human mates. This website mentions how:
There are many tales of intermarriage between faeries and humans, and advice on how to make sure you actually have a fully human mate.
Which implies it goes…
Semaphore
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Who was Arthur's sword, Excalibur, returned to?
Most versions of the Arthurian legend relates that, after the Battle of Camlann, a dying King Arthur ordered a surviving knight - usually Sir Griflet or Sir Bedivere - to dispose of Excalibur in a nearby lake. The knight however hides the sword…
Semaphore
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What is the meaning of the half burning tree in the Mabinogion?
In the story Peredur the Son of Evrawc (part of the Mabinogion), Peredur encounters:
And he saw a tall tree by the side of the river, one half of which was in flames from the root to the top, and the other half was green and in full leaf.
(This…
user62
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1 answer
Does Roman folklore feature an account of The Dream of Macsen Wledig?
The Dream of Macsen Wledig is a Welsh tale that may be loosely based on Emperor Magnus Maximus, of Rome. The story tracks his search for a fair maiden he sees in a dream, eventually bringing him to Britain, where he finds the lady he seeks. Learning…
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How long did King Arthur's empire last?
In Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, Merlin discussed past (and future) British history. He goes on at great length about the time of Arthur, describing some of his later exploits after defeating "a pagan people from Angla" with the help of Hoel,…
HDE 226868
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Why could Lleu Llaw Gyffes only be killed in a certain way?
In the fourth branch of the Mabinogion, Lleu Llaw Gyffes revealed to Blodeuedd that he can only be killed in a certain way.
'Will you, for God's sake and mine, tell me by what means you might be killed? Since my memory is a better safeguard than…
HDE 226868
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Bendigeidfran's head was one of the Three Fortunate concealments; what are the other two?
Bendigeidfran's head was one of the Three Fortunate concealments (emphasis mine):
'Shame on my beard,' said he 'if I don't open the door and find out whether it is true what is said about it. [So] he opened the door, and looked out to Cornwall and…
yannis
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Why did the Lli and Archen rivers flood, separating Ireland and Britain?
In the second branch of the Mabinogion, King Bendigeidfran and his men travel from Britain ("the Island of the Mighty", or Ynys Y Kedeirn), intent on avenging the punishment of his sister, Branwen, at the hands of the Irish (which takes place…
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Are all Celtic Gods (Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and British) considered part of the same pantheon?
The term 'Celtic' means mythology from the British Isles, so are the gods from Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythology all considered part of the same pantheon? For example, did people who believe in the Irish Celtic Goddess Morrigan also believe in…
Erich
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In Vita Merlini, what did Merlin attribute his power of prophecy to?
In Vita Merlini, Merlin goes quite mad for a while, speaking of Britain in the past and remarking on nature and religion. He makes grand prophecies of what will happen in the future - he is, after all, a prophet. All of this happens while he resides…
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How did Manawydan know that the bishop (Llwyd Cil Coed) was responsible for the imprisonment of Pryderi and Rhiannon?
In the third branch of the Mabiogion, Manawydan and his companions, Pryderi, Rhiannon and Cifga come across a deserted caer. First Pryderi and then Rhiannon go to investigate. They are forced immobile and speechless by putting their hands on a…
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Why was Bendigeidfran's head buried facing France and not Ireland?
In the second branch of the Mabinogion, the forces of the Isle of the Mighty (Britain) defeat the Irish, though only seven survive. The dying Welsh king, Bendigeidfran, orders his men to cut off his head, bring it back to London (after a stop along…
HDE 226868
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Did Bedwyr (Bedivere) ever have dark magic?
A while back I found a small note (which seems to have been removed because of a lack of proper citation) on the Wikipedia article for Bedivere, speaking of his “role in Welsh tradition” and first mentioning:
Bedwyr is one of the earliest…
MorgenAfallon
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Why is there a long list of names in the story "Culhwch and Olwen"?
In the story Culhwch (sometimes spelled Kilhwch) and Olwen, the story is interrupted by a seemingly endless list of character's names:
I seek it from Kai, and Bedwyr, and Greidawl Galldonyd, and Gwythyr
the son of Greidawl, and Greid the son of…
user62
11
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Why did Arawn choose Pwyll to fight Hafgan, king of Annwfn?
I've been reading the first branch of the Mabinogion, which details the journeys of Pwyll, lord of Dyfed. While hunting, he meets Arawn, king of Annwfn, who strikes a deal with him: The two will switch places for a year. At the end of the year,…
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