Chapter VI
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THE GODS OF THE BRYTHONS
Ingenuity and speculation have busied themselves with trying to prove that the personages of the Arthurian cycle are the old gods of the Brythons, and the incidents of the romances fragments of the old mythology. While some of these personages—those already present in genuinely old Welsh tales and poems or in Geoffrey's History—are reminiscent of the old gods, the romantic presentment of them in the cycle itself is so largely imaginative, that nothing certain can be gained from it for the understanding of the old mythology, much less the old religion. Incidents which are the common stock of real life as well as of romance are interpreted mythologically, and it is never quite obvious why the slaying of one hero by another should signify the conquest of a dark divinity by a solar hero, or why the capture of a heroine by one knight when she is beloved of another, should make her a dawn-goddess sharing her favours, now with the sun-god, now with a "dark" divinity. Or, even granting the truth of this method, what light does it throw on Celtic religion?
Taken as a whole the various gods and heroes of the Brythons, so far as they are known to us, just as they resemble the Irish divinities in having been later regarded as mortals, magicians, and fairies, so they resemble them in their functions, dimly as these are perceived. They are associated with Elysium, they are lords of fertility and growth, of the sea, of the arts of culture and of war. The prominent position of certain goddesses may point to what has already been discovered of them in Gaul and Ireland—their pre-eminence and independence. But, like the divinities of Gaul and Ireland, those of Wales were mainly local in character, and only in a few cases attained a wider popularity and cult.
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF DIVINITIES WITH SIMILAR NAMES IN IRELAND, BRITAIN, AND GAUL.
Italics denote names found in Inscriptions.
IRELAND. BRITAIN. GAUL.
Anextiomarus Anextiomarus
Anu Anna (?) Anoniredi, "chariot of Anu"
Badb Bodua
Beli, Belinus Belenos
Belisama Belisama
Brigit Brigantia Brigindu
Bron Bran Brennus (?)
Buanann Buanu
Cumal Camulos Camulos
Danu Dôn
Epona Epona
Goibniu Govannon
Grannos Grannos
Ler Llyr
Lug Llew or Lleu (?) Lugus, Lugores
Mabon, Maponos Maponos
Manannan Manawyddan
Matres Matres
Mider Medros (?)
Modron Matrona (?)
Nemon Nemetona
Nét Neton
Nuada Nodons, Nudd
Hael, Llûdd (?)
Ogma Ogmíos
Silvanus Silvanus
Taran Taranis
Totatis, Tutatis Teutates
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Footnote 328: (return) The text of the Mabinogion has been edited by Rh[^y]s and Evans, 1887, and it has been translated into English by LadNote 2 · Footnote 329: (return) These incidents are found mainly in the story of Branwen, e.g. those of the cauldron, a frequent accessory in Irish tNote 3 · Footnote 330: (return) Anwyl, ZCP i. 277, ii. 124, iii. 122.Note 4 · Footnote 331: (return) Bp. of S. Davids, Vestiges of the Gael in Gwynned, 1851; Rh[^y]s, TSC 1894-1895, 21.Note 5 · Footnote 332: (return) Skene, i. 45; Meyer, TSC 1895-1896, 55.Note 6 · Footnote 333: (return) Cf. John, The Mabinogion, 1901, 19. Curoi appears as Kubert, and Conchobar as Knychur in Kulhwych (Loth, i. 202). A pNote 7 · Footnote 334: (return) Loth, RC x. 356; John, op. cit. 19; Nutt, Arch. Rev. i. 331.Note 8 · Footnote 335: (return) The giant Ysppadden in Kulhwych resembles Balor, but has no evil eye.Note 9 · Footnote 336: (return) Anwyl, ZCP ii. 127-128, "The merging of the two legends [of Dôn and Taliesin] may have arisen through the fusion of PNote 10 · Footnote 337: (return) Professor Rh[^y]s thinks that the Llyr family may be pre-Celtic, TSC 1894-1895, 29 f.; CFL 552.Note 11 · Footnote 338: (return) Loth, i. 97 f.; Lady Guest, iii. 143 f.Note 12 · Footnote 339: (return) See Nutt, Folk-lore Record, v. 1 f.Note 13 · Footnote 340: (return) Loth, i. 298, ii. 243-244; Geoffrey, Hist. Brit. ii. 11.Note 14 · Footnote 341: (return) Loth, i. 224, 265, ii. 215, 244; Geoff. ii. 11.Note 15 · Footnote 342: (return) Skene, i. 81; Rh[^y]s, Academy, Jan. 7, 1882.Note 16 · Footnote 343: (return) Triads, Loth, ii. 293; Nutt, Folk-lore Record, v. 9.Note 17 · Footnote 344: (return) Hist. Brit. ii. 11-14.Note 18 · Footnote 345: (return) AL 131.Note 19 · Footnote 346: (return) Skene, i. 262.Note 20 · Footnote 347: (return) See Nutt-Meyer, ii. 17.Note 21 · Footnote 348: (return) Skene, i. 276.Note 22 · Footnote 349: (return) Loth, i. 208, 280; see also i. 197, ii. 245, 294.Note 23 · Footnote 350: (return) See Skene i. 355. The raven is rather the bird of prey come to devour Urien than his "attribute."Note 24 · Footnote 351: (return) Skene, i. 298.Note 25 · Footnote 352: (return) For these theories see Rh[^y]s, HL 90f.; AL ch. 11; CFL 552.Note 26 · Footnote 353: (return) See Ch. XXIV.Note 27 · Footnote 354: (return) See p. 242.Note 28 · Footnote 355: (return) Loth, i. 65, ii. 285.Note 29 · Footnote 356: (return) Hist. Brit. iii. 1f. Geoffrey says that Billingsgate was called after Belinus, and that his ashes were preserved in tNote 30 · Footnote 357: (return) An early Caradawc saga may have become mingled with the story of Caractacus.Note 31 · Footnote 358: (return) Rees, 77.Note 32 · Footnote 359: (return) So Elton, 291.Note 33 · Footnote 360: (return) Folk-lore Record, v. 29.Note 34 · Footnote 361: (return) Lady Guest, iii. 134.Note 35 · Footnote 362: (return) Dôn is sometimes held to be male, but she is distinctly called sister of Math (Loth, i. 134), and as the equivalent oNote 36 · Footnote 363: (return) Loth, ii. 209.Note 37 · Footnote 364: (return) See p. 60, supra, and Rh[^y]s, HL 90f.Note 38 · Footnote 365: (return) Lady Guest, iii. 255; Skene, i. 297, 350.Note 39 · Footnote 366: (return) For this Mabinogi see Loth, i. 117f.; Guest, iii. 189f.Note 40 · Footnote 367: (return) Skene, i. 286.Note 41 · Footnote 368: (return) Loth, ii. 229, 257; and for other references to Math, Skene, i. 281, 269, 299.Note 42 · Footnote 369: (return) Skene, i. 296, 281.Note 43 · Footnote 370: (return) Loth, ii. 297; Rh[^y]s, HL 276.Note 44 · Footnote 371: (return) Skene, i. 264.Note 45 · Footnote 372: (return) Rh[^y]s, HL 270. Skene, i. 430, 537, gives a different meaning to seon.Note 46 · Footnote 373: (return) Skene, i. 264.Note 47 · Footnote 374: (return) Loth, ii. 296.Note 48 · Footnote 375: (return) Skene, i. 299, 531.Note 49 · Footnote 376: (return) See p. 224, infra.Note 50 · Footnote 377: (return) Guest, iii. 255; Morris, Celtic Remains, 231.Note 51 · Footnote 378: (return) HL 283 f. See also Grimm, Teut. Myth. i. 131.Note 52 · Footnote 379: (return) Loth, i. 240.Note 53 · Footnote 380: (return) Stokes, US 34.Note 54 · Footnote 381: (return) Myvyrian Archæol. i. 168; Skene, i. 275, 278 f.; Loth, ii. 259.Note 55 · Footnote 382: (return) See my Childhood of Fiction, 127. Llew's vulnerability does not depend on the discovery of his separable soul, as is Note 56 · Footnote 383: (return) Skene, i. 314, ii. 342.Note 57 · Footnote 384: (return) HL 408; RC x. 490.Note 58 · Footnote 385: (return) HL 237, 319, 398, 408.Note 59 · Footnote 386: (return) HL 384.Note 60 · Footnote 387: (return) HL 474, 424.Note 61 · Footnote 388: (return) Loth, ii. 231.Note 62 · Footnote 389: (return) Loth, i. 240.Note 63 · Footnote 390: (return) Skene, i, 286-287.Note 64 · Footnote 391: (return) Loth, ii. 263.Note 65 · Footnote 392: (return) Skene, ii. 159; Rh[^y]s, HL 157; Guest, iii. 255.Note 66 · Footnote 393: (return) Rh[^y]s, HL 161, 566.Note 67 · Footnote 394: (return) Skene, i. 282, 288, 310, 543, ii. 145; Loth, i. 135; Rh[^y]s, HL 387.Note 68 · Footnote 395: (return) Loth, i. 27 f.; Guest, iii. 7 f.Note 69 · Footnote 396: (return) Rhiannon is daughter of Heveidd Hen or "the Ancient," probably an old divinity.Note 70 · Footnote 397: (return) In the Mabinogi and in Fionn tales a mysterious hand snatches away newly-born children. Cf. ZCP i. 153.Note 71 · Footnote 398: (return) Anwyl, ZCP i. 288.Note 72 · Footnote 399: (return) Loth, ii. 247.Note 73 · Footnote 400: (return) Skene, i. 264.Note 74 · Footnote 401: (return) Ibid. i. 276.Note 75 · Footnote 402: (return) Ibid. i. 310.Note 76 · Footnote 403: (return) Loth, i. 166.Note 77 · Footnote 404: (return) Hist. Brit. ii. 11, iii. 1, 20, iv. 3.Note 78 · Footnote 405: (return) Cf. Anwyl, ZCP i. 287.Note 79 · Footnote 406: (return) Skene, i. 431; Loth, ii. 278. Some phrases seem to connect Beli with the sea—the waves are his cattle, the brine his Note 80 · Footnote 407: (return) Loth, ii. 209, 249, 260, 283.Note 81 · Footnote 408: (return) Geoffrey, Brit. Hist. iv. 3. 4.Note 82 · Footnote 409: (return) Rh[^y]s, HL 125 f.; Loth, i. 265; MacBain, CM ix. 66.Note 83 · Footnote 410: (return) See Loth, i. 269; and Skene, i. 293.Note 84 · Footnote 411: (return) Loth, i. 173 f.Note 85 · Footnote 412: (return) Loth, ii. 256, 274.Note 86 · Footnote 413: (return) Rh[^y]s, HL 606. Cf. the Breton fairies, the Korr and Korrigan.Note 87 · Footnote 414: (return) Geoffrey, iii. 20.Note 88 · Footnote 415: (return) Loth, i. 253-254; Skene, i. 293.Note 89 · Footnote 416: (return) Guest, iii. 323.Note 90 · Footnote 417: (return) Ibid. 325.Note 91 · Footnote 418: (return) Loth, i. 253, ii. 297.Note 92 · Footnote 419: (return) See p. 353, infra.; Skene, i. 532.Note 93 · Footnote 420: (return) Anwyl, ZCP i. 293.Note 94 · Footnote 421: (return) Guest, iii. 356 f.Note 95 · Footnote 422: (return) Skene, i. 275, 296.Note 96 · Footnote 423: (return) Ibid. i. 498, 500.Note 97 · Footnote 424: (return) See p. 382, infra.Note 98 · Footnote 425: (return) Mon. Hist. Brit. i. 698, ii.; Thomas, Revue de l'hist. des Religions, xxxviii. 339.Note 99 · Footnote 426: (return) Skene, i. 263, 274-276, 278, 281-282, 286-287. His "chair" bestows immortal youth and freedom from sickness.Note 100 · Footnote 427: (return) Skene, i. 264, 376 f., 309, 532. See p. 356, infra.Note 101 · Footnote 428: (return) See pp. 350-1, infra. Fionn and Taliesin are examples of the Märchen formula of a hero expelled and brought back to hNote 102 · Footnote 429: (return) Loth, i. 209, ii. 238; Skene, ii. 459.Note 103 · Footnote 430: (return) Nennius, ch. 50, 79.Note 104 · Footnote 431: (return) Anwyl, ZCP i. 293.Note 105 · Footnote 432: (return) Geoffrey, viii. 9-xi. 3.Note 106 · Footnote 433: (return) Nutt-Meyer, ii. 22 f.Note 107 · Footnote 434: (return) See p. 381, infra.Note 108 · Footnote 435: (return) Loth, ii. 232, 245.Note 109 · Footnote 436: (return) Rh[^y]s, AL, 39 f. Others derive the name from arto-s, "bear." MacBain, 357.Note 110 · Footnote 437: (return) Loth. ii. 247; Skene, ii. 459.Note 111 · Footnote 438: (return) Geoffrey, vi. 17-19, vii. viii. 1, 10-12, 19. In a poem (Skene, i. 478), Myrddin is called "the man who speaks from tNote 112 · Footnote 439: (return) Rh[^y]s, HL, 154 f., 158-159, 194.Note 113 · Footnote 440: (return) Geoffrey, ix. 12, etc.Note 114 · Footnote 441: (return) Skene, ii. 51.Note 115 · Footnote 442: (return) Loth. i. 225; cf. p. 131, infra. From this description Elton supposes Kei to have been a god of fire.Note 116 · Footnote 443: (return) Myv. Arch. i. 175; Loth, i. 269. Rh[^y]s, AL 59, thinks Merlin may have been Guinevere's ravisher.Note 117 · Footnote 444: (return) Holder, i. 414.Note 118 · Footnote 445: (return) Loth i. 250, 260 f., 280, ii. 215, 244.Note 119 · Footnote 446: (return) Skene, i. 363, ii. 406; Myv. Arch. i. 78.Note 120 · Footnote 447: (return) Hu Gadarn is mentioned in the Triads as a leader of the Cymry from the east and their teacher in ploughing. He divideNote 121 · Footnote 448: (return) Loth, i. 270.Note 122 · Footnote 449: (return) Dio Cassius, lxii. 6.Note 123 · Footnote 450: (return) Solinus, xxii. 10. See p. 2, supra.Note 124 · Footnote 451: (return) Ptol. ii. 3. 2.Note 125 · Footnote 452: (return) For all these see Holder, s.v.Note 126 · Our knowledge of the gods of the Brythons, i.e. as far as Wales is concerned, is derived, apart from inscriptions, from the Mabinogion, whicNote 127 · Some of the personages bear similar names to the Irish divinities, and in some cases there is a certain similarity of incidents to those of Note 128 · The story of the Llyr group is told in the Mabinogion of Branwen and of Manawyddan. They are associated with the Pwyll group, and apparentlyNote 129 · The story of Branwen is similar to a tale of which there are variants in Teutonic and Scandinavian sagas, but the resemblance is closer to tNote 130 · Llyr is the equivalent of the Irish Ler, the sea-god, but two other Llyrs, probably duplicates of himself, are known to Welsh story—Llyr MarNote 131 · Manawyddan is not god-like in these tales in the sense in which the majestic Manannan of Irish story is, though elsewhere we learn that "deeNote 132 · Bran, or Bendigeit Vran ("Bran the Blessed"), probably an old pagan title which appropriately enough denotes one who figured later in ChristNote 133 · Branwen, "White Bosom," daughter of a sea-god, may be a sea-goddess, "Venus of the northern sea,"359 unless with Mr. Nutt we connect her witNote 134 · The children of Dôn, the equivalent of Danu, and probably like her, a goddess of fertility, are Gwydion, Gilvæthwy, Amæthon, Govannon, and ANote 135 · This group of divinities is met with mainly in the Mabinogi of Math, which turns upon Gilvæthwy's illicit love of Math's "foot-holder" GoewiNote 136 · Math or Math Hen, "the Ancient,"367 is probably an old divinity of Gwyned, of which he is called lord. He is a king and a magician, pre-eminNote 137 · Gwydion's magical powers are abundantly illustrated in the tale. At Pryderi's court he changes fungus into horses and dogs, and afterwards sNote 138 · Gwydion has also a tricky, fraudulent character in the Mabinogi, and although "in his life there was counsel," yet he had a "vicious muse."3Note 139 · Amæthon the good is described in Kulhwych as the only husbandman who could till or dress a certain piece of land, though Kulhwych will not bNote 140 · The divine functions of Llew Llaw Gyffes are hardly apparent in the Mabinogi. The incident of Blodeuwedd's unfaithfulness is simply that of Note 141 · If Llew is a sun-god, the equivalent of Lug, it is curious that he is never connected with the August festival in Wales which corresponds toNote 142 · Arianrhod, "silver wheel," has a twofold character. She pretends to be a virgin, and disclaims all knowledge of her son Llew, yet she is misNote 143 · Another Mabinogion group is that of Pwyll, prince of Dyved, his wife Rhiannon, and their son Pryderi.395 Pwyll agrees with Arawn, king of AnNote 144 · Though there is little that is mythological here, it is evident that Pwyll is a god and Rhiannon a goddess, whose early importance, like thaNote 145 · Pryderi, as has been seen, was despoiled of his swine by Gwydion. They were the gift of Arawn, but in the Triads they seem to have been brouNote 146 · A fourth group is that of Beli and his sons, referred to in the Mabinogi of Branwen, where one of them, Caswallawn, usurps the throne, and tNote 147 · The personality of Casswallawn is lost in that of the historic Cassivellaunus, but in a reference to him in the Triads where, with Caradawc Note 148 · The theory that Lludd Llaw Ereint or Lodens Lamargentios represents Nodens (Nuada) L[=a]margentios, the change being the result of alliteratNote 149 · Nudd already discussed under his title Nodons, is less prominent than his son Gwyn, whose fight with Gwthur we have explained as a mythic exNote 150 · Another group, unknown to the Mabinogion, save that Taliesin is one of the bearers of Bran's head, is found in the Book of Taliesin and in tNote 151 · The water-world of Tegid is a submarine Elysium with the customary cauldron of inspiration, regeneration, and fertility, like the cauldron aNote 152 · Taliesin was probably an old god of poetic inspiration confused with the sixth century poet of the same name, perhaps because this boastful Note 153 · The occasional and obscure references to the other members of this group throw little light on their functions, save that Morvran, "sea-crowNote 154 · We may postulate a local Arthur saga fusing an old Brythonic god with the historic sixth century Arthur. From this or from Geoffrey's handliNote 155 · The character of the romance Arthur—the flower of knighthood and a great warrior—and the blending of the historic war-leader Arthur with theNote 156 · Merlin, or Myrddin, appears in the romances as a great magician who is finally overcome by the Lady of the Lake, and is in Geoffrey son of aNote 157 · The boastful Kei of the romances appears already in Kulhwych, while in Geoffrey he is Arthur's seneschal.440 Nobler traits are his in later Note 158 · Mabon, one of Arthur's heroes in Kulhwych and the Dream of Rhonabwy, whose name, from mab (map), means "a youth," may be one with the god MaNote 159 · Certain British gods mentioned on inscriptions may be identified with some of those just considered—Nodons with Nudd or Lludd, Belenos with