Welsh mythology

Welsh mythology consists of both folk traditions developed in Wales, and traditions developed by the Celtic Britons elsewhere before the end of the first millennium. It contains some of the earliest influences and origins for the Arthurian Legends.

The Celtic Britons consisted of several groups who occupied most of modern day Wales and southern Britain from c. 4th century BCE to the early 1100s CE, also known as Celts or Celtic Britons. They were predominantly oral societies whose history and mythology were recorded orally by specialists such as druids (derwyddon).

This oral record has been lost or altered as a result of outside contact and invasion over the years from Romans, Saxons, Angles, Picts and Vikings among others. As such, many original folklore tales have been lost over time. However, some survive in later texts from the 13th century onwards, notably the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin.

Arthurian Legends[]

Compilations[]

Trioedd Ynys Prydein (Welsh Triads): a collection of short summaries of Welsh tradition and legend which are classified into groups of three linked characters or episodes. The later manuscripts of the Triads are partly derivative from Geoffrey of Monmouth and later continental traditions, but the earliest ones show no such influence and are usually agreed to refer to pre-existing Welsh traditions.
The Black Book of Carmarthen: Compiled by a single scribe over a period of years in the latter half of the 13th century.
The Book of Taliesin
The White Book of Rhydderch
The Red Book of Hergest
The Book of Aneirin
The Mabinogion: Contains a collection of Welsh tales, including early Welsh mythology and later Romances.

Individual Tales[]

Heroic Death Songs

Y Gododdin: A collection of heroic death-songs, often attributed to the 6th-century poet Aneirin (c. 575 - 600) but possibly dates to 9th or 10th century. In one stanza, the bravery of a warrior who slew 300 enemies is praised, but it is then noted that despite this "he was no Arthur".
Marwnat vthyr pen[dragon] (The Deathsong of Uther Pen[dragon]) refers to Arthur's valour and is suggestive of a father-son relationship for Arthur and Uther that pre-dates Geoffrey of Monmouth. Attributed to Taliesin.
Marwnad Cynddylan (The Deathsong of Cynddylan): Similar to Y Goddodin, Arthur is mentioned in passing.
Englynion y Beddau (Stanzas of the Graves): A tale about the location of the graves of famous warriors. Arthur's is notably missing because it is alluded that he is not completely dead.

Early Myrddin Poems

Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer ("The Conversation of Myrddin and His Sister Gwenddydd)
The Dialogue between Myrddin and Taliesin

Other Dialogues Tales

Pa gur yv y porthaur? Cath Palug (What man is the gatekeeper): A poem found in the Black Book of Carmarthen. This takes the form of a dialogue between Arthur and the gatekeeper of a fortress he wishes to enter, in which Arthur recounts the names and deeds of himself and his men, notably Cei (Kay) and Bedwyr (Bedivere).
Ymddiddan Arthur a’r Eryr (The Dialogy of Arthur and the Eagle)
Ymddiddan Melwas ac Gwenhwyfar (The Dialogue of Melwas [Arthur] and Gwenhyfer)
Ymddiddan Gwyddno Garanhir ac Gwyn fab Nudd (The Dialogue of Gwyddno Garanhir and Gwynn ap Nudd)

Quests and Other Stories

Culhwch ac Olwen (Culhwch and Olwen): Prose included in the modern so-called Mabinogion collection and thought to date to c.1090. The story as a whole tells of Arthur helping his kinsman Culhwch win the hand of Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Chief-Giant, by completing a series of apparently impossible tasks, including the hunt for the great semi-divine boar Twrch Trwyth. Cei and Bedwyr take a central place as characters, although the tale also contains a long list of more than 200 people of Arthur's Court.
Kadeir Teyrnon (The Chair of the Prince / The Chair of Teyrnon) refers to "Arthur the Blessed". Attributed to Taliesin.
Preiddeu Annwfn (The Spoils of Annwn): Often attributed to the poet Taliesin of the 6th century. It recounts an expedition of Arthur to the Otherworld.
Kat Godeu/ Cad Goddeu (The Battle of the Forest)
Mad[awg] drut ac Erof (Mad the fierce and Herod). Attributed to Taliesin.
Kanu y Meirch (Poem of the Horses): Attributed to Taliesin.
Gereint fil[ius] Erbin (Geraint, son of Erbin)
Tri Thlws ar Ddeg Ynys Brydain
Breuddwyd Rhonabwy (The Dream of Rhonabwy)
The Gogynfeirdd and Cywyddwyr

Other notable Mentions[]

The 9th-century Historia Brittonum refers to the quest with the Twrch Trwyth

Common Themes[]

The Welsh Mythology stories are often associated with being filled with magic, giants and fantastical elements as well as the exploits of brave warriors. For example, Culhwch and Olwen is a combination of several different quests undertaken by Arthur and his Court of brave warriors which include battles with magical creatures such as the great, semi-divine boar Twrch Trwyth and an ancient talking salmon. These tales are linked to the culture of Celtic Britons who tended to have aristocratic warrior cultures which valued courage and skill at arms. They often believed in an Otherworld which was close to our mortal world and beings could cross from one to the other. For example, The Spoils of Annwn recounts Arthur’s quest to the Otherworld.

Common Characters

Arthur as a highly regarded and strong warlord or chieftain
Kai or Cai
Bedwyr

Creatures

Twrch Trwyth
Talking Salmon

Settings

Celliwig, Kernau
Otherworld and portals to the Otherworld
Ireland

Modern Adaptations[]

Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander (1964-1968), a series of novels based on early Welsh Mythology including the Welsh Triads and the Mababignion.
The Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead (1987), fictional story based on some of the early welsh mythos especially around Taliesin.

Academic Research and Reference Material[]

A Bibliographic Guide to Welsh Arthurian Literature by Caitlin R. Green. (pdf available online http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/notes&queries/N&Q1_ArthLit.pdf) This gives an overview of academic research into individual legends and compilations.
The Early Welsh Arthurian Poems by Patrick Sims-Williams in Bromwich et al
The Arthur of the Welsh (Cardiff, 1991)
Chwedlau Cymareg Canol (Medieval Welsh Legends) by A. O. H. Jarman
Ancient Echoes: Transformations of Celtic Mythology in Arthurian Legend in The Quest: An Arthurian Resource. University of Idaho, 1998. Web. 18 Aug. 2011. http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/arthurian_legend/celtic/celtic.html.