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Goewin

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Goewin (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈɡɔɨwɪn]) is a figure in Welsh mythology, where she has a small but crucial role in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi, named after Math fab Mathonwy.[1] At the beginning of the tale, Math will die if his feet are not always held in the lap of a virgin or he is at war; Goewin is the virgin who performs this duty until Math is tricked into going to war by his nephews Gwydion and Gilfaethwy, who proceed to rape Goewin. Once Math returns, she reveals that the nephews have stolen her honor. Math punishes the two by transforming them into a series of animals, and marries Goewin, giving her the power of his kingdom, in order to make amends.

  1. ^ Jones, Gwyn and Jones, Thomas. The Mabinogion. Everyman's Library, 1949; revised in 1989.