User:Straif/ArianrhodNotes

Arianrhod

Outline

• after filling in details, prosify. Keep general structure (written sources separate from neopagan sources--removes temptation to intermix unsubstantiated information in with documented sources).
• Add: Alternate spellings, including manuscript spellings. Be sure to do redirects.
• Redirect Caer Arianrhod.
• Move etymology down?
• Family tree
• When are her other children/consort introduced?
• the reef -- coordinates?
  • 53°03′58″N 4°21′18″W +53° 3' 57.97", -4° 21' 18.02" / 53.066102,-4.355005

• unify citation style
• Details to add/Clarifications
  • nature of Math's condition
  • Gwydion's magic
  • Math's wand -- transforming G&G, testing Arianrhod
  • That the fleet of ships would be hostile
  • That Blod and Lleu married
• Style issues Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style
  • Avoid repeating article title in subheadings

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In Welsh mythology, Arianrhod ("silver wheel") is a major figure in the fourth branch of the Mabinogion.

Arianrhod was the daughter of Beli Mawr and Dôn, and her brothers include Gwydion and Gilfaethwy. Her uncle, Math ap Mathonwy was the King of Gwynedd.

Arianrhod in the Mabinogion

Math had to rest his feet in the lap of a virgin unless he was at war or wanted to be, or else he would die. When Gilfaethwy fell in love with Goewin, Math's foot-holder, Gwydion created a plan to help him rape her. After, when Goewin told Math of the assault, he turned Gilfaethwy and Gwydion into breeding pairs of deer, then of wolves, and finally pigs.

After they were punished, Math asked their advice as to who should be his next virgin foot-holder. Gwydion suggested his sister, Arianrhod. To test her virginity, Math told her to step over his magician's rod. However, when she did she immediately gave birth to a young boy (Dylan Eil Ton) and a blob.

Dylan was a sea-creature who immediately moved into the ocean. The blob, however, was placed in a chest by Gwydion. The blob grew into a young boy at twice the rate as a normal child so that when he was four years old he was the size of an eight-year-old. At this time, Gwydion took him to Caer Arianrhod and presented the boy to his mother. Arianrhod, shamed and disgraced, placed a geas on the boy. He would not have a name unless she gave it to him.

Gwydion and the boy, disguised as shoemakers, returned to Caer Arianrhod. While she was being fitted, she saw the boy killing a wren with a single stone. She proclaimed that the fair-haired one ("lleu") has a skillful hand ("llaw gyffes"). With that, he was named Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Arianrhod then placed a geas on Lleu that he would never take arms unless she armed him.

A few years later Gwydion and Lleu returned to Caer Arianrhod, this time disguised as bards. Gwydion was an accomplished storyteller and entertained her court. That night, while everyone slept, he conjured a fleet of warships. Arianrhod gave them weapons and armor so they could fight. After she broke her own curse by arming Lleu, Gwydion dispelled the fleet. Arianrhod then placed a final geas on Lleu: he would never have a wife from any race that is on this earth now.

To break the final geas, Gwydion and Math created a woman out of oak blossom, broom, and meadowsweet and named her Blodeuwedd ("flower face").

Arianrhod denied Lleu the three aspects of masculinity: a name, arms, and a wife.

Lleu and Dylan's Father

Add: various opinions/theories (with cites) about who the father of Lleu and Dylan was.

Other references to Arianrhod in Welsh mythology

better title

The Welsh Triads

Arianrhod is mentioned three times in the Welsh Triads.

In Triad #35R, Beli Mawr is named as Arianrhod's father. This is the only source for this information. (Bromwich 1961)

briefly discuss what the Triads are, and that I'm using Rachel Bromwich's numbering

Etymology

This theonym appears to be derived from Proto-Celtic *Arganto-rotā meaning "feminine silver-wheeling [divinity]" (q.v. [1] [2] [3]). Following accepted sound laws elucidating systematic diachronic phonological sound change in Celtic proto-linguistics (q.v. [4] [5] [6] [7]), the Romano-British form of this Proto-Celtic theonym is likely to have been *Argantrota.

Caer Arianrhod

• mythical meaning and refs
• tidal rock
  • There is a reef named Caer Arianrhod off the coast of Gwynedd. (MacKillop 1998) The reef is located at 53°03′58″N 4°21′18″W.
  • "According to folk tradition, there is a reef off the coast of Gwynedd (formerly Carnarvonshire) called Caer Arianrhod that is the remains of an island castle where Arianrhod was tricked into giving Lleu the arms she intended to withhold." (MacKillop 1998)
• constellation
  • The Welsh name for the constellation Corona Borealis is Caer Arianrhod. (MacKillop 1998)
  • "Caer Arianrhod is also a popular Welsh name for the constellation Corona Borealis." (MacKillop 1998)

Modern Interpretations

Iolo Morganwg

Iolo Morganwg also Edward Davies

Robert Graves

Robert Graves made a number of influential additions in The White Goddess. While his interpretations are controversial, many contemporary writers have been inspired by his work SOURCES!

Neopaganism

or...

Bibliography

• Ford, Patrick K., The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. University of California Press 1977: ISBN 0520034147.
• Ellis, Peter Berresford, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology(Oxford Paperback Reference), Oxford University Press, (1994): ISBN 0195089618
• MacKillop, James. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. ISBN 0192801201.
• Wood, Juliette, The Celts: Life, Myth, and Art, Thorsons Publishers (2002): ISBN 0007640595

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Mine:

• Wikipedia:Citing_sources
• Ford, Patrick K., The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. University of California Press 1977: ISBN 0520034147.
• Jones, Gwyn and Jones, Thomas, The Mabinogion. Everyman 1949/1993: ISBN 0460872974 (London)
• Gantz, Jeffrey, The Mabinogion. Penguin 1976: ISBN 0140443223 (London)
• Bromwich, Rachel, Trioedd Ynys Prydein. University of Wales Press 1961 (Cardiff)

External links

• Mary Jones
• Celtic Gods and their Associates
• Some Major Celtic Gods and Goddesses
• Proto-Celtic — English lexicon
• Arianrhod
• "Arianrhod" from Encyclopedia mythica online
• [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=13471 "Arianrhod - The Silver Wheel