Celtic Mythology: Captivating Celtic Myths of Celtic Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Legendary Creatures

by Matt Clayton

  "But when we heard the tale of Rhiannon's punishment," said Teyrnon, "we sorrowed greatly for it. We then realized that our Gwri must be your son indeed. If you look at the boy, it is clear that he could be no man's son save Pwyll's. We now return him to you, his rightful parents."

  "How my cares would be lightened if what you say is true," said Rhiannon.

  And all the nobles of the court looked at the boy and at Pwyll, and all agreed that the boy must be Pwyll's son.

  "And what is his name?" asked one of Pwyll's nobles.

  "We call him Gwri Wallt Euryn, but you may name him as you wish," said Teyrnon.

  "Pryderi shall be his name," said Pwyll, "for that name means 'care,' and this was the first thing his mother said about him upon meeting him."

  Rhiannon and Pwyll and the nobles agreed that this was a fine name for the boy, and so he was known as Pryderi son of Pwyll Pen Annwfn ever after.

  Then Pwyll turned to Teyrnon and said, "By God, I know no way to compensate you for the good upbringing you have given our son. But when he is grown, surely he will repay you in a fitting manner."

  "My lord," said Teyrnon, "you should know that no one grieves for the loss of the boy than does my wife, who loves him as a mother. He should remember her thus; that is my wish."

  Pwyll then promised that Pryderi would never forget Teyrnon and his wife, nor the care they had given him when he was a child. And Pwyll promised to ally himself and his realm with Teyrnon and his domain, and that Pryderi would do the same after him. Then the boy was given to the nobleman Pendaran Dyfed to foster, but Pwyll also made Teyrnon and his nobles foster fathers as well.

  When it was time for Teyrnon and his companions to leave, Pwyll and Rhiannon offered Teyrnon many fine gifts of gold and silver and costly jewels, and of the best horses they had. But Teyrnon would accept none of those, and he departed Pwyll's court much contented all the same.

  And so Pryderi was brought up at the court of Pwyll Pen Annwfn, and soon there was none in all the land to match him for good looks or strength of body or deeds. And when Pwyll grew aged and died, Pryderi became the prince of Dyfed, and he conquered the three cantrefs, or counties, of Ystrad Tywi and the four cantrefs of Ceredigion besides. Pryderi took to himself a noble wife, and together they ruled wisely and well to the end of their days.

  The Story of Culhwch and Olwen

  In his edition of the Mabinogion, Patrick Ford notes the importance of horses at the birth of Gwri/Pryderi in the story of Pwyll of Dyfed, while in the story of Culhwch the animals involved are pigs. Ford traces these respectively to the Celtic horse-goddess Epona and the pig-god Moccus. By the time these stories were written down, these deities exist only as mere echoes, in the association of horses and pigs with the births of boy-heroes. Moccus also would appear to be represented in Culhwch's story by the monstrous boar Twrch Trwyth, who must be hunted and destroyed by King Arthur and his companions.

  It is important to note that this is not quite the King Arthur that we are familiar with today. The Arthur of this tale is an earlier manifestation, one who exists in the realm of ancient Celtic myth and legend. Only later was he adopted as a Christianized hero-king and literary figure by medieval court culture, which is the more common source for modern retellings of Arthurian legends.

  Once there was a prince of Wales named Cilydd, son of Celyddon, and he took to wife Goleuddydd, daughter of Prince Anlawdd. Cilydd's people rejoiced at this marriage, for it was a very good match, and they prayed that soon their prince might have a son and heir. They had not long to wait before their prayers were answered: Goleuddydd soon found herself with child.

  All was not easy with Goleuddydd, however. She found that she could not abide being indoors, and so she went wandering about the countryside, never returning to her home and even sleeping under the stars or beneath the trees. When she felt it was close to the time for her to be delivered, she looked for shelter. There on the side of a mountain she found the abode of a swineherd. She went into the swineherd's hut, but she found the pigs so frightening that she immediately gave birth. She named the boy Culhwch, which means "place of the pigs," because that was where he was born. The swineherd recognized Goleuddydd, so when she was well enough to travel he returned her with her baby to the court of Prince Cilydd that the boy might be brought up amongst his own people, for not only was Culhwch the son of Cilydd, he also was cousin to King Arthur himself.

  Culhwch grew quickly and well, but when he was still quite a small child his mother grew ill and died. When Goleuddydd was on her deathbed, she told Cilydd, "I know that you soon will wish to remarry, but I worry that your new bride will try to disinherit our son, Culhwch. I ask that you not take another wife until you see a briar with two blossoms upon it on my grave. I also bid that you tend my grave well and not neglect it."

  Prince Cilydd promised Goleuddydd that she would do all that she asked him, and after she died and was buried he appointed a servant to tend the grave and keep it free from any kind of weed or briar. For seven years, the servant did his task well, but after that time he tired of it, and so the grave went untended.

  It was at this time that the prince rode out to hunt, and bethought himself to visit the grave of Goleuddydd to see whether there might be anything growing upon it. He went to the place where she was buried and saw that a briar had begun growing in the middle of her grave, and upon that briar were two blossoms. The prince returned to his palace and summoned to him his wisest advisers. He asked them whether they knew of any well-born woman who might serve as a new wife.

  "Yes," said one. "The wife of King Doged would do admirably."

  Cilydd agreed that this was good advice. He sent a party of his choicest warriors to Doged's lands. There they killed Doged and captured his wife and daughter. They also scoured the towns and villages of that place and took their plunder back to Cilydd's domain. Cilydd took possession of Doged's lands, and took his widow to be his own wife, but Cilydd told her nothing about Culhwch, for he had not forgotten Goleuddydd's dying words to him about their son.

  One day, Cilydd's new wife went for a walk through the countryside. She came upon a crude hut, in front of which sat an old woman with straggly white hair and but one tooth in her mouth. Now, Cilydd's wife had heard tales of this woman, and knew that she had a reputation for soothsaying. Cilydd's wife also had many questions about her new husband, questions she knew would be unwise to ask at court. She therefore approached the old woman and said, "Tell me, old woman, how is it that I have wed a childless man? Will I not have an heir by him?"

  The old woman said, "Cilydd is not childless, and you are assured of producing an heir of your own body."

  "Tell me of this child that Cilydd has," said the wife, for she was surprised to hear that her husband had been keeping this a secret.

  "Cilydd has one son," said the old woman, "and his name is Culhwch."

  Cilydd's wife returned home. She went straight to her husband and demanded to know why he had been keeping his son a secret from her. At first Cilydd tried to evade her questions, but finally he summoned Culhwch to him and presented the boy to his new stepmother. She looked the boy up and down and saw that he was handsome and well made in his body.

  "You are a fine-looking lad," said his stepmother, "and you should think of marriage. I myself have a beautiful daughter who would make an excellent wife for you."

  Culhwch replied, "That may be so, but I am not yet of an age to take a wife."

  This angered his stepmother, and so she pronounced a curse upon him: "If you take not my daughter, then never shall you wed, except it be to Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Pencawr, king of the giants!"

  At this, Culhwch felt his whole body overcome with love for Olwen, a woman he had never met, and he vowed to himself that he would take her to wife.

  Cilydd saw that the lad was blushing strangely, and asked, "What is the matter, my son? Have you taken ill?"

  "No," said Culhwch, "but I have heard the fate foretold me by my stepmother, a
nd I wish to see whether I might have the hand of Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Pencawr, in marriage."

  Cilydd said, "That should not be difficult for you, for you are nobly born and cousin to King Arthur himself. You should go to the court of Arthur and ask him for his aid in this matter. Tidy yourself, and get your hair cut, and then go and speak to Arthur."

  The next morning, Culhwch set out for Arthur's court. He rode a fine grey steed, and his saddle and bridle were inlaid with much gold. Culhwch was richly dressed and armed with spear and sword in a manner befitting a prince, and he carried a fine hunting horn that was chased with silver. At Culhwch's side coursed two of the best hunting hounds, wearing golden collars inlaid with rubies. And the tread of Culhwch's mount was so light that it did not even bend the grass beneath his hooves as they cantered to the court of King Arthur.

  When Culhwch reached the court of King Arthur, he found the gate closed and barred.

  "Let me in," Culhwch said to the sentry.

  "I cannot," said the sentry, "for the feast has already begun, and it is Arthur's law that none be allowed to enter save those who have been specially invited. But here outside the wall there is a guesthouse, where there is food and drink aplenty and a warm bed fit even for a noble prince, and stabling for your horse and your hounds. You may stay here the night, and seek audience of Arthur in the morning."

  "I'll not wait," said Culhwch, "and if you open not the gate, I shall send up three shouts. The first shall be heard throughout all of Wales. The second shall be heard as far away as Ireland. And the third shall be so loud and so fierce that all the women in the land who now are with child shall miscarry, and those who are now barren shall remain so forevermore."

  "Shout as you might," said the sentry, "I cannot unbar this gate save by permission of the king. I bid you wait while I ask him what I should do."

  The sentry went into the hall where King Arthur sat a-feasting with his court. The king saw the sentry, and bid him say what had brought him into the hall.

  "A warrior there is at the gate," said the sentry, "the likes of which I have never seen, neither for raiment, nor weapons, nor steed, nor hounds, nor for good looks, nor strength of body. As you well know, I have travelled to every land, to India, to Africa, to Norway, and to Greece, and all the places in between, and never have I seen such a youth as this. He craves audience with Your Majesty, and says he will not wait. I am here to ask whether I may admit him, despite your law."

  Arthur said, "Surely such a man as this ought not to be kept waiting. I waive the law of the banquet hall for this special guest. Bid him enter, and make him welcome."

  Then Kai, one of the knights of the king said, "If Your Majesty pleases, I counsel that we not admit this man to our feast in defiance of the law."

  Arthur replied, "I cannot take your counsel, my friend, for if I refuse this warrior entrance, it will bring great shame upon me and upon this court."

  No sooner had Arthur said this, than Culhwch strode into the banqueting hall. All who saw him marveled, for the sentry's description had not done him justice. Arthur welcomed Culhwch warmly, and invited him to take a seat at table, where meat and wine would be brought to him.

  "I come not for the feast," said Culhwch, "but to beg the aid of Your Majesty. And if you give me not your aid, great will be the shame upon you and upon your court."

  "All that I have to give is yours," said Arthur, "save my weapons, and my ship, and my cloak, and my wife."

  "First I wish that you should cut my hair," said Culhwch.

  Arthur called for a comb and scissors to be brought. Culhwch was then seated before the king, and as Arthur combed and trimmed Culhwch's hair, he said, "Tell me now who you are, and of your family."

  "I am Culhwch, son of Cilydd son of Celyddon, and my mother was Goleuddydd, daughter of Prince Anlawdd."

  "Ah!" said Arthur. "Then we are cousins, surely. Doubly welcome you are to my court, kinsman. Now tell me what it is you require of me."

  "I wish to wed Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Pencawr, king of the giants," said Culhwch. "I beg your assistance in finding her and making her my bride."

  Arthur admitted that he did not know who this young woman might be. Neither did any of his courtiers know of her, so Arthur pledged to send messengers throughout his kingdom to see where she might be found. Culhwch agreed that it should be done thus, and gave Arthur a year in which to find the girl.

  And so the year passed, without any of the messengers being able to find Olwen or her people. Culhwch came before the court and said to Arthur, "I can wait no longer. If you can be of no help to me, then I must go on this quest by myself."

  "Not so," said Kai, "for I will come with you."

  "Yes," said Arthur. "It is wise that you take Kai as your companion. Also I will send others of my finest warriors, so that you will always have the best help."

  Arthur called upon Kai and five others to be Culhwch's companions. Each of these was a fearsome warrior, and each had other qualities and skills besides. Kai could hold his breath under water for nine days and nine nights, and he could go without sleep for the same space. If he wounded someone with his sword, that wound would never heal no matter how well it was tended. Kai could make himself grow until he was as tall as a tree, and with his body he could make enough heat that the rain could not touch whatever he carried, and even could start a fire with that heat.

  Bedwyr One-Hand also went with Culhwch. Bedwyr was the fastest man in the kingdom. No one could match him for speed, save Arthur and one other, a man named Drych Ail Cybdar. Although Bedwyr had only one hand, he was as deadly in battle as three two-handed men, and his lance was so deadly that any wound made with it would be nine times greater than the lance of another warrior.

  Cynddelig Cyfarwydd the guide also was summoned to go with Culhwch. No one knew the lands in Arthur's realm better than he, and none was his match at finding a path through unknown lands. The interpreter Gwyrhyr Gwstad Ieithoedd also was part of the company, for he spoke all languages, and Gwalchmai mab Gwyar also joined them, for he was the best horseman and the best fighter on foot. The last member of the company was Menw son of Teirgwaedd, who could cast a spell of invisibility about himself and his companions, so that unfriendly eyes could not see them.

  Culhwch and his companions set out from Arthur's castle and travelled until they came to a wide plain. On the plain, far in the distance, was a castle the like of which they had never seen. The plain was so wide that it took them three days to cross it. When they finally neared the castle, they found an enormous flock of sheep between themselves and the castle. The shepherd was a huge, fearsome-looking man, sitting on a hillock near his flock, and next to him was a giant sheepdog, as large as a horse. What was more, the shepherd could throw flames out of his mouth at anyone who displeased him, and many charred trees and shrubs were all about.

  Kai, Gwyrhyr, and Menw decided among themselves to speak to the shepherd. Menw said that he would cast a charm on him so that they might speak with him safely. The three companions strode up to the shepherd. "Greetings," they said to him. "Tell us, if you will, who you are, and who is master of that castle, and of all these fine sheep?"

  "My name is Custennin, and surely everyone knows whose castle and whose herds these are," said the shepherd. "They belong to Ysbaddaden Pencawr, king of the giants. Why do you ask? What do you want here?"

  "We are messengers from the court of King Arthur," said Kai, "and we are come to ask the hand of Olwen in marriage for one of our companions."

  "Oh," said the shepherd, "I pity your friend and all your companions, if that truly is your errand. Many suitors have come to this land asking for the hand of Olwen, and not one has ever left here alive."

  Culhwch thanked the shepherd for what he had told them, and gave him a golden ring as payment. The shepherd tried to put on the ring, but it would not fit his huge fingers, so he put it inside his glove and took it home to his wife. When he gave her the ring, she said, "Where did you find such a thing,
husband?"

  "I went to the shore to do some fishing, and there I found a dead man on the beach. The ring was on his hand, so I took it."

  "A likely story," said the wife. "Show me this fine corpse that wears beautiful jewelry."

  "Never fear," said Custennin. "You shall see him shortly. In fact, he and his friends likely will be here soon, to ask us for our hospitality for the night."

  "Whatever do you mean?" said the wife.

  "I mean that it is Culhwch, son of Cilydd son of Celyddon, whose mother was Goleuddydd daughter of Anlawdd, who is here. He is come to ask for the hand of Olwen in marriage."

  The shepherd's wife was both happy and sad at this news. She was happy, because Culhwch was her sister's son, and sad because she knew that no one ever returned from the castle of Ysbyddaden Pencawr alive. But she had not time to dwell on this, because soon she heard the sounds of Culhwch and his companions approaching. She ran out to greet them and went to embrace the companions. First she went to Kai, but before she could touch him, Kai grabbed a huge log from the woodpile and thrust it between himself and the woman. The woman embraced the log instead, and soon it was nothing but a pile of splinters.

  "It is fortunate that it was not I you embraced," said Kai.

  The woman invited the companions into her house and provided them with food and drink. Then she went over to the fireplace, and opened a door that stood next to the mantelpiece. Behind the door was a small, secret room, and out of the secret room came a beautiful youth, who had curly, golden hair.

  "What has he done, to be imprisoned in that room so?" said Gwrhyr.

  "It is to save him that he hides in that secret room," said the wife. "Twenty-four sons I once had, and now all of them are dead save him. All the others were slain by Ysbaddaden Pencawr, and our only hope to keep this one alive is to hide him."

  "Let him stay with me," said Kai. "I swear I shall protect him, and none shall harm him save they kill me first."