285:, a young boy, stirred the concoction. The first three drops of liquid from this potion gave wisdom; the rest was a fatal poison. Three hot drops spilled onto Gwion's thumb as he stirred, burning him. He instinctively put his thumb in his mouth, and gained the wisdom and knowledge Ceridwen had intended for her son. Realising that Ceridwen would be angry, Gwion fled. Ceridwen chased him. Using the powers of the potion he turned himself into a hare. She became a greyhound. He became a fish and jumped into a river. She transformed into an otter. He turned into a bird; she became a hawk. Finally, he turned into a single grain of corn. She then became a hen and, being a
289:(or enchantress, depending on the version of the tale), she found and ate him without trouble. But because of the potion he was not destroyed. When Ceridwen became pregnant, she knew it was Gwion and resolved to kill the child when he was born. However, when he was born, he was so beautiful that she could not do it. She threw him in the ocean instead, sewing him inside a leather-skin bag (or set him in a
191:’ as a modern Welsh form of the name. Similarly, the difference between the ‘C’ and the ‘K’ initial consonant is clearly simply a matter of a different spelling convention to represent the hard ‘c’ sound. But the following vowel, ‘y’ or ‘e’ could well represent a shift in actual pronunciation of the vowel sound. Sir Ifor Williams asserted that ‘
27:
234:
and so a source of poetic inspiration. Cuhelyn Fardd (1100-1130) spoke of being inspired by her muse, while
Cynddelw Prydydd Mawr (1155-1200) acknowledged her as the source of his art and Prydydd y Moch at the beginning of the 13th century specifically mentions the cauldron of Kyridfen as the source
120:
Marged
Haycock catalogues various forms of the name in the early texts, and in less detail in her edition of the Taliesin poems. These mainly occur in manuscripts which have been dated to the 13th century, though they may, of course, be using earlier forms or 13th century adaptations of earlier
179:’ : ‘woman’). The variant forms ‘fen’, ‘uen’ and ‘ven’ are all due to variant scribal practices in the spelling of the sound in the modern letter ‘v’, as is the letter ‘w’, which was also sometimes used for this sound, causing the final syllable to be confused with ‘
317:. Its earliest surviving text dates from the mid-16th century, but it appears from its language to be a 9th-century composition, according to Hutton. References to Ceridwen and her cauldron found in the work of the 12th century
327:) he thus considers later, derivative works. In them, according to Hutton, Ceridwen is transformed from a sorceress into a goddess of poetry. Citing this and a couple of other examples, Hutton proposes that the
62:
1549:
227:’ (belief) and so, by analogy, her mother’s name as Credidfen would mean ‘woman to be believed in’, making the mother’s and daughter’s name stems a pair.
633:
590:
397:
258:
who claimed that it was widely known in Wales at that time in both written versions and in oral lore The story tells that
Ceridwen's son,
36:
362:
according to which "Gwenhwyfar and
Ceridwen are dawn goddesses." Charles Isaac Elton in 1882 referred to her as a "white fairy".
354:. Later writers identified her as having originally been a pagan goddess, speculating on her role in a supposed Celtic pantheon.
1405:
281:
The mixture had to be boiled for a year and a day. She set Morda, a blind man, to tend the fire beneath the cauldron, while
669:
626:
333:
substantially created a new mythology not reflective of earlier paganism. Nonetheless, references to
Ceridwen's cauldron (
1575:
374:, Ceridwen is a goddess of change and rebirth and transformation and her cauldron symbolizes knowledge and inspiration.
367:
100:) and the Tale of Taliesin recounts her swallowing her servant Gwion Bach who is then reborn through her as the poet
498:(University of Wales Press, 1992) is the standard Welsh text, with a reliable translation by the same author in his
1065:
702:
239:. These and other references by identified bards are in addition to the many references by unidentified bards in
20:
1570:
619:
203:’ (bent, angled), so ‘woman with a crooked back’, fitting the stereotype of a witch. Marged Haycock accepts ‘
1470:
1343:
823:
337:) are also to be found in some of the early mythological poems attributed to the legendary Taliesin in the
209:’ but questions the first syllable as ‘cyr’, suggesting other possible alternatives which could relate to ‘
221:’ (passionate, fierce, powerful), but also notes her daughter Creirwy, with the first syllable a form of ‘
764:
757:
324:
695:
688:
771:
750:
743:
681:
1461:
1085:
1045:
1030:
900:
594:
387:
347:
970:
955:
850:
829:
817:
1400:
1180:
1150:
1145:
1010:
1000:
722:
713:
298:
1135:
1070:
642:
339:
242:
1308:
1155:
980:
960:
915:
810:
729:
653:
539:
The Works of Thomas Love
Peacock: Including His Novels, Poems, Fugitive Pieces, Criticisms
313:
It has been suggested that
Ceridwen first appeared as a simple sorceress character in the
293:, depending on the story). The child did not die, but was rescued on a Welsh shore – near
105:
71:
392:
274:
in her magical cauldron to grant the gift of wisdom and poetic inspiration, also called
96:. Medieval Welsh poetry refers to her as possessing the cauldron of poetic inspiration (
1528:
1385:
1318:
1165:
1160:
1120:
920:
109:
55:
1564:
1488:
1338:
1313:
1105:
985:
975:
363:
359:
255:
370:, in which she was interpreted as a form of the destructive side of the goddess. In
1420:
1378:
1373:
1328:
1255:
1080:
950:
803:
383:
1358:
1539:
1496:
1425:
1260:
1170:
870:
185:’ as a mutated form of Gwen (fair, blessed) a common ending to Welsh names. So ‘
1544:
1410:
1290:
1280:
1230:
1125:
1050:
1025:
995:
935:
890:
796:
79:
1533:
1484:
1474:
1456:
1363:
1353:
1270:
1225:
1185:
1175:
1015:
945:
880:
865:
355:
83:
74:. She was the mother of a hideous son, Mordfran, and a beautiful daughter,
611:
254:
This story is first attested in a sixteenth-century manuscript written by
1450:
1446:
1395:
1275:
1250:
1130:
1110:
1040:
990:
895:
885:
875:
855:
789:
513:
The Pagan
Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy
302:
294:
282:
101:
266:), was hideously ugly – particularly compared with his beautiful sister
173:’. So ‘-fen’ is the most common termination (a mutated form of archaic ‘
1511:
1502:
1492:
1480:
1415:
1390:
1285:
1265:
1240:
1235:
1205:
1200:
1140:
1100:
1075:
1020:
1005:
940:
910:
905:
290:
286:
267:
263:
259:
75:
1507:
1368:
1348:
1333:
1215:
1210:
1195:
1115:
1095:
1090:
1035:
736:
271:
965:
26:
1466:
1441:
1323:
1245:
1220:
1060:
1055:
930:
860:
371:
270:– so Ceridwen sought to make him wise in compensation. She made a
93:
25:
1190:
275:
236:
231:
97:
615:
578:
The
Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
230:
The earliest poems emphasise her keeping of the cauldron of
297:
according to most versions of the tale – by a prince named
301:; the reborn infant grew to become the legendary bard
1521:
1434:
1299:
843:
781:
712:
668:
661:
222:
216:
210:
204:
198:
192:
180:
174:
168:
158:
152:
146:
136:
126:
627:
358:in 1878 referred to the Solar Myth theory of
112:of rebirth, transformation, and inspiration.
8:
1550:Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain
528:(Llanbedrog, 1910), 33.10; 27.13–14; 33.10.
500:The Mabinogi and other Medieval Welsh Tales
328:
318:
186:
87:
665:
634:
620:
612:
483:Legendary Poems from The Book of Taliesin
431:Legendary Poems From The Book of Taliesin
366:later fitted her into his concept of the
197:’ is the most likely original form from ‘
580:, Oxford University Press, 2001, p. 192.
400:which was possibly named after Ceridwen.
410:
502:(University of California Press, 1977)
459:148-> (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 2003)
421:148-> (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 2003)
54:
7:
515:, Blackwell Publishing, 1993, p. 323
417:Marged Haycock ‘Cadair Ceridwen’ yn
398:Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire
591:"Cerridwen: Keeper of the Cauldron"
541:, R. Bentley and Son, 1875, p. 113.
744:Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain
455:Marged Haycock ‘Cadair Ceridwen’,
14:
323:or Poets of the Princes (such as
350:also wrote a poem entitled the
104:. Ceridwen is regarded by many
16:Character from Welsh mythology
1:
472:(Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1957)
123:The Black Book of Carmarthen
567:, B. Quaritch, 1882, p.253.
552:Lectures on Welsh Philology
524:J. Gwenogvryn Evans (ed.),
1594:
811:The Dream of Macsen Wledig
565:Origins of English History
18:
650:
444:A Grammar of Middle Welsh
215:’ (shake or shiver), or ‘
21:Ceridwen (disambiguation)
70:) was an enchantress in
554:, Trübner, 1879, p. 305
223:
217:
211:
205:
199:
193:
181:
175:
169:
165:The Red Book of Hergest
159:
153:
147:
137:
127:
1334:Cavall (Cafall, Cabal)
386:and the legend of the
329:
319:
187:
88:
40:
765:The Dream of Rhonabwy
758:Peredur son of Efrawg
670:Four Branches of the
563:Charles Isaac Elton,
537:Thomas Love Peacock,
325:Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr
309:Later interpretations
72:Welsh medieval legend
29:
772:Geraint son of Erbin
682:Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed
526:The Book of Taliesin
352:Cauldron of Ceridwen
143:The Book of Taliesin
82:and they lived near
37:Christopher Williams
19:For other uses, see
1576:Witches in folklore
1540:Cauldron of rebirth
1046:Goreu fab Custennin
1031:Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr
388:Salmon of Knowledge
348:Thomas Love Peacock
346:The Victorian poet
56:[kɛrˈɪdwɛn]
956:Cymidei Cymeinfoll
851:Afaon fab Taliesin
830:Lludd and Llefelys
818:Englynion y Beddau
696:Manawydan fab Llŷr
689:Branwen ferch Llŷr
78:. Her husband was
41:
1558:
1557:
1001:Elffin ap Gwyddno
839:
838:
723:Culhwch and Olwen
703:Math fab Mathonwy
368:Threefold Goddess
299:Elffin ap Gwyddno
145:variously gives ‘
1583:
1462:Cantre'r Gwaelod
1071:Gwyddno Garanhir
751:Geraint and Enid
666:
643:Celtic mythology
636:
629:
622:
613:
606:
605:
603:
602:
593:. Archived from
587:
581:
574:
568:
561:
555:
548:
542:
535:
529:
522:
516:
509:
503:
496:Ystoria Taliesin
494:Patrick K. Ford
492:
486:
481:Marged Haycock,
479:
473:
466:
460:
457:Cyfoeth y Testun
453:
447:
446:, (Dublin, 1964)
440:
434:
428:
422:
419:Cyfoeth y Testun
415:
340:Book of Taliesin
332:
322:
315:Tale of Taliesin
243:Book of Taliesin
226:
220:
214:
208:
202:
196:
190:
184:
178:
172:
162:
156:
150:
140:
130:
91:
66:
65:
64:
58:
53:
1593:
1592:
1586:
1585:
1584:
1582:
1581:
1580:
1571:Welsh mythology
1561:
1560:
1559:
1554:
1517:
1430:
1401:Llamhigyn y Dŵr
1309:Adar Llwch Gwin
1301:
1295:
981:Dywel fab Erbin
916:Caradog ap Bran
835:
777:
730:Preiddeu Annwfn
708:
662:Texts and tales
657:
654:Welsh mythology
646:
640:
610:
609:
600:
598:
589:
588:
584:
576:Ronald Hutton,
575:
571:
562:
558:
549:
545:
536:
532:
523:
519:
511:Ronald Hutton,
510:
506:
493:
489:
480:
476:
470:Chwedl Taliesin
467:
463:
454:
450:
442:D. Simon Evans
441:
437:
433:, (CMCS, 2007),
429:
425:
416:
412:
407:
380:
311:
252:
235:of the gift of
118:
61:
60:
59:
51:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1591:
1590:
1587:
1579:
1578:
1573:
1563:
1562:
1556:
1555:
1553:
1552:
1547:
1542:
1537:
1531:
1529:Cross of Neith
1525:
1523:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1515:
1505:
1500:
1478:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1444:
1438:
1436:
1432:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1386:Gwragedd Annwn
1383:
1382:
1381:
1376:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1319:Aderyn y Corff
1316:
1311:
1305:
1303:
1297:
1296:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1161:Madoc ap Uthyr
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1121:Iddog ap Mynio
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
847:
845:
841:
840:
837:
836:
834:
833:
826:
821:
814:
807:
800:
793:
785:
783:
779:
778:
776:
775:
768:
761:
754:
747:
740:
733:
726:
718:
716:
710:
709:
707:
706:
699:
692:
685:
677:
675:
663:
659:
658:
651:
648:
647:
641:
639:
638:
631:
624:
616:
608:
607:
582:
569:
556:
543:
530:
517:
504:
487:
474:
468:Ifor Williams
461:
448:
435:
423:
409:
408:
406:
403:
402:
401:
395:
390:
379:
376:
310:
307:
251:
248:
117:
114:
110:Celtic goddess
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1589:
1588:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1551:
1548:
1546:
1543:
1541:
1538:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1520:
1513:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1498:
1494:
1490:
1486:
1482:
1479:
1476:
1472:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1452:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1439:
1437:
1433:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1411:Plentyn Newid
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1371:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1314:Adar Rhiannon
1312:
1310:
1307:
1306:
1304:
1298:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1166:Macsen Wledig
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:Hueil mab Caw
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
986:Edern ap Nudd
984:
982:
979:
977:
976:Dylan ail Don
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
901:Bendigeidfran
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
848:
846:
842:
832:
831:
827:
825:
822:
820:
819:
815:
813:
812:
808:
806:
805:
801:
799:
798:
794:
792:
791:
787:
786:
784:
780:
774:
773:
769:
767:
766:
762:
760:
759:
755:
753:
752:
748:
746:
745:
741:
739:
738:
734:
732:
731:
727:
725:
724:
720:
719:
717:
715:
711:
705:
704:
700:
698:
697:
693:
691:
690:
686:
684:
683:
679:
678:
676:
674:
673:
667:
664:
660:
656:
655:
649:
644:
637:
632:
630:
625:
623:
618:
617:
614:
597:on 2009-02-11
596:
592:
586:
583:
579:
573:
570:
566:
560:
557:
553:
547:
544:
540:
534:
531:
527:
521:
518:
514:
508:
505:
501:
497:
491:
488:
484:
478:
475:
471:
465:
462:
458:
452:
449:
445:
439:
436:
432:
427:
424:
420:
414:
411:
404:
399:
396:
394:
391:
389:
385:
382:
381:
377:
375:
373:
369:
365:
364:Robert Graves
361:
357:
353:
349:
344:
342:
341:
336:
335:pair Ceridwen
331:
326:
321:
316:
308:
306:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
279:
277:
273:
269:
265:
262:(also called
261:
257:
256:Elis Gruffydd
249:
247:
245:
244:
238:
233:
228:
225:
219:
213:
207:
201:
195:
189:
183:
177:
171:
166:
161:
155:
149:
144:
139:
134:
129:
124:
115:
113:
111:
107:
106:modern pagans
103:
99:
95:
90:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
63:
57:
49:
45:
38:
34:
33:
28:
22:
1536:(Caledfwlch)
1421:Twrch Trwyth
1329:Brenin Llwyd
1256:Saint Cyllin
1081:Gwyn ap Nudd
951:Cyledr Wyllt
925:
828:
816:
809:
804:Welsh Triads
802:
795:
788:
770:
763:
756:
749:
742:
735:
728:
721:
701:
694:
687:
680:
671:
652:
599:. Retrieved
595:the original
585:
577:
572:
564:
559:
551:
546:
538:
533:
525:
520:
512:
507:
499:
495:
490:
485:(CMCS, 2007)
482:
477:
469:
464:
456:
451:
443:
438:
430:
426:
418:
413:
384:Finn MacCool
351:
345:
338:
334:
314:
312:
280:
253:
240:
229:
164:
142:
132:
122:
119:
67:
47:
43:
42:
31:
30:
1497:Caer Dathyl
1426:Tylwyth Teg
1300:Animals and
1261:Saint Eigen
1171:Mallt-y-Nos
824:Giant tales
550:John Rhys,
330:Gogynfeirdd
320:Gogynfeirdd
92:) in north
1565:Categories
1545:Llech Ronw
1339:Ceffyl Dŵr
1291:Ysbaddaden
1281:Tegid Foel
1231:Penpingion
1051:Gronw Pebr
1026:Gilfaethwy
936:Creiddylad
921:Caswallawn
891:Blodeuwedd
844:Characters
797:Cad Goddeu
601:2008-03-14
405:References
360:Max Müller
283:Gwion Bach
133:Peniarth 3
89:Llyn Tegid
80:Tegid Foel
68:Ke-RID-wen
52:pronounced
1534:Excalibur
1485:Aberffraw
1457:Caer Sidi
1435:Locations
1364:Cyhyraeth
1359:Cŵn Annwn
1354:Coraniaid
1302:creatures
1271:Seithenyn
1226:Penarddun
1186:Matholwch
1176:Manawydan
1091:Gwalchmei
1016:Euroswydd
946:Cyhyraeth
881:Beli Mawr
866:Arianrhod
714:Arthurian
393:Fáfnismál
356:John Rhys
194:Cyrridfen
163:’, while
160:Kerritwen
154:Kerrituen
138:Kyrrytuen
128:Kyrridven
116:Etymology
84:Bala Lake
48:Cerridwen
1451:Celliwig
1447:Cornwall
1396:Gwyllion
1369:Dreigiau
1276:Taliesin
1251:Rhiannon
1131:Llefelys
1111:Hychddwn
1041:Gofannon
991:Efnysien
926:Ceridwen
886:Bleiddwn
876:Afallach
856:Amaethon
790:Taliesin
672:Mabinogi
378:See also
303:Taliesin
295:Aberdyfi
188:Ceridwen
170:Kerituen
148:Cerituen
102:Taliesin
44:Ceridwen
39:, (1910)
32:Ceridwen
1512:Ludgate
1503:Ireland
1493:Ardudwy
1481:Gwynedd
1471:Arberth
1406:Morgens
1391:Gwyllgi
1286:Teyrnon
1266:Sanddef
1241:Pryderi
1236:Peredur
1211:Myrddin
1206:Morfran
1201:Morfydd
1101:Hefeydd
1086:Gwythyr
1076:Gwydion
1021:Geraint
1006:Eliwlod
971:Drudwas
941:Culhwch
906:Branwen
291:coracle
287:goddess
268:Creirwy
264:Afagddu
260:Morfran
167:gives ‘
157:’ and ‘
135:gives ‘
125:gives ‘
121:forms.
108:as the
76:Creirwy
1508:London
1475:Gwales
1349:Coblyn
1216:Nisien
1196:Modron
1116:Hyddwn
1096:Hafgan
1066:Gwrhyr
1036:Goewin
1011:Eufydd
896:Bedwyr
871:Arthur
737:Pa gur
645:series
272:potion
250:Legend
1522:Items
1489:Arfon
1467:Dyfed
1442:Annwn
1379:White
1344:Cewri
1324:Afanc
1246:Pwyll
1221:Olwen
1156:Mabon
1151:Llwyd
1146:Lludd
1126:Idris
1061:Gwern
1056:Gwawl
961:Cynon
931:Cigfa
861:Arawn
782:Other
372:Wicca
224:credu
218:craid
212:crynu
94:Wales
1416:Pwca
1191:Menw
1181:Math
1141:Llŷr
1136:Lleu
996:Elen
276:Awen
241:The
237:awen
232:awen
200:cwrr
151:’, ‘
98:Awen
1374:Red
966:Dôn
911:Cai
206:ben
182:wen
176:ben
141:’,
131:’.
46:or
35:by
1567::
1495:,
1491:,
1487:,
1473:,
343:.
305:.
278:.
246:.
1514:)
1510:(
1499:)
1483:(
1477:)
1469:(
1453:)
1449:(
635:e
628:t
621:v
604:.
86:(
50:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
