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Welsh Deities - being updated

A place to read up on the associations with the many deities we come across.

Moderators: Lynx, Branwen, Dethas

Welsh Deities - being updated

Postby Branwen on Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:21 am

Adraste (Andraste)-
Adraste (The Invincible One) is a Moon Goddess of War and Victory. She can be connected with the hare and also with divination.
It is believed that Boudicca invoked the deity native to her Iceni tribe, Andraste before a battle with the Romans.
In addition to this the Hare is described as sacred to Andraste as Boudicca released a hare, possibly seeking an omen for the battle.
Sacred animals - Raven and the Hare.
Weapon - Being a war Goddess, the sword.
Associated Tarot trump - Death.
Colour - Red.


Adsagsona -
An Underworld Goddess of magic. She can be invoked as 'Weaver of Spells' and 'She Who Seeks Out'.
Believed to also be a Gaulish Goddess. She appears in an inscription found in 1983 - TIGONTIAS SO ADSAGSONA SEUE. One interpretation of this is 'O Adsagsona, look twice at Severa Tertionicna, their sorceress of string and of writing'.

Aerfen (Aerten)-
'Firm in battle'. A river Goddess, also Goddess of fate. Her symbol is a double headed axe. Often equated with the Greek Fates.
She is linked to the river Dee and it is said that to ensure a victorius outcome of battle, three sacrifices must be drowned in the Dee near her shrine at Glyndyfrdwy.

Afagddu -
'Utter darkness'. Known as the ugliest man in the world. The son of Tegid Foel and Ceridwen, brother of Morfan (although in the Book of Taliesin Afagddu and Morfanan are the same person). His sister, Creirwy was considered the most beautiful.
His mother Ceridwen tried to help by created a potion which must be constantly stirred. unfortunately the stirrer Gwion Bach accidentally spilt three drops of the potion on himself rendering the rest of the potion unuseable and Afagddu stuck with his affliction.

Amaethon -
'Great ploughman'. The God of Agriculture, he is the son of Don and brother to Gwydion. As a farmer God he is associated with husbandry and ploughing.
One of a few who can enter and leave Annwn without being hindered or changed. It was during one of these visits that Amaethon stole a dog, lapwing and roebuck, causing the Cad Goddeu - the Battle of the Trees.

Angharad -
Angharad, meaning 'Much Loved One' is the daughter of Meurig ap Dyfnwallon and the partner of Rhodri Mawi.
An Angharad also appears in the Mabinogion as the lover of Peredur.
Another Angharad (Ton Felen) makes an appearance in the Welsh Triads as the daughter of Rhydderch Hael (he appears as one of 'Three Generous Men of the Island of Britain'), and she herself appears as one of the 'Three Lively Maidens'.

Anlawdd Wledig -
Father of Goleuddyd and Eigr (Igraine, King Arthurs mother). He is also the grandfather of Culwch. Husband of Gwen.
Also father of Tywynwedd (the mother of several greats.)

Arawn (Arawyn, Arawyn) -
Arawn is the God of the Underworld Kingdom of the Dead, Annwfn.
He is also God of revenge, war and terror and also King of Hell.
In the Welsh Triads he is referred to as the son of Kynvarch.
He owns a magic cauldron named the Spoils of Annwfn.
He switched bodies with Pwyll for a year and a day while he took Pwylls place.
It was from Arawn that Amaethon stole the dog roebuck and lapwing, instigating the battle of the trees, which Arawn lost.

Ardwinna (Dea Arduinna) -
A Goddess of the wildwood, she demanded a tax for every animal killed in her wood. She rides on a wild boar.

Arianrhod -
Arianrhod (Silver Wheel) is the Goddess of beauty, magic, reincarnation and fertility. She can be seen as the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. She is the daughter of Beli and Don and is the most powerful of their children. She is mother to Dylan and Lleu Llaw Gyffes and sister of Gilfaethwy and Gwydion. She can be called the 'Keeper of the Circling Silverwheel' or the 'Oar Wheel of the Stars'.
The Aurora Borealis is named Caer Arianrhod in Welsh and is believed to be her palace.
Sometimes she is shown as a weaver.

Artio -
She is a bear Goddess often associated with geode stones. She is also a Goddess of fertility and wildlife.

Beli (Beli Mawr, Beli the Great, Belenos) -
He is a God of fire and the Sun, and also of purification, science, fertility and success. Beli, a God of Death, is claimed as an ancestor of several established royal lines in Wales. The consort of Don and father to Arianrhod and Caswallan. His daughter, or sister Penardun was the mother of Bran the Blessed.

Blodeuwedd (Blodwin, Blanceflor, Wlodwin) -
Meaning 'flower face', she was made from flowers and blossoms as a wife for Lleu Llaw Gyffes. She is a Goddess of the Earth in bloom, flowers and initiations. She was turned into an owl for adultery against Lleu with Gronw Pebyr. She is also associated with death and reincarnation.

Bran the Blessed (Benedigeidfran, Bendigedfran ap Llyr, Bran Fedigaid.) -
Son of the Sea God Llyr, Bran is the giant God of regeneration, prophesy, war, writing, leaders and music. He is brother to Branwen, Manawyddan, half brother to Efnisien and Nisien. Bran means 'raven'.
Call to Bran when a strong but kind hand is needed, or when seeking wisdom.
Sacred animal - Raven, crow
Sacred Tree - Alder
Sabbat - Samhain

Branwen -
Branwen (White Raven) is the Goddess of beautyand love. She is the daughter of Llyr, sister of Bran the Blessed and Manawyddan, half sister to Efnisien and Nisien. She is also the consort of Matholwch.
One of the three Matriarchs of Britain (the other two being Rhiannon and Arianrhod), she is sometimes called 'Venus of the Northern Star'.

Cerridwen (Caridwen) -
A Goddess of nature, the moon, fertility, regeneration, grain, herbs and knowledge. She is the mother of Morfan and Afagddu and partner of Tegid Foel)
She is the 'Keeper of the Cauldron (Amen)'.

Creiddylad (Cordellia) -
A daughter of the sea God Llyr she is the Goddess of summer flowers and love. She was originally a sea Queen.

Don (Donn) -
Ruling over the land of the dead, Don is the Goddess of the Heavens and Air. Also known as The Mother Of All Divinities. She also controls the elements. She is the mother of Gilfaethwy, Gwydion and Arianrhod.

Dylan (Dyonas) -
A sea God. The son of Arianrhod and Gwydion, brother to Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Sometimes known as Dylan Eil Ton, 'Dylans on of the waves'.

Elaine -
A maiden aspect of the Goddess.

Elen -
Known as Elen of the Hosts, she magically built highways for her soldiers.

Gilfaethwy -
Brother of Gywdion and Arianrhod. Son of Don. Also nephew of Math Mathonwy.

Gofannon (Govannon, Goidniu) -
A God of blacksmiths. His name is derived from the word for 'smith'. He made weapons for the Tuatha De Dannan and gave them invunerability.

Goleuddydd -
Meaning 'bright day', she was a welsh princess who went insane when she fell pregnant. She spent her pregnancy in the wildwood and regained sanity once she ahd given birth to her son, Culhwch. Also a sow Goddess.

Green Man (Ardduc, Atho, Horned God) -
In Welsh, Ardduc, meaning 'Dark One'. He is a God of trees and woodland.

Gronw Pebyr -
The lover of Blodeuwedd, killed by Llew Llaw Gyffes.

Gwydion (Gwyddion) -
The brother of Arianrhod and Gilfaethwy, son of Don and Math Mathonwy.
He is the God of illusion, sky, magic and changes. He brought pigs to mankind.

Gwynn Ap Nudd (Gwyn Ap Nuad) -
The King of the fairies and the underworld. He later became the King of Plant Annwn (subterranean fairies). The son of Llud (Nudd/Nuad), his name means 'white son of darkness'. Today he is sometimes thought of as the King of Tylwyth Teg, the fairies of Wales.

Gwyther (Gwether, Gwythur Ap Gwreidwl) -
Oppsite of Gwynn Ap Nudd, he is the King of the Upperworld.

Lleu Llaw Gyffes -
His name means 'The Bright One of the Skillful Hand'. The son of Arianrhod and brother to Dylan. Husband of Blodeuwedd.

Llyr (Lir, Lear) -
A sea God who had several wives including Penardun, Aife, Aebh and Iweriadd.He is father to Branwen, Bran the Blessed and Manawyddan.

Mabon (Maponus, Maponos) -
The son of Matrona. His name means 'Great Son'. Some regard him as the first God, carved out of the primeval void of the Divine womb.

Manawyddan (Manannan Mac Lir, Manannan Ap Llyr) -
The sea God is the son of Llyr and brother to Branwen and Bran the Blessed. He is the husband of Rhiannon. His swine were the food of the Tuatha De Dannan and kept them from ageing.

Margawse -
A Mother aspect of the Goddess.

Math Ap Mathonwy (Math vab Mathonwy, Mathu) -
The brother of Don. His name means 'money' or 'coin'. He is the God of magic enchantments and sorcery.

Mathonwy -
The father of Math Mathonwy and Don. He is referred to as a father God.

Matholwch -
Husband of Branwen and King of Ireland.

Matrona (Modron) -
'Divine Mother'. Mother of Mabon.

Midir the Proud (Mider, Midhir of Bri Leith) -
The son of Dagda and Boann, father of Don. An Underworld God of Bri Leith.

Morfan -
The son of Tegid Foel and Cerridwen and brother of Afagddu.

Nudd (Nodons, Llud) -
God of the oceans, fishing, the Sun and sailing.

Olwen -
Also known as 'TheSummer Sun', 'White Lady of the Sun' and 'The Flower-Bringing Gold Wheel of the Sun'. She is a Sun Goddess.

Pryderi -
Meaning 'Care' or 'Wisdom'.The sonof Pwyll and Rhiannon.

Pwyll (Pwyll Pen Annwn) -
Husband of Rhiannon and a God of the Underworld.

Rhiannon (Rigantona) -
An Underworld Goddess of birds, horses, fertility, death, joy and enchantments. She is the wife of Pwyll and later Manawyddan. She is mother to Pryderi. Her name means 'Great Queen'. See also October Deity of the Month.

Rosmerta -
A Goddess of prosperity.

Taliesin -
The reincarnation of Gwion Back and son of Cerridwen. He is the God of Poetry, wisdom, music, knowledge and Bards. He is the patron of Druids and a shape-shifter.

Tegid Foel -
Husband of Cerridwen and father of Morfan and Afagddu.

Teyrnon (Tigernonus, Ternan) -
Meaning 'Great/Divine Lord' he is the Lord of Gwent Is-Coed. He is associated with Beltane fertility rites.

White Lady -
Known in all Celtic countries, she is the crone form of the Goddess and A Dryad of the Death.


Sources:

http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/deities.html

http://www.scns.com/earthen/other/seana ... dcelt.html

http://fyre-is.tripod.com/id1.html

http://inanna.virtualave.net/celtic.html

http://www.paralumun.com/celticgoddess.htm

http://members.fortunecity.com/thedevil ... rsons.html
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Branwen
 
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