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Annwn
May 1, 2006 2:27:10 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on May 1, 2006 2:27:10 GMT -5
Annwn (Annwfn) to the Welsh Celts was the land to "the far west" the land under the waves, it was the home of the ever hidden ones the fair folk. This realm is ruled first by Arawn, then much later by Gwyn ap Nudd son of Nodons. There are various entry points into Annwn, namely Lundy Island and Glastonbury Tor. There is a legend of an itenerant Welsh saint named Collen entering Gwyn's palace within the Tor in order to banish him by sprinkling holy water around. Contained within the alleged Book of Taleisin is "The Spoils of Annwn," an obscure, inauthentic Welsh poem dating from perhaps the tenth century. It is the tale of a raid on the part of Arthur and his knights through the underworld, questing for a magical, talismanic cauldron in the custody of nine maidens. Only seven survive this perilous expedition. Due to the pagan substance of the poem, it has been claimed to be a foreshadowing of later Grail Quests.The number nine relates to real groups of nine priestesses in pre-Christian, Celtic society. Geoffrey of Monmouth tells of a sisterhood of nine led by Morgan le Fay in his poetic Vita Merlini. The coven was located on the Isle of Apples, or Avalon, another otherworld sometimes identified with Annwn. www.pantheon.org/articles/a/annwn.htmlWith a few things added.
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Annwn
May 1, 2006 3:47:38 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on May 1, 2006 3:47:38 GMT -5
According to my understandings, the leader of the nine maidens spoken of in the article was Morgan le Fay, King Aurther's sister. It was she and her maidens who breathed upon the cauldron of re-birth in Annwn, Morgan le Fay is one of many who would change her shape into birds which may actually represent sky deities who symbolize the easy movement between the worlds. It is during Samhain in Welsh mythologies that the hounds of Annwn (Cwn Annwen), and the riders are there to collect the souls who had did in the previous year and take them through the gates of the other world, the un or non-world.
The cauldron of Annwn is said to never feed a coward, liar, or oath breaker. Taliesin describes the visions of Aurthur and his men's terrible encounters in Preiddeu Annwn "The spoils of Annwn" (which may or may not be the proper name for the story).
Complete is the prison of Gwair in Caer Sidi... A heavy blue chain holds the youth, And for the spoils bitterly he sings, And until the last days shall he continue his lay. Thrice the fullness of Pyrdwen we went into it; Except seven, none returned from Caer Sidi.
In Caer Pedryvan forever revolving, The first word from the cauldron, when was it spoken? By the breath of nine maidens gently it was heated; Is it not the cauldron of the Lord of Annwn in it's fashion, With a ridge around the ridge of pearls? It will not boil the food of a coward or of one forsworn... And before the portals of the cold place the horns of light will be burning. And we went with Arthur in his splendid labors, except seven none returned from Caer Vediwed.
Three times twenty hundred men stood on the wall of Caer Wydr. It was difficult to converse with their sentinel. Three times the fullness of Prydwen, we went with Arthur, Except seven none returned from Caer Colur.
-Preiddeu Annwen from the book of Taliesin.
Caer Sidi would be the Faery Castle of Arianrhod. Gwair is a god like youthful prisoner there. Many many Bards and Druids would seek this sort of confinement and initiation to become master magicians and poets. The heavy blue chain would represent water and Prydwen the ship of King Arthur. Caer Pedryvan (four cornered), Caer Vediwed (dizziness), Caer Colur and Caer Wydr (glass) are all synonymous with Caer Sidi, or the Spiral castle of Arianrhod. The journey to me describes one taken to seek the treasures of self, they are seeking the gifts of poetic speech, prophecy, wisdom, bounty, and the promise of life after death...The promise of Annwn, as a Welsh verse, they are likely seeking the Cauldron of Kerridwen.
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Annwn
May 1, 2006 4:47:10 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on May 1, 2006 4:47:10 GMT -5
When the article btw says unauthentic, and obscure, I actually think they're referring to the translation of the title. I have however heard people make the claim the book of Taliesin is a phony...Though they never seem to have any proof, not that I waste my time debating them. The article is actually rather full of it. The actual centuries the book was scribed would be the 6th (the time of Taliesin) and the 13th centuries as I understand it. Do I believe we have unaltered version of Taliesin's work...No, I believe it is as Christianized as many of the Irish texts. However the fact of the matter is that in the times when the Christian "invasions" were taking place the Bards and Druids were taking their places as priests and holy men just as their ancestors had, and it was they who were recording the old oral traditions on paper. Personally I was a little put off by the article.
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Annwn
Jul 9, 2006 19:06:06 GMT -5
Post by wren on Jul 9, 2006 19:06:06 GMT -5
In the Book of Taliesin, an esoteric poem called Preiddeu Annwfn (conventionally translated The Spoils of Annwn) on its face tells a tale of Arthur and his knights traveling through Annwn, searching for a magical cauldron possessed by nine women. Only seven come back from the journey. It may be a precursor of later Holy Grail stories involving King Arthur and his knights. The nine maidens related to actual groups of nine priestesses in ancient Celtic society. Geoffrey of Monmouth told stories of Morgan le Fay and eight other priestesses in his poem, Vita Merlini, who lived on the Isle of Apples or Avalon. Avalon, as an otherworld island, is often identified with Annwn.
Scholars say the spelling in the text of the poem is 10th century. But Welsh poetry was for centuries transmitted orally by bards and it is possible that the poem in its original form dates back to the 6th century, when Taliesin is supposed to have lived. - Wikipedia
Even Wikipedia seems to have done a better job with this. I like 'esoteric' much better than 'alleged.'
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Annwn
Jul 11, 2006 2:38:56 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Jul 11, 2006 2:38:56 GMT -5
In the Book of Taliesin, an esoteric poem called Preiddeu Annwfn (conventionally translated The Spoils of Annwn) on its face tells a tale of Arthur and his knights traveling through Annwn, searching for a magical cauldron possessed by nine women. Only seven come back from the journey. It may be a precursor of later Holy Grail stories involving King Arthur and his knights. The nine maidens related to actual groups of nine priestesses in ancient Celtic society. Geoffrey of Monmouth told stories of Morgan le Fay and eight other priestesses in his poem, Vita Merlini, who lived on the Isle of Apples or Avalon. Avalon, as an otherworld island, is often identified with Annwn.
Scholars say the spelling in the text of the poem is 10th century. But Welsh poetry was for centuries transmitted orally by bards and it is possible that the poem in its original form dates back to the 6th century, when Taliesin is supposed to have lived. - Wikipedia Even Wikipedia seems to have done a better job with this. I like 'esoteric' much better than 'alleged.' You'll have to forgive this thread, I'm not a costumed to turning on my sources like this. My specialties aren't really in the Welsh, though I must admit I have found my thus far shallow study on the topic intriguing.
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Annwn
Jul 11, 2006 11:13:36 GMT -5
Post by wren on Jul 11, 2006 11:13:36 GMT -5
Well, shouldn't we question everything, after all? There is so much presented as fact with regard to the lore which is only interpretation. No reason your interpretation shouldn't be considered as well.
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shaamansu
Seeker
We walk our paths softly in light and beauty.
Posts: 49
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Annwn
Aug 2, 2006 22:42:28 GMT -5
Post by shaamansu on Aug 2, 2006 22:42:28 GMT -5
It is all interesting. I am rather woefully ignorant too...even though I have a strong Welsh heritage. I feel like I am playing catchup sometimes...but we can all learn together.
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Annwn
Aug 3, 2006 11:34:20 GMT -5
Post by wren on Aug 3, 2006 11:34:20 GMT -5
I know just how you feel, Shaamansu. And, yet, I've learned so much already. Enough to know there is so much more out there to learn.
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Annwn
Aug 3, 2006 11:34:28 GMT -5
Post by Senbecc on Aug 3, 2006 11:34:28 GMT -5
It is all interesting. I am rather woefully ignorant too...even though I have a strong Welsh heritage. I feel like I am playing catchup sometimes...but we can all learn together. That is why we gather here, to endeavor to learn and grow amongst one another as a community. I will be postin more on the Welsh and Picts as time permits. Senbecc
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