Rhiannon - Celtic goddess of the moon

Rhiannon, the Celtic goddess of the moon is a Welsh goddess.

Once upon a time, Pwyll was at Narberth where a great feast had been prepared for him and his men. After the meal Pwyll decided to go for a walk, and went to the top of a mount above the palace called Gorsedd Arberth. Pwll and his followers sat on the top of the mound talking and resting when he saw a lady riding along the road towards them.

The lady was dressed in pure white and gold, and rode a large white horse; she travelled at a slow pace. Pwyll asked all his men if they knew who the lady was, none knew who she was. Pwyll asked one of them to go and meet with her and ask her name. The servant rode out to meet with her but was unable to catch up with her, each time he drew close she would ride away, yet her horse never seemed to change pace. Eventually he stopped trying to catch up and returned to Pwyll saying it was impossible to catch up with her and he could not tell where she went.

They returned to the castle and feasted until the next day. The next day they returned to the mound with faster horses. The lady appeared in exactly the same way as before, riding towards the mound very slowly. Pwll asked another rider to catch her up to her and ask her name. The rider rode out, but was unable to catch up with the lady, his horse exhausted, he returned to Pwll. Disappointed they returned to the castle and feasted until dawn of the next day.

The next day Pwyll returned to the mound, again the lady appeared. Pwyll mounted his horse and rode out to meet her. As he approached the horse pulled away and he was unable to catch up with her. He called out for her to halt, which she did, advising him that she would have stopped if he had asked. She turned her horse to meet him, revealing her face; she fixed her eyes upon him and began to talk with him. Pwll asked her where she was from and where she was going, she said she was on her own errand and was glad to meet him. Pwll besotted with her beauty, asked her purpose in riding here, and she answered to find him.

She told him her name was Rhiannon and that she was betrothed to another man she did not care for. She told him of her love for him. Pwll announced his love for her and ask her to marry him now. Rhiannon asked if in a year’s time he would meet her at the palace of Heveydd, she told him she would prepare a feast and that they would marry. Pwll agreed and they parted wishing each other well.

A year passed slowly during which Pwll avoided answering any questions about the maiden he met on the mound. Pwll summoned his men and horses and rode out to the palace of Heveydd Hen, as they approached they saw a great hall adorned and prepared for the marriage. Later as they were sat in the great hall together talking and feasting a red haired man approached and asked for a favour. Pwll oblivious to what was going on advised the man that if it was in his power to grant the favour he would. The man asked for Rhiannon’s hand in marriage. Rhiannon upset with Pwll and his offering said he would have to honour his promise to Gwawl the son of Clud, a man of great power and wealth.

Rhiannon whispered to Pwll, handing him a small bag, "take this bag and keep it safe". Return in one year with this bag to the wedding feast prepared for Gwawl. She advised him to return with his men hidden in the orchard surrounding the hall and to enter the feast on his own. "Ask of Gwawl some food to fill this bag", she explained that the bag would never fill and that he should ask for a man of noble blood to place his feet into the bag so that it would be deemed full. "Once he is in the bag sound your horn and summon your men".

Rhiannon agreed to marry Gwawl in on year.

One year passed and Gwawl arrived at the palace of Heveydd Hen to marry Rhiannon, a great feast was prepared and Gwawl was received with rejoicing. Pwyll also arrived with one hundred men hidden in the orchard; he was dressed in rags and appeared as a beggar. He approached the feast and saluted Gwawl offering him his praise and good fortune, Gwawl ask if there was anything within reason he wanted and Pwll replied only a little food to fill this small bag. Gwawl granted his request and the servants started to fill the bag, however the more they tried to fill the bag the more empty it became. Gwawl was confused by this and arose, Pwyll suggested that the only way to fill the bag was for Gwawl to put his feet into it, this he did and Pwll pulled the bag over his head tied it with a slip not and summoned his men with the blowing of his horn.

Pwll threw off his rags and appeared to his men, who asked what was in the bag, a badger he replied. They asked what game he was playing on them; Pwll replied badger in the bag and they all struck the bag.

“Lord”, said the man in the bag, “please do not hurt me anymore, do not slay me.” Rhiannon said to Gwawl he should give up his claim to her and allow Pwyll and her to be married. Gwawl agreed and left the feast, Pwyll and Rhiannon feasted and that night went to their bed chamber. Early the next day Pwyll gave praise to all who attended the wedding feast and made plans to leave for Dyfed.

On the dawn of the next day they set off for Dyfed, on their arrival great celebrations were made and the people of Dyfed welcomed them into their hearts. Pwyll and Rhiannon ruled the land prosperously for both that year and the next.

In the third year the nobles and people of the land began to get concerned that Pwyll and Rhiannon had not produced an heir. At a meeting held at Preseleu in Dyfed they asked and advised Pwyll that they were happy for him and his wife but needed an heir, and suggested that Rhiannon may not be able to have children. Pwyll asked for a year to produce an heir and if after the year was out no heir was forthcoming he would seek a second wife.

Within a year Rhiannon gave birth to a son, born in Narberth, on the night of the birth six women were brought to look after the child whilst Rhiannon slept. Throughout the night each woman fell asleep and at dawn each was shocked to find the boy gone. In fear of what Pwyll would do to them when he found his son missing they made up a story that Rhiannon had devoured her son during the night. They killed pups from a stag-hound and smeared the blood on Rhiannon’s face and hands whilst she slept. In the morning Rhiannon awoke and asked for her son, the women complained that she had attacked them and devoured her son, bereft Rhiannon pleaded with the women but they held to their story and refused to listen to her pleas.

Pwyll the chief of Annwyn arose and was told of the happenings throughout the night. Pwyll was unwilling to have Rhiannon put to death and insisted she do penance for her crime, it was agreed that she sit near a horse block outside the castle in Narberth for seven years. She was made to tell the story to all that arrived at the palace and offer to carry guests and strangers into the palace on her back.

Around that time there was a great lord that had a beautiful mare and on the first day of May every year she foaled, but no one ever new what became of the colt. This year the lord awoke during the night and stayed with the mare until she foaled, outside there was a great deal of noise and a claw came through the window and grabbed the foal by the mane. The lord took his sword and cut off the claw saving the foal, he rushed outside to find on the floor an young newly born child wrapped in a mantle of satin. He picked up the boy and found him to be very strong for his age.

The lord and lady adopted the child and raised him as their own; they named the child Gwri Wallt Euryn, because his hair was a yellow as gold. The boy grew quickly and after only four years was able to take horses to water. The colt that was born of the beautiful mare was given to Gwri Wallt Euryn for him to ride when he was able.

It came to pass that the lord heard of the plight of Rhiannon and enquired as to what had happened, he listened to the story of Rhiannon and felt great sadness. As the child grew he began to resemble Pwyll the Chief of Annwyn and the lord realised the truth of what had happened. He spoke to his wife saying that Rhiannon should not suffer so that they could be happy, his wife agreed and they took the child to Narberth.

On arrival at the castle Rhiannon offered to carry them all in and told them of her punishment, they refused announcing who they were, they all walked into court and entered a feast prepared for Pwyll’s return from Dyfed. Pwyll rejoiced to see his son and the lord began to tell the tale of what had happened.

Rhiannon renamed her son Pryderi son of Pwyll Chief of Annwyn and time passed in great wealth and gladness. Years pass until the life of Pwyll the Chief of Annwyn came to an end and Pryderi ruled the seven Cantreves of Dyfed. Pryderi was loved by all and his kingdom grew, Pryderi married Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wallt Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of this Island.