70-616: Annwn , Annwfn , or Annwfyn ( [ˈanʊn] ; Annwvn , Annwyn , Annwyfn , Annwvyn , or Annwfyn ) is the Otherworld in Welsh mythology . Ruled by Arawn (or, in Arthurian literature, by Gwyn ap Nudd ), it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease was absent and food was ever-abundant. Middle Welsh sources suggest that the term was recognised as meaning "very deep" in medieval times. The appearance of
140-514: A "mottled ridged serpent, with a thousand souls, by their sins, tortured in the holds of its flesh". Gwydion , the Venedotian hero and magician successfully defeats Arawn's army, first by enchanting the trees to rise up and fight and then by guessing the name of the enemy hero Bran , thus winning the battle. Preiddeu Annwfn , an early medieval poem found in the Book of Taliesin , describes
210-467: A belief that the souls of the dead departed westwards over the sea with the setting sun, westward also being the direction in which the phantom island anglicised as Hy-Brasil was purported to be found. In Welsh mythology, the Otherworld is usually called Annwn or Annwfn . The Welsh tale of Branwen , daughter of Llyr ends with the survivors of the great battle feasting in the Otherworld, in
280-529: A bridge between the worlds of Brittonic Christian Latin literature and the Heroic Age court poets, allowing monastic scribes to cultivate vernacular poetry. In legend and medieval Welsh poetry, he is often referred to as Taliesin Ben Beirdd ("Taliesin, Chief of Bards" or chief of poets). He is mentioned as one of the five British poets of renown, along with Talhaearn Tad Awen ("Talhaearn Father of
350-612: A chief fairy, the Xana Mega , or the "Queen of Fairies", known as xacias in Galicia . The castro of Altamira is said to hide an enormous underground realm which is ruled by a royal couple, and whose entrance is found some place on the hill. Modern authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien , C. S. Lewis , and Jim Butcher have all drawn inspiration from various aspects of the Celtic Otherworld. In Tolkien's The Hobbit ,
420-514: A concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra in eight parts after the tale named "The Tale of Taliesin". The concerto was premiered in 2009 by Akademische Orchestervereinigung Göttingen , with the Norwegian saxophonist Ola Asdahl Rokkones as a soloist. The work has since been published at Éditions Billaudot, Paris and played by Mittelsächsische Philharmonie, The Saint-Petersburg Northern Synfonia Orchestra and Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic Orchestra,
490-429: A form antumnos on an ancient Gaulish curse tablet , which means an ('other') + tumnos ('world'), however, suggests that the original term may have been * ande-dubnos , a common Gallo-Brittonic word that literally meant "underworld". The pronunciation of Modern Welsh Annwn is [ˈanʊn] . In both Welsh and Irish mythologies , the Otherworld was believed to be located either on an island or underneath
560-482: A heavenly land beyond the sea or under the earth. The Otherworld is usually elusive, but various mythical heroes visit it either through chance or after being invited by one of its residents. They often reach it by entering ancient burial mounds or caves, or by going under water or across the western sea. Sometimes, they suddenly find themselves in the Otherworld with the appearance of a magic mist , supernatural beings or unusual animals. An otherworldly woman may invite
630-508: A lengthy appearance in Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles and Guy Gavriel Kay 's The Fionavar Tapestry . In Stephen R. Lawhead 's The Pendragon Cycle , he is most notable in the first book, eponymously named Taliesin , in which he is depicted as Merlin's father. In M. K. Hume 's King Arthur trilogy, he's depicted as Merlin's firstborn son. Gillian Bradshaw uses him as a stand-in for Merlin in her Arthurian trilogy. He
700-414: A magic mist descends upon him. He may find himself before an unusual palace and enter to find a warrior or a beautiful woman who makes him welcome. The woman may be the goddess Fand , the warrior may be Manannán mac Lir or Lugh , and after strange adventures the hero may return successfully. However, even when the mortal manages to return to his own time and place, he is forever changed by his contact with
770-511: A sort of shamanic figure . The poetry ascribed to him in this collection shows how he not only can channel other entities (such as the Awen ) in these poems, but that the authors of these poems can in turn channel Taliesin himself in creating the poems that they ascribe to him. This creates a collectivist, rather than individualistic, sense of identity; no human is simply one human, humans are part of nature (rather than opposed to it), and all things in
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#1732787880545840-467: A stag that Arawn's dogs had brought down. In recompense, Pwyll swaps places with Arawn for a year and defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan . Meanwhile, Arawn rules Dyfed. During this year, Pwyll does not sleep with Arawn's wife, earning himself gratitude from Arawn. On his return, Pwyll becomes known by the title Pen Annwn , "Head (or Ruler) of Annwn". The Gauls divided the universe into three parts: Albios ("heaven, white-world, upper-world"), Bitu ("world of
910-507: A voyage led by King Arthur to the numerous otherworldy kingdoms within Annwn, either to rescue the prisoner Gweir or to retrieve the cauldron of the Head of Annwn. The narrator of the poem is possibly intended to be Taliesin himself. One line can be interpreted as implying that he received his gift of poetry or speech from a magic cauldron , as Taliesin does in other texts, and Taliesin's name
980-539: A youth by Irish pirates while fishing at sea, he is said to have escaped by using a wooden buckler for a boat; he landed at the fishing weir of Elffin, one of the sons of Urien (all medieval Welsh sources, however, make Elffin the son of Gwyddno Garanhir). Urien made him Elffin's instructor, and gave Taliesin an estate. But once introduced to the court of the warrior-chief Taliesin became his foremost bard, followed him in his wars, and wrote of his victories. Modern Welsh poet John Davies of Denbighshire (1841–1894) took
1050-400: Is a surreal stealth/strategy game drawing on Welsh mythic motifs. Celtic Otherworld In Celtic mythology , the Otherworld is the realm of the deities and possibly also the dead. In Gaelic and Brittonic myth it is usually a supernatural realm of everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy. It is described either as a parallel world that exists alongside our own, or as
1120-642: Is also Inis Abhlach (Place of Apples, Isle of Apples in Old Irish) In Irish myth there is also Tech Duinn , where the souls of the dead gather. Stories also mention the Land under waves (can be sea or grass) and the Land of the Big Women. In Irish mythology, the Otherworld has various names. Names of the Otherworld, or places within it, include Tír nAill ("the other land"), Tír Tairngire ("land of promise/promised land"), Tír na nÓg ("land of
1190-648: Is also a central character in Moonheart , an urban fantasy novel by Charles de Lint , and appears as the chief bard of the Kingdom of Prydain in the children's novels of Lloyd Alexander which are based on the Welsh Mabinogion . The historical novel Radiant Brow – The Epic of Taliesin by H. Catherine Watling is based on "The Tale of Taliesin" and the poetry contained in The Book of Taliesin . In
1260-461: Is connected to a similar story in another work. The speaker relates how he journeyed with Arthur and three boatloads of men into Annwfn, but only seven returned. Annwfn is apparently referred to by several names, including "Mound Fortress," "Four-Peaked Fortress," and "Glass Fortress", though it is possible the poet intended these to be distinct places. Within the Mound Fort's walls Gweir, one of
1330-662: Is everlasting youth, beauty, health, abundance and joy, and where time moves differently. It is the dwelling place of the gods (the Tuatha Dé Danann ) as well as certain heroes and ancestors. It was probably similar to the Elysium of Greek mythology and both may have a shared origin in ancient Proto-Indo-European religion . The Otherworld is elusive, but various mythical heroes—such as Cúchulainn , Fionn and Bran —visit it either through chance or after being invited by one of its residents. In Irish myth and later folklore,
1400-545: Is famed as the author of Y Gododdin , a series of elegies to the men of the kingdom of Gododdin (now Lothian ) who died fighting the Angles at the Battle of Catraeth around 600. Taliesin's authorship of several odes to King Urien Rheged (died c. 550) is commonly accepted, and they mention The Eden Valley and an enemy leader, Fflamddwyn, identified as Ida or his son Theodric . The poems refer to victories of Urien at
1470-462: Is one of the deep realms of Faerie in October Daye , a 2012 urban fantasy series written by Seanan McGuire . British author Niel Bushnell 's novels Sorrowline and Timesmith feature an island called Annwn in the realm of Otherworld. Children's author Lloyd Alexander used the name "Annuvin", an Anglicized spelling of the variant Annwfyn , in his Chronicles of Prydain series. Annuvin
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#17327878805451540-415: Is revealed that Amaethon , nephew to Math , king of Gwynedd, stole a bitch , a lapwing and a roebuck from the Otherworld, leading to a war between the two peoples. The denizens of Annwn are depicted as bizarre and hellish creatures; these include a "wide-mawed" beast with a hundred heads and bearing a host beneath the root of its tongue and another under its neck, a hundred-clawed black-groined toad, and
1610-531: Is the domain of Arawn, who in these novels plays the role of a villainous dark lord . On the British rock band The Mechanisms' 2014 album High Noon Over Camelot , a space Western retelling of the Arthurian mythos, "Annwn" is the name given to the lower levels of the space station Fort Galfridian. One of the areas in the platform-adventure video game La-Mulana 2 is named Annwfn. Annwn: The Otherworld
1680-541: The Hanes Taliesin , he was originally known as Gwion Bach ap Gwreang . He was a servant of Cerridwen and was made to stir the Cauldron of Inspiration for one year to allow for Cerridwen to complete her potion of inspiration. The potion was initially intended for her son, Morfran , who although was considered frightfully ugly, she loved nonetheless, and felt that if he would not grow in beauty then he should have
1750-913: The Four Branches of the Mabinogi , a set of four interlinked mythological tales dating from the early medieval period. In the First Branch of the Mabinogi , entitled Pwyll , Prince of Dyfed , the eponymous prince offends Arawn, ruler of Annwn, by baiting his hunting hounds on a stag that Arawn's dogs had brought down. In recompense he exchanges places with Arawn for a year and defeats Arawn's enemy Hafgan , while Arawn rules in his stead in Dyfed. During this year, Pwyll abstains from sleeping with Arawn's wife, earning himself gratitude and eternal friendship from Arawn. On his return, Pwyll becomes known by
1820-592: The bardic name of Taliesin Hiraethog. The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright , whose mother, Anna Lloyd Jones, was born in Wales, named his Wisconsin home and studio Taliesin and his home and studio near Scottsdale, Arizona Taliesin West . Susan Kare , the typographer and graphic designer who developed the first set of fonts for the early Macintosh , created a dingbat font called Taliesin that shipped with
1890-451: The demons lest "this world be destroyed." Tradition revolves around Gwyn leading his spectral hunts , the Cŵn Annwn ("Hounds of Annwn"), on his hunt for mortal souls. Angelika Rüdiger's Doctoral Thesis, 'Y Tylwyth Teg: an analysis of a literary motif' (Bangor University, 2021) is a detailed study of supernatural characters connected with Annwn (including Gwyn ap Nudd), covering a period from
1960-531: The "Three Exalted Prisoners of Britain" known from the Welsh Triads , is imprisoned in chains. The narrator then describes the cauldron of the Chief of Annwn: it is finished with pearl and will not boil a coward's food. Whatever tragedy ultimately killed all but seven of them is not clearly explained. The poem continues with an excoriation of "little men" and monks, who lack various forms of knowledge possessed by
2030-479: The 16th century). In the mid-16th-century, Elis Gruffydd recorded a legendary account of Taliesin that resembles the story of the boyhood of the Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhail and the salmon of wisdom in some respects. The tale was also recorded in a slightly different version by John Jones of Gellilyfdy (c. 1607). This story agrees in many respects with fragmentary accounts in the Book of Taliesin . According to
2100-559: The Blessed in this era, by which time he was clearly perceived as a legendary figure who existed in many different times. A manuscript in the hand of 18th-century literary forger Iolo Morganwg claimed he was the son of Saint Henwg of Llanhennock ; but this is contrary to other tradition. In it he is said to have been educated in the school of Catwg, at Llanfeithin, in Glamorgan , which the historian Gildas also attended. Captured as
2170-616: The King . He is a character in Thomas Love Peacock 's satirical romantic 1829 novel The Misfortunes of Elphin where he is discovered as a baby floating in a coracle by Elphin (Elfin) who is fishing. In the 1951 novel Porius , by John Cowper Powys , he is depicted as a politically astute court bard who is accomplished in both cookery and poetry. He also makes an appearance in a number of works of modern commercial fiction that blend history and Arthurian legend, including quite
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2240-533: The Muse"), Aneirin , Blwchfardd, and Cian Gwenith Gwawd ("Cian Wheat of Song"), in the Historia Brittonum , and is also mentioned in the collection of poems known as Y Gododdin . Taliesin was highly regarded in the mid-12th century as the supposed author of a great number of romantic legends. According to legend Taliesin was adopted as a child by Elffin , the son of Gwyddno Garanhir , and prophesied
2310-584: The Otherworld. The Otherworld was also seen as a source of authority. In the tale Baile in Scáil ("the phantom's ecstatic vision"), Conn of the Hundred Battles visits an Otherworld hall, where the god Lugh legitimizes his kingship and that of his successors. In Irish myth there is another otherworldly realm called Tech Duinn ("House of Donn" or "House of the Dark One"). It was believed that
2380-453: The Saxon genealogies appended to four manuscripts of the Historia Brittonum from 828AD. The writer names five poets, among them Taliesin, who lived in the time of Ida of Bernicia (fl. mid-6th century) and a British chieftain, (O)utigirn ( Modern Welsh Eudeyrn). This information is considered fairly credible, since he is also mentioned by Aneirin , another of the five mentioned poets, who
2450-622: The Sidhe (inspired by the Aos Sí ) and Tuatha Dé Danann . Taliesin Taliesin ( / ˌ t æ l ˈ j ɛ s ɪ n / tal- YES -in , Welsh: [talˈjɛsɪn] ; fl. 6th century AD) was an early Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin . Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at
2520-643: The Summer Stars , Taliesin is the central character, Arthur's bard and Captain of Horse, and the head of a companionship dedicated to Christian Charity in Camelot. He is character in Traci Harding 's Chosen series starting with The Ancient Future Trilogy where he is an immortal time traveler trying to help the human soul mind evolution advance. The Norwegian classical composer Martin Romberg wrote
2590-487: The ancient Gauls. He said it was thought that the land of the dead lay west of Great Britain. The Continental Celtic myths told that once the souls of the dead had left their bodies, they traveled to the northwest coast of Gaul and took a boat toward Britain. When they crossed the Channel , the souls went to the homes of the fishermen, and knocked desperately at their doors. The fishermen then went out of their houses and led
2660-544: The battles of Argoed Llwyfain, The Ford of Clyde and Gwen Ystrad . Taliesin also sang in praise of Cynan Garwyn , king of Powys . Cynan's predecessor, Brochwel Ysgithrog , is also mentioned in later poems. According to legends that first appear in the Book of Taliesin , Taliesin's early patron was Elffin ap Gwyddno , son of Gwyddno Garanhir , who was a lord of a lost land in Cardigan Bay called Cantre'r Gwaelod . Taliesin defended Elffin and satirised his enemy,
2730-577: The cosmos can ultimately be seen to be connected through the creative spirit of the Awen. The idea that he was a bard at the court of King Arthur dates back at least to the tale of Culhwch and Olwen , perhaps a product of the 11th century. It is elaborated upon in modern English poetry, such as Tennyson 's Idylls of the King and Charles Williams ' Taliessin Through Logres . But the historical Taliesin's career can be shown to have fallen in
2800-535: The courts of at least three kings. In 1960, Ifor Williams identified eleven of the medieval poems ascribed to Taliesin as possibly originating as early as the sixth century, and so possibly being composed by a historical Taliesin. The bulk of this work praises King Urien of Rheged and his son Owain mab Urien , although several of the poems indicate that Taliesin also served as court bard to King Brochfael Ysgithrog of Powys and his successor Cynan Garwyn , either before or during his time at Urien's court. Some of
2870-496: The death of Maelgwn Gwynedd from the Yellow Plague . In later stories he became a mythic hero, companion of Bran the Blessed and King Arthur . His legendary biography is found in several late renderings (see below), the earliest surviving narrative being found in a manuscript chronicle of world history written by Elis Gruffydd in the 16th century. Details of Taliesin's life are sparse. The first mention of him occurs in
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2940-651: The earliest sources to the 19th and 20th centuries. J. R. R. Tolkien used the word annún in his Middle-earth mythology as a term in the Elvish language Sindarin (phonologically inspired by Welsh ) meaning "west" or "sunset" (cognate with the Quenya Andúnë ), often referring figuratively to the "True West", i.e. the blessed land of Aman beyond the Sea, the Lonely Island Tol Eressëa , or (in
3010-699: The earth. In the First Branch of the Mabinogi , it is implied that Annwn is a land within Dyfed , while the context of the Arthurian poem Preiddeu Annwfn suggests an island location. Two other otherworldly feasts that occur in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi are located in Harlech in northwest Wales and on Ynys Gwales in southwest Pembrokeshire . Annwn plays a reasonably prominent role in
3080-533: The events to which the poems refer, such as the Battle of Arfderydd ( c. 573 ), are referred to in other sources. John T. Koch argues that the description of Easter in the praise poem Yspeil Taliesin ('The Spoils of Taliesin') indicates that Urien and Taliesin were Christians who adhered to the Latin rather than the Insular observance of Easter. He also suggests that the figure of Taliesin served as
3150-435: The festivals of Samhain and Beltane (Bealtaine) are liminal times, when contact with the Otherworld was more likely. In the tales, the Otherworld is often reached by entering ancient burial mounds, such as those at Brú na Bóinne and Cnoc Meadha . These were known as sídhe ("Otherworld dwellings") and were the dwellings of the gods, later called the aos sí or daoine sí ("Otherworld folk"). Irish mythology says
3220-537: The gift of the Awen to compensate. Upon completion of this potion, three drops sprang out and landed upon Gwion Bach's thumb. Gwion then placed his thumb in his mouth to soothe his burns resulting in Gwion's enlightenment. Out of fear of what Cerridwen would do to him, Gwion fled and eventually transformed into a piece of grain before being consumed by Cerridwen. However, this resulted in Cerridwen becoming impregnated with
3290-547: The gods retreated into the sídhe when the Gaels ( Milesians ) took Ireland from them. In some tales, the Otherworld is reached by going under the waters of pools, lakes, or the sea, or else by crossing the western sea. In Irish Immrama ("voyage") tales, a beautiful young Otherworld woman often approaches the hero and sings to him of this happy land. Sometimes she offers him an apple, or the promise of her love in exchange for his help in battle. He follows her, and they journey over
3360-471: The hero into the Otherworld by offering an apple or a silver apple branch , or a ball of thread to follow as it unwinds. The Otherworld is usually called Annwn in Welsh mythology and Avalon in Arthurian legend . In Irish mythology it has several names, including Tír na nÓg , Mag Mell (or Magh Meall = Plain of Honey) and Emain Ablach . Ynis Avalach is the original of Avalon. Emain Ablach
3430-456: The inspiration is seen when the narrative ventures into the otherworldly elven realm of the Mirkwood . In Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia , there exists a magical land called Narnia populated by magical beings, talking animals, and other supernatural elements. In Butcher's The Dresden Files , most supernatural beings come from another plane of existence called the "Nevernever," including
3500-546: The last half of the 6th century, while historians who argue for Arthur's existence date his victory at Mons Badonicus in the years on either side of AD 500; the Annales Cambriae offer the date of c. 539 for his death or disappearance in the Battle of Camlann , only a few years earlier than the date of 542 found in the Historia Regum Britanniae . Taliesin also appears as a companion of Bran
3570-416: The later mannish usage) to the drowned island of Númenor . This is an example of Tolkien's method of world-building by "explaining the true meaning" of various real-world words by assigning them an alternative "Elvish" etymology. The Sindarin word for 'king', aran is also similar to Arawn , the king of Annwn . The Anglo-Welsh author, poet, critic and playwright, David Jones Annwn (born 1953) adopted
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#17327878805453640-469: The living beings"), and Dubnos ("hell, lower-world, black-world"). According to Lucan , the Gaulish druids believed that the soul went to an Otherworld, which he calls by the Latin name Orbis alius , before being reincarnated . Greco-Roman geographers tell us about Celtic belief in islands consecrated to gods and heroes. Among them were Anglesey ( Môn ), off the north coast of Wales, which
3710-629: The name Annwn in 1975 in the same spirit that his great-uncle, the Welsh bard Henry Lloyd (ap Hefin) [ cy ] , had adopted the name Ap Hefin ("Son of the Summer Solstice"). Annwn is the name of a German medieval and pagan folk duo from North Rhine-Westphalia . The name was also previously used by an unrelated Celtic Rock trio in Berkeley, California , from 1991 until the death of lead singer Leigh Ann Hussey on 16 May 2006. Annwn
3780-423: The poet. Over time, the role of king of Annwn was transferred to Gwyn ap Nudd , a hunter and psychopomp , who may have been the Welsh personification of winter. The Christian Vita Collen tells of Saint Collen vanquishing Gwyn and his otherworldly court from Glastonbury Tor with the use of holy water . In Culhwch and Olwen , an early Welsh Arthurian tale, it is said that God gave Gwyn ap Nudd control over
3850-517: The powerful Maelgwn Gwynedd , shortly before the latter died (probably in 547 CE). The Latin-Breton Life of Iudic-hael refers to Taliesin visiting the monastery of Gildas at Rhuys in Brittany . According to the Welsh Triads , Taliesin had a son, Afaon , who was accounted a great warrior, and who suffered a violent death, probably in Lothian. Taliesin's grave is held in folklore to be near
3920-415: The presence of the severed head of Bran the Blessed , having forgotten all their suffering and sorrow, and having become unaware of the passage of time. Annwn is ruled by the Otherworld kings Arawn and Gwyn ap Nudd . In the First Branch of the Welsh tales known as the Mabinogi , entitled Pwyll , Prince of Dyfed , the eponymous prince offends Arawn, ruler of Annwn, by baiting his hunting hounds on
3990-468: The sea together and are seen no more. Their journey may be in a boat of glass, in a chariot, or on horseback (usually on a white horse, as in the case of the goddess Niamh of the Golden Hair). Sometimes the hero returns after what he believes is a short time, only to find that all his companions are dead and he has actually been away for hundreds of years. Sometimes the hero sets out on a quest, and
4060-471: The seed and upon giving birth, she could not bring herself to kill the baby Gwion. She instead cast him into the ocean in a large leather bag, where he was found by Elffin , who named him Taliesin. According to these texts Taliesin was the foster-son of Elffin ap Gwyddno , who gave him the name Taliesin, meaning "radiant brow", and who later became a king in Ceredigion , Wales. The legend states that he
4130-399: The souls of the dead travelled to Tech Duinn ; perhaps to remain there forever, or perhaps before reaching their final destination in the Otherworld, or before being reincarnated. Donn is portrayed as a god of the dead and ancestor of the Gaels. Tech Duinn is commonly identified with Bull Rock , an islet off the west coast of Ireland which resembles a portal tomb . In Ireland there was
4200-569: The souls to their destination in ghostly ships. There are still remains of those beliefs in the folklore of Brittany , where the name Bag an Noz is used to denote those ships who carry the dead to their goal: Anatole Le Braz describes in his book La légende de la mort chez les Bretons armoricains the existence of souls' processions which make their way toward coastal places like Laoual, to start their last travel from there. In Asturian mythology, there are many stories which describe human encounters with xanas , fairies which are dancing around
4270-470: The title Penn Annwn , "Head (or Ruler) of Annwn." In the Fourth Branch , Arawn is mentioned but does not appear; it is revealed that he sent a gift of otherworldly pigs to Pwyll's son and successor, Pryderi , which ultimately leads to war between Dyfed and Gwynedd . The similarly mythological epic poem Cad Goddeu describes a battle between Gwynedd and the forces of Annwn, led again by Arawn. It
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#17327878805454340-451: The tradition of a legendary bard whose poems could be re-worked or re-imagined, giving rise to the prose tale in which some of these poems are embedded. Much of the academic work done on these poems focuses on attempting to separate poems by the original bard and later poets imaginatively taking on his mantle. His name was used, spelled as Taliessin, in Alfred, Lord Tennyson 's Idylls of
4410-522: The two latter being conducted by Fabio Mastrangelo. In modern music, Deep Purple 's second studio album was named The Book of Taliesyn in honour of the bard. A track on the album Softs by Canterbury prog-rock band Soft Machine is titled "The Tale of Taliesin". Paul Roland ’s 2006 album Re-Animator contains a song about the bard titled "Taliesin". There is a Dungeon synth band from Germany named Taliesin The Bard. The Song "Spiral Castle" by
4480-568: The update disk for System 2 in 1985. Taliesin is relatively obscure compared to its more well-known counterpart Cairo, the symbol font that featured Apple 's iconic dogcow logo. It is not clear why the font shares a name with the British poet, having been the only one of the set that does not bear the name of a "world class city" ( Chicago , San Francisco , Toronto , etc.). As it contains several glyphs of buildings , furniture , and other aspects of architecture , landscaping , and interior design , however, it has been theorized that Taliesin
4550-522: The village of Tre Taliesin near Llangynfelyn called Bedd Taliesin , but this is a Bronze Age burial chamber, and the village of Tre-Taliesin , at the foot of the hill, was actually named after the burial chamber in the 19th century though legend was traced by Edward Lhuyd to the 17th century. More detailed traditions of Taliesin's biography arose from about the 11th century, and in Historia Taliesin ("The Tale of Taliesin", surviving from
4620-795: The young adult fiction series The Dark Is Rising Sequence by British author Susan Cooper , he guides young protagonists Will Stanton and Bran Davies through the Lost Land in the final book, Silver on the Tree . Taliesin's harp-tuning key makes an appearance in " A String in the Harp " by Nancy Bond , a time-travel story set in Wales. The key gives Peter Morgan, the main protagonist, the ability to see visions of Taliesin's life. In Charles Williams ' unfinished series of Arthurian poems, found in Taliessin Through Logres and The Region of
4690-416: The young/land of youth"), Tír fo Thuinn ("land under the wave"), Tír na mBeo ("land of the living"), Mag Mell ("plain of delight"), Mag Findargat ("the white-silver plain"), Mag Argatnél ("the silver-cloud plain"), Mag Ildathach ("the multicoloured plain"), Mag Cíuin ("the gentle plain"), and Emain Ablach (possibly "isle of apples"). It is described as a supernatural realm where there
4760-453: Was also named in homage to Frank Lloyd Wright's aforementioned studio and estate of same name. As early as the 12th century bards of the Welsh princes adopted the persona of Taliesin to make prophetic and legendary claims for the source of their inspiration or awen as well as those poems which can be attributed directly to them. So some of the poems in the Book of Taliesin have been attributed to bards who saw themselves as working within
4830-399: Was the sacred isle of the druids of Britain; the Scilly isles, where archaeological remains of proto-historical temples have been found; and some of the Hebrides , which were, in the Gaelic tradition, home to ghosts and demons: on one of them, Skye , the Irish hero Cúchulainn was taught by the warrior woman Scathach . Byzantine scholar Procopius of Caesarea described the Otherworld of
4900-485: Was then raised at his court in Aberdyfi and that at the age of 13, he visited King Maelgwn Gwynedd , Elffin's uncle, and correctly prophesied the manner and imminence of Maelgwn's death. A number of medieval poems attributed to Taliesin allude to the legend but these postdate the historical poet's floruit considerably. The introduction to Gwyneth Lewis and Rowan Williams 's translation of The Book of Taliesin suggests that later Welsh writers came to see Taliesin as
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