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Author
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Comment
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(1/23/03 2:42:22 pm)
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Welsh mythology & Rhiannon
I was wondering if anyone could recommend general books about Welsh myths especially in regards to the goddess Rhiannon.... All help is greatly appreciated!
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tlchang37
Registered User
(1/24/03 12:27:31 am)
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Re: Welsh mythology & Rhiannon
"The Mabinogion" is the one I hear most frequently referred to for Welsh mythology. (One site describes it as "A masterpiece of medieval literature, The Mabinogion is regarded by many as Wales’s greatest contribution to European literature... ). I've always wanted to own the version that Alan Lee illustrated....
My collection leans more to Irish myths, but a couple off of my shelves are: "Celtic Myths and Legends", by T.W. Rolleston. He gives quite a bit of commentary on the history of the Celtic people and how the mythology fits in with what we know or guess at - in addition to relaying some of the actual myths.
Another one that references Rhiannon is "Tales of the Celtic Otherworld" by John Matthews. I have really mixed feelings about most of his books - they include alot of commentary that I find suspect from a scholarly point of view, but he usually has really interesting versions of the tales he is discussing.
Good luck!
Tara
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(1/24/03 9:43:21 am)
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Re: Welsh mythology & Rhiannon
Thanks for the suggestions! The second book you mentioned sounds right up my alley.
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MarkS
Unregistered User
(1/24/03 4:19:46 pm)
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Also...
...the Evaneline Walton series of four or five books - I forget exactly how many. "Pince of Anwyn" and "Children of Lyr" are two of them. They are written in a "fiction" manner, but are straight from Welsh mythology. The Alan Lee book is nice - I have it - but the Walton books were one of the primary series that turned me on to folklore and mythology as a kid. They can be found in used bookstores and new ones as they are usually in reprint.
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Laura
McCaffrey
Registered User
(1/24/03 5:18:04 pm)
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Re: Also...
I have - Green, Miranda J. Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. London: Thames and Hudson, 1992. Rhainnon has a nice sized (for a dictionary) entry, with descriptions of both the reasons she's seen as a goddess, as well as her role in the larger Mabinogian. References are also listed, as well as cross references, though the entry 'horse' cross references 'Rhiannon', but the 'Rhiannon' entry doesn't cross reference 'horse.' So, if you pick this source up, I advise reading the 'horse' entry for broader understanding of her possible roles and importance.
Hope this helps.
Laura Mc
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(1/26/03 5:15:16 pm)
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:)
Another thanks for the further suggestions! Can't wait to visit the library this week ^_^
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Meurglys
Registered User
(1/27/03 3:51:13 am)
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Re: :)
Wildside Press have just re-issued a book called British Goblins:Welsh Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends & Traditions by Wirt Sykes, which was first published in 1881.
There's no index but a quick flip through (it only arrived an hour ago!) shows that it's very much a 'snapshot' of Welsh myth & folklore of the time. No specific mention of Rhiannon that I could see.
To quote the blurb:
...defines and records Welsh fairy legends as they existed -
still vital, alive, not just a mordant mythology but living folklore
in that year. Like many texts of the time it, treats the subject
mechanically, detailing fairy legends with such care and precision
as to leach away a measure of the magic...
On a different note, I believe that the softcover of the Alan Lee illustrated Mabinogion is currently o/p (at least in the UK)
p.s. Despite being called British Goblins, it is entirely about Welsh folklore.
Edited by: Meurglys at: 1/27/03 3:52:00 am
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isthmus
nekoi
Registered User
(1/28/03 4:51:30 pm)
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Re: :)
Another thanks!
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