Chapter 11

 

 

GODS / HEROES / WARRIORS

 

 

G - Gath (Ivy) - Tree Alphabet / (─┼┼─) Line Ogham

 

 

 

 

NAME         Gabalglinde mac Dedaid

ALTERNATIVE  Cairpre Gabalfada / Gabalgline

GENDER       M

FESTIVAL     Samhain (Night of the Dead)

CATEGORY     filidh

TYPE         Gutuater

CULTURE      Goidel - Clanna Dedad (The Degads)

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Kerry

TERRITORY    Munster

CENTERS      Temair Luachra (Tara of the Rushes)

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Temuir Luachra

RELATIVES    Dedad (father); Ogaman (son); Dare,

             Conganchness, Li, Echbel and Foenglinde

             (brothers); CuRoi (nephew); Eremon and Tea

             (ancestors)

SEE ALSO     Conganchness mac Dedaid / Cromm Deroil / CuRoi

             macDaire / Dare mac Dedaid / Dedad / Echbel mac

             Dedaid / Eremon / Foenglinde mac Dedaid / Li mac

             Dedaid / Tea

REMARKS      Gabalglinde was the ancient blind druid who

  guarded the knowledge of Temair Luachra for the Clanna

  Dedad.  During a Samhain he was visited by Cromm Deroil and

  Foenglinde and told of the unexpected arrival of warriors

  of Ulster.  He was questioned to see if there had been any

  kind of plan developed in preparation for this type of

  event.

       Gabalglinde told them of the secret iron house that

  had been built.  The iron walls had been hidden by covering

  it with wood on the inside and out.  He explained that

  there was an earth room underneath that was filled with

  dried timber.  The plan was to secure the Ulster warriors

  within the iron house and set the wood on fire.

 

 

NAME         Gabran

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / Ri Ruirech

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Goidel -  Dal Riada / Danann / Pictish / Scotti

COUNTRY      Ireland / Scotland / England

REGION       Argyll / Kintyre

TERRITORY    Albainn / Cinel Gabran

AGE          Ui Néill

DATES        AD 6th c / AD 559 (ruled 22 years)

RELATIVES    Domangart (father); Comgall (brother); Fergus

             (grandfather); Cairbre Riada (ancestor)

ENEMIES      Pictish - Caledonians

SEE ALSO     Cairbe Riada / Comgall / Domangart / Fergus

             macEirc

REMARKS      Gabran was 5th head chieftain of the Dal Riada

  tribe of Albainn and during his time his people became

  fully established on the mainland.  They continually

  conquered more land from the Picts until by the end of AD

  7th century they were in control of the Firth of Forth.

 

 

NAME         Gaedhal Glas

EPITHET      The Grey Goidel

ALTERNATIVE  Gael / Gaidel / Gedeyl-glays / Goidel mac Nuil

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         chariot warrior

CULTURE      Goidel / Egyptian

COUNTRY      Egypt

LANDMARKS    Red Sea

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 20th c

RELATIVES    Nel (father); Scota (mother); Esru (son); Sru

             (grandson); Feinius Farsaid (grandfather);

             Rifath Scot and Iaphet (ancestors)

SEE ALSO     Feinius Farsaid / Iaphet / Nel / Rifath Scot /

             Sru

REMARKS      Gaedhal Glas, son of Nel, was a descendant of

  Rifath Scot.  Because of his father's scholarly abilities

  he was invited to live in Egypt where Gaedhal was born to

  Scota, a daughter of the Pharaoh.

       Gaedhal was the progenitor of the Gaelic speaking Q-

  Celts who settled Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man and other

  places.  Gaedhal had a son named Esru (The Fierce) who

  sired a son named Sru.

 

 

NAME         Gaius Valerius Catullus

EPITHET      Clever Valerius

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     poet

TYPE         satire

CULTURE      Gallic

COUNTRY      Italy

TERRITORY    Cisalpine Gaul

LANDMARKS    Adige

CENTERS      Verona

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 1st c / BC 85-54

ENEMIES      Caesar

SEE ALSO     Helvius Cinna / Virgil

REMARKS      Gaius Valerius Catullos was born in Verona on

  the Adige river.  He was of Celtic parentage during a time

  of Roman rule so he was entitled to Roman citizenship and

  the use of privileges that went with it.

       Gaius became a poet and a member of a local school of

  thought.  Following in the style of the Celtic poets, he

  wrote lyric verse as well as satire which was often

  directed against Caesar.  He was a friend of two other

  Celtic writers, Virgil and Helvius Cinna, who also had

  Roman citizenship.

 

 

NAME         Galatea

EPITHET      Milk White

ALTERNATIVE  Galateia

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         water goddess / sea nymph (quiet sea)

CULTURE      Trojan / Goidel - Sequani tribe

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul

LANDMARKS    Seine

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 13th c / BC 12th c

RELATIVES    Nereus (father); Doris (mother); Belenos

             (husband); Galates, Celtus and Illyrios (sons);

             Amphitrite and Thetis (sisters); Poseidon

             (brother-in-law); Achilles (nephew); Pontus

             (grandfather); Gaia (grandmother)

SEE ALSO     Achilles / Belenos / Galates / Poseidon

REMARKS      Galatea was a goddess of the Sequani tribe who

  settled in the area around BC 12th century.  She was

  pursued by the cyclops Polyphemus but she refused him and

  married the sun god Belenos (Heracles).  Her father was

  Nereus, a sea god, and her mother was Doris, the eponymous

  ancestor of the Dorians.

 

 

NAME         Galates

ALTERNATIVE  Galas

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     deity / hero / warrior / chieftain

TYPE         god of the tribe

CULTURE      Trojan / Goidel - Sequani tribe

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul

LANDMARKS    Seine

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 13th c

RELATIVES    Galatea (mother); Belenos (father); Celtus and

             Illyrios (brothers)

SEE ALSO     Belenos / Galatea

REMARKS      Galates surpassed all others in the tribe for

  his intelligence and strength.  After becoming the head

  chieftain of his people, he accomplished many feats of

  bravery and enlarged the territory of his tribe which

  became known as the Gauls.

       Galates was the eponymous ancestor of the Gaul, and

  his brothers were the eponymous ancestors of the Celts and

  the Illyrians.

 

 

NAME         Galatos

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Boii tribe

COUNTRY      Italy

TERRITORY    Cisalpine Gaul

LANDMARKS    Po valley

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 3rd c / BC 299

SEE ALSO     Atis

REMARKS      Galatos and Atis led their tribes across the

  Alps to the Po valley where they were both killed by the

  local Celts.

 

 

NAME         Galba

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         horse warrior / war leader

CULTURE      Belgae - Suessiones tribe

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul / Belgica

LANDMARKS    Seine / Marne

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 1st c / BC 57

ENEMIES      Rome

REMARKS      Galba was appointed war leader of the Belgae

  warriors during Caesar's invasion in BC 57.  The Belgae

  force comprised of 291,000 warriors made up from 19,000

  Aduatuci, 10,000 Ambiani, 10,000 Atrebates, 60,000

  Bellovaci, 10,000 Caleti, 7000 Menapii, 25,000 Morini,

  50,000 Nervii; another 40,000 warriors were supplied by the

  Caeroesi, Condrusi, Eburones and the Paemani tribes and

  10,000 by the Veliocasses and Viromandui tribes.  Galba's

  own tribe, the Suessiones, volunteered 50,000 warriors.

       The Belgae tribes entered the territory of the Remi

  and attacked their oppidum of Bibrax.  Caesar, using

  Numidian and Cretan archers and Balearic slingers, beat

  them back.  Then he sent the Ædui into the territory of the

  Bellovaci to devastate their land.  The Belgae then burned

  the countryside around the fort and turned their attention

  toward Caesar's camp near the Aisne.  Caesar sent out his

  horse warriors and broke the Belgae warriors, who were

  inexperienced at fighting against soldiers.

 

 

NAME         Gan Comer

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         god of love

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

REMARKS      Gan Comer was a Danann god of love to female cow

  herders and milkmaids.

 

 

NAME         Gan-Ceann

EPITHET      The Headless / Love Talker

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         spirit

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

REMARKS      Gan-Ceann was a Danann deity who would visit

  girls when they were working and fill their heads with

  fantasies.

 

 

NAME         Gann

EPITHET      With Valour

GENDER       M

SYMBOL       hinge

FESTIVAL     Bron Tro Gain (Lughnasadh)

CATEGORY     warrior / 3rd Ri Ruirech

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Firbolg

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Cork / Westmeath

TERRITORY    East Munster

LANDMARKS    Black Rock / Passage / Comar Tri nUisce

             (Suir/Nore/Barrow) / Belach Conglais

SITES        Inber Dubglaisi (Douglas river) /  Frewin Hill

             (Fremaind)

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 17th c / BC 18th c / BC 1727-1723 (Kings List)

RELATIVES    Dela (father); Etar (wife); Genann, Rudraige,

             Sengann and Slainge (brothers); Loth

             (grandfather); Magog and Semeon (ancestors)

ENEMIES      Fomorii

SEE ALSO     Dela / Genann / Magog / Rudraige / Semeon /

             Sengann / Slainge

REMARKS      Gann, son of Dela son of Loth, was one of the 5

  Firbolg chieftains who invaded Ireland.  They divided their

  people into 3 groups.  Gann and Sengann landed with 2000

  followers at Inber Dubglaisi, the mouth of the Douglas

  river between Black Rock and Passage in Co. Cork 3 days

  after Slainge landed.

       When the Firbolg had captured the Island they divided

  it into 5 provinces (coiceda) with Uisneach as the hub of

  the island.  Gann's territory was marked on the rim of the

  island by Comar Tri nUisce, the confluence of the Suir,

  Nore and Barrow rivers and Belach Conglais (Pass of The

  Hound), a pass in the vicinity of Cork.  Gann's 1/5 or

  province became known as East Muma (East Munster).

       When Rudraige died, Gann and Genann ruled jointly for

  4 years until they both died of a plague at Fremaind

  (Frewin Hill) in Co. Westmeath.

 

 

NAME         Garbh Ogh

ALTERNATIVE  Garbh Og (young and rugged/rough/coarse)

GENDER       F

FESTIVAL     Grian Stad (sun stop) - summer solstice

CATEGORY     hunter

TYPE         giant

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Meath

LANDMARKS    Loughcrew

SITES        Sliabh na Caillighe (Mountain of the Sorceress)

AGE          Bronze

REMARKS      Garbh Ogh was an ancient ageless giant whose

  chariot was drawn by elks and whose diet was venison milk

  and eagles' breasts.  She hunted mountain deer using a pack

  of 70 hounds, all of which had bird names.

       Garbh gathered stones to build a triple cairn in a

  womb of the hills, then sat in her chair and died.  This

  was the season when the heather was in bloom.

 

 

NAME         Garselid

EPITHET      The Irishman

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     hunter

TYPE         chief hunter of Ireland

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 5th-6th c

SEE ALSO     Isbaddaden

REMARKS      Isbaddaden insisted that Twrch Trwyth could not

  be hunted without the help of Garselid.

 

 

NAME         Gartnan

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / Ri Ruirech

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Goidel / Scotti

COUNTRY      Scotland / England

TERRITORY    Albainn

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 7th c / AD 656

RELATIVES    Cano (son)

SEE ALSO     Cano

REMARKS      Gartnan was a head chieftain of Albainn

  (Scotland/northern England) Scotland and died shortly after

  his son returned from Ireland.

 

 

NAME         Gelban

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         spy

COUNTRY      Scotland / Ireland

TERRITORY    The Otherworld - Scandinavia (Lochlann)

             Ulster

SITES        Red Branch hostel

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

ENEMIES      Naoise

SEE ALSO     Conchobar / Deirdre / Naoise

REMARKS      Gelban was the son of the head chieftain of

  Lochlann who was in the service of Conchobar, the head

  chieftain of Ulster.  He was asked by Conchobar to go to

  the hostel of the Red Branch warriors, where Naoise and

  Deirdre were staying, to see if she was still beautiful.

       When Gelban looked through the window, Deirdre and her

  husband were playing fidchell.  Naoise saw him spying and

  threw a gaming piece at him which hit him in an eye and

  knocked it out.  Gelban reported to Conchobar that her

  beauty was such that the one look was worth his eye.

 

 

NAME         Genann

EPITHET      The Pure

ALTERNATIVE  Genand

GENDER       M

FESTIVAL     Bron Tro Gain

CATEGORY     warrior / 4th Ri Ruirech

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Firbolg

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Westmeath

TERRITORY    Connacht

LANDMARKS    Uisneach / Shannon / Eas Aedha Ruaidh /

             Luimneach

SITE         Imber Domnann (Malahide Bay) / Frewin Hill

             (Fremaind)

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 17th c / BC 18th c / BC 1727-1723 (Kings List)

RELATIVES    Dela (father); Cnucha (wife); Rinnal and Erc

             (sons); Eochaid (grandson); Gann, Rudraige,

             Sengann and Slainge (brothers); Loth

             (grandfather); Magog and Semeon (ancestors)

ENEMIES      Fomorii

SEE ALSO     Dela / Eochaid mac Eirc / Erc / Gann / Magog /

             Rinnal / Rudraige / Semeon / Sengann / Slainge

REMARKS      Genann, son of Dela son of Loth, was one of the

  5 Firbolg chieftains who invaded Ireland.  After the

  Firbolg had divided their warriors into 3 groups, Genann

  and Rudraige landed their 2000 warriors at Imber Domnann

  (Malahide Bay) in Connacht.  This happened 6 days after

  Slainge landed his warriors.

       When the Firbolg had captured the Island they divided

  it into 5 provinces (coiceda) with Uisneach as the hub of

  the island.  The southwest of Genann's territory was marked

  on the rim of the island in the mouth of the Shannon river

  near Limerick (Luimneach) and at Eas Aedha Ruaidh (Ess

  Ruaid) in the northwest.  Genann's 1/5 became known as the

  province of Connacha (Connacht).

       When Rudraige died, Genann and Gann jointly ruled the

  Firbolg for 4 years until they both died of a plague at

  Fremaind (Frewin Hill) in Co. Westmeath.

 

 

NAME         Genii Cucullati

EPITHET      The Three Little Women

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         goddess of well-being, prosperity and fertility

CULTURE      Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe

COUNTRY      Germany / France / England

REGION       Gloucestershire / Northumberland / Avon

TERRITORY    Lloegr

SITES        Cirencester (Corinium) / Housesteads / Bath /

             Springhead

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 3rd century

ACCESSORIES  eggs

SEE ALSO     Cuda

REMARKS      Genii Cucullati were 3 females of very small

  stature who wore hooded cloaks and were sometime seen

  accompanying the Great Mother.  They were venerated as far

  afield as Germany, France and England.

       In England, the Genii Cucullati accompanied the

  goddess Cuda at Cirencester in the territory conquered by

  the Catuvellauni.  A relief carving depicting the trio was

  found at Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland

  which may tie the veneration to Roman mercenaries from Gaul

  of Germany.  Other known sites were Bath and Springhead.

 

 

NAME         Genonn Gruadsolus

EPITHET      Bright Cheek

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / filidh

TYPE         poet / sorcerer

CULTURE      Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann / Pictish

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Ulster

SITES        Mound of Slane in Mide

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech

ACCESSORIES  shield with hooks / sword

RELATIVES    Cathbad (father); Maga (mother); Imrinn

             (brother); Elbha, Dechtire and Findchaem

             (sisters); Conchobar, Fachtna, Ferghus and

             Sualtaim (half-brothers)

ENEMIES      Host of Connacht

SEE ALSO     Cathbad / Conchobar mac Nessa / Dechtire / Elbha

             / Fachtna Fathach / Ferghus mac Roig / Findchaem

             / Imrinn / Maga Muresc / Sualtaim macRoig

REMARKS      Genonn was with his father and brother in the

  vanguard of the druids as they arrived at the Mound of

  Slane in preparation for the battle of Gairech.

       Genonn was described as having curly hair, a light

  complexion, and wearing a blue tunic, green cloak and

  purple boots.  He carried a sword with a white hilt and

  silver decorations as well as a brown shield fitted with

  hooks.

       During the battle, the filidhs worked their sorcery so

  that the heavens split open with lightning, thunder and

  torrents of rain.

 

 

NAME         Gilfaethwy

ALTERNATIVE  Gilvaethy {Ghil-vath-ee} / Gilvaeyhwy

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY    Gwynedd

CENTERS      Caer Dathl (Fort Dathal) at Caernarfon

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES    Don (mother); Arianrod (half-sisters); Dylan

             (son); Gwyddion (brother/consort); Hyddwn,

             Hychdwn and Bleiddw (sons); Govannon, Amaethon

             (half-brothers); Math (uncle/foster-father);

             Llew (nephew)

SEE ALSO     Amaethon / Arianrod / Don / Dylan / Govannon /

             Gwyddion / Llew Llaw Gyffes / Math / Pryderi

REMARKS      Gilfaethwy, a son of the goddess Don, was

  fostered to his uncle Math at the tribal center of Caer

  Dathl at present-day Caernarfon in Wales.

       Gilfaethwy fell in love with Goewin, his uncle's

  virgin footholder.  He told his brother Gwyddion about his

  problem and Gwyddion conceived of a way to get Math to

  remove his feet from the lap of the virgin.  Gwyddion knew

  that if he could instigate war between his uncle and

  Pryderi, head chieftain of Dyfed in the southwest, Math

  would lead his warriors to battle.

       While Math was assembling his warriors, Gilfaethwy and

  his brother Gwyddion raped Goewin, who was to become

  Arianrod the moon goddess.  When the crime was relayed to

  Math, he punished both nephews by changing them into a stag

  and a doe for a year and Gilfaethwy bore a son to Gwyddion

  called Hyddwn (The Tall Deer).  The next year he turned

  them into a boar and a sow for a year and in this

  relationship Gilfaethwy sired a son to Gwyddion called

  Hychdwn (The Tall Swine).  The third year Math changed them

  into a wolf and a bitch for a year and Gilfaethwy bore a

  son to Gwyddion called Bleiddw (The Tall Wolf).  When the

  the offspring were brought home each year, Math changed

  them into humans and raised them at Caer Dathl as a

  reminder of what Gwyddion and Gilfaethwy had done.

       After their three-year punishment, Gilfaethwy and

  Gwyddion were asked who should be Math's new footholder and

  they suggested Arianrod.  When Arianrod came before Math

  she produced a baby boy who was the son of Gilfaethwy.

 

 

NAME         Giona mac Lugha

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         battle-line

CULTURE      Fianna

COUNTRY      Ireland

SITES        Loch Leann (Lake of Learning)

AGE          Iron

DATES        AD 3rd c

RELATIVES    Lugha (father); Fair Mane (foster-mother)

SEE ALSO     Fionn mac Cumhaill

REMARKS      Giona mac Lugha, a chieftain of the Fianna, was

  the son of Lugha and one of Fionn's warrior daughters.  He

  proved to be a poor leader and never gained the loyalty of

  his warriors.  He was a lazy man and thought only of

  himself and never took his warriors to hunt deer or boar.

       Giona was constantly boasting about himself, beating

  his dogs and bullying his servants.  His warriors became so

  distressed that they went to Fionn at Lough Lena (Lock

  Lena) in Killarney and gave him the ultimatum that he must

  either get rid of Giona or lose them.

       Fionn realized the seriousness of the situation and

  sent for Giona mac Lugha and questioned him about the

  situation.  He then gave Giona instructions on actions

  befitting a chieftain:

   Be quiet in the house of a great person.

   Save your surliness for narrow passes.

   Do not beat your hounds without a reason.

   Never accuse your spouse unless you are sure of a guilt.

   Do not mix with a fool in battle.

   Refrain from brawling or fighting with mad or evil people.

   Be kind to women, children, poets and common people.

   Never brag, boast or swagger.

   Do not sell out your people for money or wealth.

   A chieftain should never abuse his people.

   Do not cause embarrassment or strife among your own people.

   Never tell unflattering stories about any of your people.

   Never frequent drinking establishments.

   Do not pick quarrels with ancient men or poor people.

   Disperse your meat (wealth) among your warriors freely.

   Do not give any reason for a chieftain to speak ill of you.

   Hold on to your weapons until the fight is truly over.

   If the opportunity arises, help people.

       Fionn explained to Giona that these are the ways of a

  real chieftain.

 

 

NAME         Glanis

ALTERNATIVE  Glanicae

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         triple goddess (health/fertility/prosperity)

CULTURE      Celto-Ligurian - Salyes tribe

COUNTRY      France

REGION       Provence

TERRITORY    Gaul

SITES        curative spring at Glanum

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 4th c

REMARKS      Glanis was venerated at the healing spring of

  Glanum near Marseilles in southern France.  This was in the

  territory of the Salyes tribe which was formed in BC 4th

  century from the indigenous Ligurian and incoming Early

  Hallstatt tribes.  The spring was only one component of a

  large sanctuary developed by the Ligurian and Early

  Hallstatt invaders.

 

 

NAME         Glas

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         chariot warrior

CULTURE      Goidel - Dal nAraide / Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Ulster

SITES        Mound of Slane in Mide

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Cualnge Cattle Raid / Gairech & Irgairech

RELATIVES    Conchobar (father); Mane and Conaing (brothers);

             Fedlimid (half-sister); Cu Chulainn, Cormac,

             Cuscraid, Findchad, Fiachu, Fiachna, Naoise,

             Conall, Follomain, Diarmait, Beann, Furbude and

             Fiachra (half-brothers)

ENEMIES      Host of Connacht

SEE ALSO     Beann / Conchobar mac Nessa / Cormac Condloinges

             / Conall Cernacht / Cuscraid Menn / Diarmait mac

             Conchobar / Fedlimid Nocruthach / Ferghus mac

             Roig / Fiachna / Fiachra / Fiachu / Findchad /

             Follomain / Furbude Fer Bend / MacRoth / Naoise

REMARKS      Glas, Mane and Conaing, three sons of Conchobar,

  were at the head of a troop and MacRoth described them as

  youth with white faces and curly hair.  They all wore

  tunics of silk bordered with gold, and over these they wore

  curly kirtles held with fibulas of silvered bronze.

       The three carried shields with images of beasts in

  silvered bronze and bosses of red gold, and broad-bladed

  javelins with shafts of ash.  They carried swords along

  their shoulders that were decorated with gold thread.

  Ferghus described them as three pillars of the borders.

 

 

NAME         Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / guard

TYPE         horse warrior / gates of Arthur's raith

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwent

LANDMARKS    Usk

CENTERS      Caerleon-on-Usk

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

SEE ALSO     Arthur

REMARKS      Glewlwyd was the door guard for Arthur's camp

  and he insisted on minimizing wear and tear on his feet by

  moving about on his head like a rolling stone.  Huandaw,

  Gogigwr, Llaesgenym and Penpingion were his lieutenants.

 

 

NAME         Gloyw

ALTERNATIVE  Gloyw Gwallt Llydan (Shiny Wide Hair)

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Briton - Demetae tribe

COUNTRY      Wales

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES    Casnar Wledig (father); Gwyn Glohoyw (son);

             Cigva (grandaughter)

SEE ALSO     Cigva / Gwyn Glohoyw

REMARKS      Gloyw Gwallt Lydan was a descendant of Casnar,

  an important chieftain of Britain.

 

 

NAME         Glythfyr Llydaweg

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / tracker

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England / Ireland

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

ACCESSORIES  Aned and Aethlem - dogs as swift as the wind

REMARKS      Glythfyr Llydaweg used the help of the dogs Aned

  and Aethlem to help him track down the boar Ysgithrwyn.

  They also chased Twrch Trwyth out of Cornwall and into the

  sea, where he swam off toward Gaul.

 

 

NAME         Gobannitio

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         traitor

CULTURE      Gallic - Arverni tribe

COUNTRY      France

LANDMARKS    Allier / Garonne

CENTERS      Gergovia

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 1st c / BC 52

RELATIVES    Vercingetorix (nephew)

ENEMIES      Vercingetorix

SEE ALSO     Vercingetorix

REMARKS      Gobannitio tried to stop Vercingetorix from

  rousing the tribes to fight Rome and when he refused to

  accept Roman domination, Gobannitio expelled him from the

  oppidum of Gergovia.

 

 

NAME         Gobnenn macLuring

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         chariot warrior

CULTURE      Goidel

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Connacht

SITES        Cul Silinne (Cargin's Lough)

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Cualnge Cattle Raid

ENEMIES      Cualnge / Pictland / Ulster

SEE ALSO     Ailill macMata

REMARKS      Gobnenn macLuring pitched his tent 6th to the

  right of Ailill when they camped at Cul Silinne during the

  Cualnge Cattle Raid.

 

 

NAME         Goddess-Without-Name

ALTERNATIVE  Isis

GENDER       F

FESTIVAL     Co-thad-thrath (spring equinox)

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         fertility goddess of plants, animals and mortals

CULTURE      Goidel - Parisii tribe

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul

SITES        Paris

AGE          Bronze / Iron

DATES        BC 13th c

RELATIVES    Dis (consort)

SEE ALSO     Dis

REMARKS      Goddess-Without-Name was a Gallic earth goddesss

  and was sometimes associated with Dis who was venerated by

  the Parisii tribe from as far back as the Bronze Age.

       It is possible that the Goddess-Without-Name is the

  Great Mother Isis who was venerated at Paris, the major

  ancient center of her veneration.

 

 

NAME         Goffar

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / Brenin

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Pictish - Poitevins tribe / Aquitani

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul / Aquitanica

LANDMARKS    Loire

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 11th c

ENEMIES      Brute / Corineus

SEE ALSO     Brute / Corineus

REMARKS      Goffar fought off the Trojans Brute and Corineus

  when they invaded his territory in Gaul.  He was one of the

  12 leaders of Gaul at the time.  One of his messengers shot

  an arrow at Corineus when he refused to stop hunting in

  their territory.  He missed and was killed by Corineus.  A

  chieftain of the Aquitani called Suhard fought Corineus and

  was split from head to crotch by Corineus's battle-axe.

  Corineus proved to be a great champion but the Picts were

  too well established and the invaders left the territory.

 

 

NAME         Gogmagog

ALTERNATIVE  Gog ma Gog {gagh may'gagh} / Gourmaillon

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

CULTURE      Goidel

COUNTRY      England / Wales

REGION       Cornwall / Cambridgeshire

TERRITORY    Lloegr

SITES        Totnes / Gogmagog's Leap / Gogmagog Hills

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 11th c

RELATIVES    Iafeth and Magog (ancestors)

ENEMIES      Brute / Corineus

SEE ALSO     Brute / Corineus / Iafeth / Magog

REMARKS      Gogmagog was the chieftain of the giants in

  Britain and claimed descent from Magog, son of Iafeth.  He

  was described as being 12 Cornish cubits tall, roughly

  three times the height of the average man.  He led twenty

  warriors against the camp of Brute at Totnes.

       Gogmagog was taken prisoner and had to fight Corineus

  in a wrestling match.  He was thrown over a cliff

  (Gogmagog's Leap) to his death.

 

 

NAME         Goibhniu

EPITHET      The Divine Smith

ALTERNATIVE  Gaibne / Gaibniu / Gobha / Goibhnionn / Goibnenn

             / Goibniu Saer

GENDER       M

FESTIVAL     Beltainn (Brilliant Fires) / summer solstice /

             Fledh Ghoibhnenn (Feast of Goibhniu) /

CATEGORY     deity / hero / druid

TYPE         god of the forge / master artificer / smith /

             brewmaster / Tri De Dana (Three for Danann)

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Sligo

TERRITORY    Connacht / The Otherworld

LANDMARKS    Plain of Towers (Magh Tuireadh)

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 16th-15th c

BATTLES      second battle of Magh Tuireadh (north Moytura)

RELATIVES    Esaire (mother); Tuirbe (father); Aillenn,

             Cuilleann and Cairchi (daughters); Creidhne,

             Luchtine, Diancecht and Samhain (half-brothers);

             Lugh (foster-son); Net (grandfather); Magog and

             Iarbonel (ancestors)

ENEMIES      Fomorii

SEE ALSO     Bress / Cian / Creidhne / Diancecht / Esaire /

             Iarbonel / Magog / Luchtine / Lugh / Net /

             Ruadan / Samhain

REMARKS      Goibhniu, son of Esaire daughter of Net, was

  also a son of Tuirbe the axe-thrower, and one of the triad

  of artisan gods called Tri De Dana (3 for the Danann).  In

  preparation for the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, they

  worked at lightning speed to supply weapons for the Danann.

       Goibhniu would quickly make a spear and fling it red-

  hot into the door-post, Luchtine would throw the handle

  after it so they fastened together, and Creidhne would pin

  the two parts together by throwing hot nails from his

  tongs.  Weapons made by them always hit their mark and no

  one ever recovered from their wounds (poison).

       During the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, Goibhniu

  was wounded by Ruadan, a son of the deposed Bress. Goibhniu

  died of plague from his wound and after his death, he held

  his Feast of Goibhniu (Fledh Ghoibhnenn) in The Otherworld

  where he plied the dead heroes with an immortalizing brew.

  Goibhniu was also known for his therapeutic powers and was

  considered the founder of arts and crafts.

 

 

NAME         Golamh

EPITHET      The Warrior

ALTERNATIVE  Galam (Ga = Spear)(Lam = hand)/ Golam / Gulam /

             Mil / Milid / Milesians Espain (warriors of Spain)

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         chariot warrior / mercenary

CULTURE      Goidel (Milesian) - Artabri tribe

COUNTRY      Ukraine / Russia / Egypt / Spain

REGION       Galicia

TERRITORY    Scythia

LANDMARKS    Caucasus / Caspian Sea / Volga / Black Sea /

             Crimean Peninsula / Mediterranean / Red Sea

CENTERS      Brigantia (A Corunna)

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 16th c

RELATIVES    Bile (father); Seang (1st wife); Airioch

             Feabhruadh and Donn (sons); Scota (2nd wife);

             Eber, Amhairghin, Colptha, Ir, Eremon and

             Arannan (sons); Conaing (3rd wife); Dil and Odba

             (daughters); Bregon (grandfather); Brego, Bladh,

             Fuat, Murthemne, Cualgne, Cuala, Ebleo, Nar and

             Ith (uncles); Rifath Scot (ancestor)

ENEMIES      Danann

SEE ALSO     Amhairghin / Arannan / Bile / Bladh / Bregon /

             Cermat / Colptha / Donn / Eber / Eremon / Fuad /

             Ir / Ith / Odba / Reafloir / Rifath Scot / Scota

             / Seang

REMARKS      Golamh, son of Bile, son of Bregon, son of

  Brath, son of Death, was a descendant of Rifath Scot.

  Golamh led a group of Goidel warriors for Reafloir, son of

  Refill, head chieftain of Scythia (a territory north of the

  Caucasus streaching east around the Caspian Sea to the

  Volga river and west around the Black Sea to the Crimean

  Peninsula).

       Golamh married Seang, daughter of Reafloir, and she

  bore him 2 male children: Airioch Feabhruadh and Donn.

  Seang died mysteriously and Reafloir blamed Golamh for her

  death.  The two engaged in combat and Golamh mortally

  wounded Reafloir with his spear before Golamh and his

  followers were driven from the Goidel territory in Scythia.

       Golamh led his followers in 4 ships of 15 couples with

  1 servant per ship.  They stayed for 3 months at the island

  of Taprobane of the harbors, then spent 3 months voyaging

  on the sea of white crests to Egypt, where he entered the

  service of the pharaoh.  This should have been around the

  time Pharaoh Aahmes founded the 18th dynasty after he drove

  the Hyksos out of Egypt.

       Golamh married the pharaoh's daughter and she was

  called Scota after her husband's people.  Scota gave birth

  to two males called Eber and Amhairghain.  Golamh stayed 8

  years in Egypt while Setga, Sobairche, and Suirge learned

  craftmanship; Mantan, Caicher and Fulman learned druidery;

  Goscen, Amhairghin and Donn studied law by the white-kneed

  one; and Golamh, Occe and Ucce plied their trade as battle-

  conquerors.

       After 8 years they quit Egypt, and as they travelled

  on the Red Sea a storm blew them eastward past India, past

  Cirord (?) and Golgardona (?) past the estuary of the Ganges,

  then to Taprobane (Sri Lanka) where they stayed a month.

  They then sailed up the Indus, past Mount Caucasus (Hindu Kush)

  from the west, past Ithia and the Boria river, past western

  Scythia and westward to the estuary of the Caspian Sea.

       On the Caspian Sea the Sirens chanted over their ships

  and they fell asleep for 3 weeks.  Caicher filled their

  ears with pitch and kept out the sounds of the Sirens and

  they continued their voyage.

       The Goidels then entered the land of the Amazons and

  Golamh left behind 20 shiploads of his people as they

  continued through Albania and past south of the Rhipaean

  Mountain, where Colptha of the Marshes was born, and on to

  Asia, where they stayed a month, and to Thrace where they

  stayed a year and where Ir was born on the Thracian Sea.

       Golamh and his warriers (54 tribes) then travelled

  (via the Danube ?) to Gothia and to eastern Germany where

  they settled.  Here they were joined by Thracian warriors

  and they travelled on to the land of the Cruithne in

  Pictland.  They then crossed the Rhine to Gallia, Belgica,

  Gulf of Lions, Gallia, Aquitania, southern Spain, over

  Druim Sailt (eastern Sierra Morena) into northern Spain,

  and across the Pyrenees (Cantabrian Mountains) to Brigantia

  (A Corunna).

       Brigantia was almost depopulated when Golamh and his

  warriors arrived home, and they had to fight many battles

  before they subdued their neighbors.  Here Golamh sired two

  sons by Scota, Eremon and Arannan, and two daughters by

  Conaing called Dil and Odba.  Golamh died of a plague and

  his sons Donn and Eremon ruled jointly.

 

 

NAME         Goleuddydd

EPITHET      Bright Day

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rigbean (noble woman)

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    Anlawdd Wledig (father); Cilydd (husband);

             Culhwch (son)

SEE ALSO     Cilydd / Culhwch

REMARKS      Goleuddydd went crazy when she became pregnant

  and ran away to the woods.  When she was ready to give

  birth she came back to reality and found herself in a pig

  run, hence the name she gave her child Culhwch (Pigrun).

  Seven years later, she died.

       Nora Chadwick has suggested that the term pig-sty was

  a symbolic name for a barrow or grave of a deity related to

  the boar and a good place to acquire meaningful dreams.  It

  is quite possible that Goleuddydd was a filidh (The

  Enlightened) and when she became pregnant went to a

  sanctuary of women (boar clan) where she had her child.

  Then, because it was male it was returned to the father, or

  when he was 7 he was returned to his father.

 

 

NAME         Goll mac Morna

EPITHET      Goll of Blows (Goll na Beumanan)

ALTERNATIVE  Aedh mac Morna / Gol-shuil (Squint-eyed)

GENDER       M

SYMBOL       1 eye

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / chieftain / Rigfeinnid

TYPE         battle-line / champion / head chieftain of the

             Fianna

CULTURE      Goidel / Fianna - Clanna Morna

COUNTRY      Ireland / Scotland

REGION       Dublin

TERRITORY    Connacht

LANDMARKS    Hill of Howth

SITES        Dun Kincorry

AGE          Iron

DATES        AD 3rd c

BATTLES      Cnucha

RELATIVES    Morna (mother); Lia (father); Conan (brother);

             Cebha (wife); Eremon and Tea (ancestors)

ENEMIES      Cairell / Cumhal / Fierce Baoire

SEE ALSO     Cairell / Cebha / Conan Maol / Cumhal / Eremon /

             Fergus Truelips / Fergus Finnbheoil / Fionn mac

             Cumhaill / Lia / Manus / Morna / Oscar / Tea

REMARKS      Aedh of the Clanna Morna was chieftain of the

  Connacht Fianna.  He claimed descent from Eremon, the first

  high chieftain of Ireland.  When he was born he was so big

  that a caesarian operation had to be performed.

       Years later, he and Cumhal of the Munster Fianna were

  competing for the position of head chieftain of the Fianna

  of Ireland.  During the Battle of Cnucha, Aedh beat Cumhal

  in combat but Cumhal managed to blind him in one eye.  From

  this time on, Aedh was known as Goll.  With Cumhal dead,

  Goll became the head chieftain of the Fianna.  Physical

  perfection was not a prerequisite for that position.  Years

  later, when the high chieftain of Ireland appointed Fionn

  as head chieftain, Goll stepped down without a battle.

       Once in the camp of the Fianna, an argument started

  between Oscar and Goll.  Goll's mother was ancient and had

  lost her teeth and she liked to suck the marrow out of

  bones.  Oscar grew angry at always having to give away his

  bones to her.  This night he had a large bone which he

  wanted to keep but Goll thought he should give it to her

  and the two started to argue.  Fionn devised a game where

  he put a hole in a plank so that Goll and Oscar could sit

  on either side and grab an end of the bone.  Goll won the

  bone by pulling it through the hole to his side of the

  plank.  Goll then threw the bone at Oscar who ducked out of

  harms' way.  The bone flew onward, hitting Goll's mother

  and killing her.

       Goll was a champion of the Fianna, and fought many

  single combats on their behalf.  At Dun Kincorry near the

  Hill of Howth, he fought and killed the champion Erragon,

  who had killed Alvin and a son of Leir.  He killed the 3

  Fomorian sorcerers, daughters of Conaran, when their father

  sent them to capture warriors of the Fianna.  Fergus

  Truelips chanted praise for Goll when he was rescued by

  him.  When the warriors were all freed from Dun Conaran,

  they sacked the raith for treasure then set it afire.  For

  saving Fionn and his warriors, Goll received the hand of

  Cebha, Fionn's daughter.  Goll also started a brawl at the

  Raith Almu by reminiscing over the killing of Cumhal.

       Goll's finest single combat was with the chieftain

  Fierce Baoire.  He fought in order to save the daughter of

  the head chieftain of Under Waves.  Fierce Baoire was the

  son of the head chieftain of Sorcha of Red Shields.  In

  true hero fashion, Goll buried Fierce with the honor of

  having a gold ring on each finger.

       When Goll and Cairell became engaged in combat, Oscar

  tried to mediate but failed.  Goll killed Cairell, and the

  Leinster Fianna chased after him and surrounded him.  He

  refused to surrender, and after 12 days without food or

  water he died, a hero to the end.

 

 

NAME         Gomer

EPITHET      Father of the Goidel

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / chieftain

TYPE         chariot warrior

CULTURE      Goidel

COUNTRY      England / Wales

TERRITORY    Lloegr

LANDMARKS    Black Sea

AGE          early-Bronze

DATES        BC 21st c

RELATIVES    Iafeth (father); Aschenez, Rifath, Thogorma,

             Emoth and Rifath Scot (sons); Madai, Iabal,

             Tubal, Mosoch, Thiras and Magog (brothers)

SEE ALSO     Iafeth / Magog / Rifath Scot

REMARKS      Gomer, son of Iafeth, led his people from their

  territory on the Black Sea westward into Europe.  Here the

  Goidel emerged on the shore of the North Sea and eventually

  settled territories in England and Wales.

       Gomer and his brother Magog are both considered to be

  the fathers of the Goidel, Cimmerians and the Scythian.

  Other than the blood lines of Partholon and Nemhedh, the

  sons of Gomer and Magog are given as the same people in The

  Book Of The Taking Of Ireland, so it is most likely that

  Magog is a female and the wife/half-sister of Gomer.  The

  ancient stories were modified at different times to fit

  into the creation mythology of the new adopted Roman

  religion that was conquering the lands of the Celtic

  people.

 

 

NAME         Goneril

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rhain (noble woman)

TYPE         daughter of the Rix of Britain

CULTURE      Goidel - Coritani tribe

COUNTRY      England / Scotland

TERRITORY    Albainn

CENTERS      Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 8th c

RELATIVES    Leir (father); Maglaurus (husband); Marganus

             (son); Regan and Cordelia (sisters); Cunedagius

             (nephew)

SEE ALSO     Cordelia / Cunedagius / Leir / Marganus / Regan

REMARKS      Goneril was the oldest of Leir's three daughters

  and by dint of flattery persuaded her aged father to give

  her one-third of his territory.

       Goneril married Maglaurus, a chieftain from the north

  of England.  The two of them set out to seize more

  territory and agreed to maintain Leir, who was by then an

  ancient man.  She allowed Leir to keep one hundred and

  forty warriors but after two years ordered him to dismiss

  all but 30.

       This was too much of an insult to the ancient leader

  and he left their territory and went to visit his second

  daughter Regan in Cornwall where he stayed for a short

  while, then returned again.

       Goneril then reduced his retinue to one and the

  ancient man was so hurt and insulted that he left Lloegr

  (England) and went to see his youngest daughter Cordelia in

  Gaul.

 

 

NAME         Gorlois

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain / Brenin

TYPE         head chieftain of Cornwall

CULTURE      Briton - Dumnonii tribe / Cymry (tribes that

             fight side by side)

COUNTRY      England

REGION       Cornwall

SITES        Tintagel fortress / Dimilioc (Tregeare Rounds)

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 5th c

RELATIVES    Igerna (wife)

ENEMIES      Germani / Uther

SEE ALSO     Aurelius / Eldol / Igerna / Uther

REMARKS      Gorlois, the head chieftain of Cornwall, led his

  warriors against the Germani in the battle in which

  Hengist, their Saxon leader, was killed by Eldol, chieftain

  of Gloucester.  The leader at the time was the Roman-Briton

  Aurelius, brother of Uther.

       When Uther became the high chieftain of the Cymry,

  Gorlois served him, fighting the Germani once again.  As he

  was the most experienced warrior and commander, Uther often

  consulted him.  During a battle, Gorlois suggested to Uther

  that they attack the Germani in the dark because they were

  in greater number.  The Germani were thrown into total

  confusion and were slaughtered by the thousands.

       Peace was over the land of Britain once again.  Uther

  decided to have a celebration and invited all his

  chieftains and great warriors.  Gorlois and his wife Igerna

  were present, and because she was by far the most beautiful

  woman in Britain at the time, Uther fell madly in love with

  her and made a fool of himself and insulted Gorlois.

       Gorlois withdrew to Cornwall and Uther raised an army

  to pursue him.  Gorlois sent his wife to Tintagel because

  it was the safest of his raiths and he made his defence at

  the raith of Dimilioc (Castle Dameliock) where he remained

  under siege for a week.  When it was discovered that Uther

  was not among the sieging warriors, Gorlois became fearful

  for his wife's safety and charged the attacking forces.  He

  was killed during the battle.

 

 

NAME         Govannon

EPITHET      Goban the Wright (Gobban Saer)

ALTERNATIVE  Gofannon / Gobhan Saor

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     deity / druid

TYPE         god of blacksmithing / master artificer / mason

             / architect

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY    Gwynedd

CENTERS      Harlech

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES    Don (mother); Arianrod (half-sister); Amaethon

             (brother); Gilfaethwy and Gwyddion (half-

             brothers); Dylan and Llew (nephews)

SEE ALSO     Amaethon / Arianrod / Don / Dylan Eil Ton /

             Gilfaethwy / Gwyddion / Llew Llaw Gyffes

REMARKS      Govannon was the master smith of the Danann of

  Wales, and he was also credited with being a master mason

  and a master builder.  Gof means smith in Welsh.  Under

  Welsh law, the smith is the first to taste the drink at a

  festival.  Govannon was responsible for the death of his

  nephew Dylan.

 

 

NAME         Grainne

EPITHET      The Repulsive

ALTERNATIVE  Grainne {Grann-ya}

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rigbean (noble woman)

CULTURE      Danann / Goidel / Pictish

COUNTRY      Ireland / Scotland

REGION       Meath

TERRITORY    Mide

LANDMARKS    Magh mBreg

SITES        The Beds of Diarmaid and Grainne

CENTERS      Raith Rig - Tara / Raith Grainne

AGE          Iron

DATES        AD 3rd c

RELATIVES    Cormac macAirt (father); Ethne (mother);

             Diarmaid (1st husband); Fionn (2nd husband);

             Ailbe (sister); Celleach and Cairbre (brothers)

SEE ALSO     Ailbe / Anghus mac Og / Cairbre Lifechair /

             Celleach / Cormac macAirt / Diarmaid ua Duibhne

             / Ethne / Fionn mac Cumhaill / Oisin

REMARKS      Grainne, daughter of Cormac macAirt, was

  considered to be the most beautiful maiden in Ireland at

  the time and her hand had been promised to Fionn mac

  Cumhaill.  During a banquet she tried to persuade Fionn's

  son Oisin to help her escape from the upcoming marriage,

  but he refused.  When she saw Diarmaid's love-spot she

  placed a geis on Diarmaid to help her escape, as she

  reasoned that his duty as a Fianna to save her honor was

  more important than his duty to Fionn.

       The night before the marriage was to take place,

  Grainne had her filidh Daire mix a sleeping draught that

  affected all the guests.  She and Diarmaid fled, and soon

  the Fianna were on the trail in a chase that was to last 16

  years.  During their expulsion to the wilds, the couple ate

  the berries from the tree of immortality after Grainne

  convinced Diarmaid to kill Searban the Surly who guarded

  the tree.

       Many of the dolmens of Ireland and Scotland have

  become known as The Beds of Diarmaid and Grainne because of

  the time the couple spent on the run in the wilds.  During

  their pursuit, they were aided numerous times by the Danann

  god Anghus.  Cormac, the high chieftain of Ireland, also

  helped negotiate a peace between the couple and Fionn.

       Cormac macAirt built Raith Grainne (The Palace of the

  Single Pillar) at Tara where Grainne and Diarmaid made

  their home and raised 4 boys and 1 girl.  Grainne insisted

  that they invite Fionn and Cormac to a feast which lasted a

  year.  During a boar hunt, Diarmaid was poisoned by a boar

  and died when Fionn refused to save him.

       After Diarmaid's death, Grainne married Fionn but the

  Fianna jeered both of them for their behavior.  Grainne was

  similar to the Celtic goddess of a geographical area whose

  whims must be catered to or the tribe (the Fianna) would

  fail.

 

 

NAME         Grannus

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         healer sun god

CULTURE      Gallic - Bituriges confederation

COUNTRY      France / Belgium / Holland / Germany / Austria /

             Hungary

TERRITORY    Gaul / Belgica / Aremorica / Danube

SITES        Aachen / Brigetio

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 4th c

RELATIVES    Sirona (consort)

SEE ALSO     Sirona

REMARKS      Grannus was a sun god who was venerated at

  numerous sites such as the curative springs at Aachen in

  Germany and Brigetio in Hungary.

 

 

NAME         Grici

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Ulster

SITES        Cruachu Ai

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 15th c

ENEMIES      Goidel

SEE ALSO     Brea / Gulban Glass / Redg Rotbel / Tindell

REMARKS      After the defeat of the Danann, the Goidels

  divided Ireland into 5 provinces.  The Danann left 5

  warriors in each of the five provinces to cause as much

  trouble for the Goidel as possible.  In the province of

  Ulster they left Brea, Redg, Grici, Gulban and Tindell.

  Grici was stationed at Cruachu Ai.

 

 

NAME         Griselicae

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     deity

TYPE         water goddess

CULTURE      Celto-Ligurian - Salyes tribe

COUNTRY      France

REGION       Provence

TERRITORY    Gaul

LANDMARKS    Durance / Verdon

SITES        curative spring of Gréoux-les-Bains

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 4th c

REMARKS      Griselicae was a healing water goddess at the

  curative spring of Gréoux-les-Bains on the Verdon river in

  the territory of the Salyes tribe who formed in BC 4th

  century from the indigenous Ligurian and incoming early

  Hallstatt.

 

 

NAME         Gronw Pebyr

EPITHET      Lord of Penllyn

ALTERNATIVE  Gronw Pebyr {gron'-oo pay-ber}

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         horse warrior / coward

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY    Gwynedd / Penllyn

LANDMARKS    Cynvael

SITES        Raith of Mur Castell / Bryn Cyfergyr (Battle

             Hill) at Ardudwy

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Battle of Ardudwy (Cynfael of Ardudwy)

RELATIVES    Blodeuedd (consort)

ENEMIES      Llew / Gwyddion

SEE ALSO     Blodeuedd / Gwyddion ap Don / Llew Llaw Gyffes

REMARKS      During a hunt in the territory of Dinoding,

  Gronw was invited to take shelter with his hunters and dogs

  at the Raith of Mur Castell.  It happened that the

  chieftain Llew Llaw Gyffes was away but his wife Blodeuedd

  invited him to dine with her.

       Over the next few days the two fell in love and began

  to plot a way to kill Llew.  This was not easy because Llew

  was protected by supernatural forces and could only be

  killed in a specific way.  Gronw told Blodeuedd to find out

  how he could be killed and with what type of weapon.

       The process of making the special spear required a

  year, and when it was finished Gronw waited in hiding while

  Blodeuedd asked Llew to show her the position he must be in

  for him to be killed.  He was at the time taking a bath and

  she led a goat up to him so he could have one foot on the

  goat and the other on the tub, then while he was neither

  standing on land or in water or riding an animal Gronw came

  out of hiding and threw the supernatural spear at him.  It

  went through his body and he turned into an eagle and flew

  away.  Gronw then conquered Llew's territory and added it

  to his own, along with Llew's wife Blodeuedd.

       To Gronw's suprise, Llew was cured by his father

  Gwyddion and came to Gronw's raith to challenge him to

  single combat with an exchange of spears.  As a chieftain,

  Gronw could ask a champion to step forward and fight his

  battle for him, but to his suprise none of his warriors

  would do so.  Gronw showed himself to be a coward and

  begged that since he was not the warrior that Llew was, he

  should be allowed to stand behind the standing stone on the

  hill of Ardudwy.  Llew allowed this and when he threw his

  spear, it pierced the stone and went through the body of

  Gronw and killed him.  The stone is referred to as Gronw's

  Stone of the Bryn Cyfergyr (Hill of Battle) and still

  stands on the bank of the Cynvael river in Ardudwy.  Llew

  then asked the people of Gronw's territory if they would

  like to be a part of his territory and they agreed.

 

 

NAME         Guaire

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / Ri Ruirech

TYPE         head chieftain

CULTURE      Goidel

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Connacht

CENTERS      Raith Cruachain (Rathcroghan)

AGE          Ui Néill

DATES        AD 7th c / AD 656

SEE ALSO     Cano / Cred

REMARKS      When Guaire, head chieftain of Connacht, invited

  Cano to a feast he unwittingly set the stage for the

  meeting between Cano and Cred, the young wife of an ancient

  chieftain named Marcan.

 

 

NAME         Gulban Glass

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Ireland

TERRITORY    Ulster

SITES        Bend Gulbain Guirt maicc Ungairb

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 15th c

ENEMIES      Goidel

SEE ALSO     Brea / Grici / Redg Rotbel / Tindell

REMARKS      After the defeat of the Danann, the Goidels

  divided Ireland into 5 provinces.  The Danann left 5

  warriors in each of the five provinces to cause as much

  trouble for the Goidel as possible.  In the province of

  Ulster they left Brea, Redg, Grici, Gulban and Tindell.

  Gulban was stationed at Bend Gulbain Guirt maicc Ungairb.

 

 

NAME         Gurguit Barbtruc

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / Rix

TYPE         high chieftain

CULTURE      Briton - Trinovantes tribe

COUNTRY      England / Wales / Scotland

REGION       Cornwall

TERRITORY    Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn

LANDMARKS    Thames / Usk

SITES        Kaerusc

CENTERS      Trinovantum (London)

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 4th c

RELATIVES    Dyvnwal (grandfather); Belinos (father);

             Brennius (uncle)

ENEMIES      Ginchtalacus

SEE ALSO     Belinos / Brennius / Dyvnwal Moelmud / Marcia

REMARKS      Gurguit became the high chieftain of the Britons

  on the death of his father.  He was a powerful ruler and

  did not mind using force to keep the peace.  Ginchtalacus,

  the continental chieftain who had paid tribute to his

  father Belinos, refused to pay him on the grounds that he

  did not owe allegiance to Gurguit.  This caused a war in

  which the continental chieftain was killed and his people

  subjected to the high chieftain of the Britons.

       When Gurguit died he was buried at Kaerusc, a fort

  built by his father that he had improved on throughout his

  life.  The rule of Britain then passed to Guithelin and

  then to his wife Marcia.

 

 

NAME         Gutruatus

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         freedom fighter / war leader

CULTURE      Gallic - Carnutes tribe

COUNTRY      France

TERRITORY    Gaul

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 1st c / BC 51-50

ENEMIES      Caesar

SEE ALSO     Comm / Correus

REMARKS      Gutruatus, Correus and Comm were three freedom

  fighters who defied Rome after their defeat at Alesia.

  Gutruatus was eventually caught by the Romans.  Caesar had

  him flogged senseless and beheaded, and the head paraded

  around Gaul as a message to others who were thinking that

  they could throw off the yoke of Rome.

 

 

NAME         Gwain

EPITHET      Gwain Over Withered Sticks

ALTERNATIVE  Wain

GENDER       M

FESTIVAL     Samhain (Night of the Dead)

CATEGORY     warrior / chieftain

TYPE         raider

CULTURE      Pictish ?

COUNTRY      Ireland

REGION       Dublin

TERRITORY    Mide / Ulster

LANDMARKS    Magh Liffey

SITES        Da Derga's Hostel

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES      Ath Cliath

ENEMIES      Host of Eirinn

SEE ALSO     Conaire

REMARKS      Gwain was a chieftain of 500 warriors from the

  north of Ulster who began to plunder when Conaire was high

  chieftain of Ireland.  He supplied warriors to attack

  Conaire at Da Derga's Hostel at Ath Cliath in Mide.  In

  combat, Gwain would jump over his opponents as he killed

  them.

 

 

NAME         Gwalchmai mab Gwyar

EPITHET      The Falcon of May / Falcon of Summer

ALTERNATIVE  Gauvain / Gawain / Gwalchaved / Gwalchmei

             {Goo-alkh-meh}

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / chieftain

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England / Ireland / France

REGION       Gwent / Cornwall / Brittany

TERRITORY    Lloegr

LANDMARKS    Usk

SITES        Richborough

CENTERS      Caerleon-on-Usk

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    Lot (father); Gwyar (mother); Medrawt (brother);

             Arthur (uncle)

ENEMIES      Romans / Medrawt

SEE ALSO     Arthur / Culhwch / Eseult / Gwyar / Hoel / March

             / Medrawt / Tristan

REMARKS      Gwalchmai was a son of Lot of Lodonesia and a

  champion warrior from Arthur's camp at Caerleon-on-Usk in

  Gwent, Wales.  He always accomplished his mission and this

  is why he was one of the seven to accompany Culhwch on his

  quest.  He also negotiated peace between March, Eseult and

  Tristan.

       During Arthur's campaign in France, Gwalchmai acted as

  negotiator in dealing with the Romans.  When the nephew of

  the Roman commander purposely insulted the Cymry, Gwalchmai

  drew his sword and lopped off his head.  This led to a

  skirmish between the two groups, with the Britons coming

  out ahead.

       Gwalchmai was then made second-in-command of the

  fourth division under Hoel.  Their division faced the first

  charge of the battle and were being pushed back by a

  superior force when Arthur added his division and the

  combined forces put the Romans to flight.  Gwalchmai

  returned to Britain with Arthur but was killed by his

  brother Medrawt at the battle of Richborough.

 

 

NAME         Gwawl fab Clud

ALTERNATIVE  Gwawl {Gwahl, Goo-owl}

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         horse warrior

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY    Gwynedd

LANDMARKS    River Clwyd

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

ENEMIES      Pwyll / Rhiannon

SEE ALSO     Heveydd / Llwyd fab Cil Coed / Pwyll / Rhiannon

REMARKS      When auburn-haired Gwawl son of Clwyd entered

  the feast given by Heveydd Hen for the suitors of his

  daughter, he saw that Pwyll of Dyfed held the position

  beside Rhiannon.  Gwawl flattered Pwyll, then while Pwyll

  was feeling in debt, asked him for a favor.  Pwyll granted

  the favor, only to find that Gwawl had tricked him out of

  his seat beside Rhiannon.  This act put Gwawl in the best

  position for the next year's feast in which Rhiannon was to

  choose a mate.

       When the festival began the following year, a beggar

  entered the feasting hall and asked Gwawl, who was in the

  position of the best man, if he could have some food for

  his small sack.  Gwawl, with some prompting from Rhiannon,

  said he could fill it if he hurried.  After some time Gwawl

  realized that the beggar was still putting food into his

  bag and became fearful that he would take away all the food

  from the feast.  When Gwawl asked him why it was taking so

  long, the beggar informed him that it would take the foot

  of a champion to stamp it down in his sack.  Again with

  encouragement from Rhiannon, Gwawl stepped into the bag

  intending to stamp down the food, but before he could react

  the bag was pulled over him and he was hung on a peg by the

  door to the feasting hall.

       The beggar then took off his disguise and showed

  himself to be Pwyll, who then invited his warriors to enter

  the feast.  Each warrior noticed the hanging bag and asked

  what was inside causing such a ruckus.  Pwyll replied that

  it was a wild badger and the warriors would give the bag a

  whack with the flat of their sheathed swords.

       Gwawl finally begged for mercy and Rhiannon extracted

  an agreement from Gwawl that he would not take any kind of

  revenge on her or on Pwyll in any form and he would be let

  out.  Gwawl agreed and this event marked the first time

  "Badger in the Bag " was played.  Years later after Pwyll's

  death, a friend of Gwawl's called Llwyd was to seek revenge

  for him.

 

 

NAME         Gwenddoleu ab Ceidio

EPITHET      The Son of Preservation

GENDER       M

SYMBOL       apple trees

CATEGORY     druid

TYPE         physician (medicinal plants)

CULTURE      Pictish / Briton

COUNTRY      France / England

REGION       Brittany / Cornwall

TERRITORY    Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr

LANDMARKS    Loire

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 6th c / BC 550 ca.

REMARKS      Gwenddoleu was a druid who left Llydaw

  (Brittany) on the Loire river and migrated with the La Tène

  A Picts to Cornwall in Lloegr (England).

 

 

NAME         Gwendolen

EPITHET      The White Circle

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / Rix

TYPE         chariot warrior / high chieftain of Britain

CULTURE      Goidel - Coritani tribe

COUNTRY      England / Wales / Scotland

REGION       Cornwall

TERRITORY    Lloegr / Cambria / Albainn

SITES        Stour

CENTERS      Caer Troia (Town of Troy) present-day Ilford

AGE          Bronze

DATES        BC 11th c / BC 1071 (ruled 15 years)

RELATIVES    Corineus (father); Locrinus (husband); Maddan

             (son); Mempricius and Malin (grandsons)

ENEMIES      Locrinus / Estrildis / Habren

SEE ALSO     Brute / Corineus / Locrinus / Maddan / Malin /

             Mempricius

REMARKS      Gwendolen's father Corineus and Brute had

  arranged that she and Locrinus would marry, thus joining

  the two Trojan lines of descent together.  When she was

  married and gave birth to a boy, she had her son sent to

  Cornwall to be fostered by her father and raised with her

  people.

       When Corineus died, Locrinus threw Gwendolen out and

  took in his consort Estrildis.  Gwendolen went to Cornwall

  and raised an army.  She fought Locrinus at the Stour river

  where he was killed, and had Estrildis and her daughter

  Habren sacrificed to the river goddess.  Gwendolen became

  the head chieftain of her people and ruled for fifteen

  years, then her son became the head chieftain and she

  returned to Cornwall to live out her life.

 

 

NAME         Gwenhyvar

EPITHET      The White Phantom

ALTERNATIVE  Genevra / Guinevere / Gwenhwrthucher / Gwenhyvar

             {Gwin-hwee-var} / Gwenhwyfar / Gwenhwyar /

             Gwenhwyvar {gwen'-hoo-i-var}

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rigbean (noble woman)

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England

REGION       Gwent

LANDMARKS    River Usk

CENTERS      Caer-on-Usk (Kearusk)

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    Ogyruan (father); Arthur (husband); Medrawt

             (consort)

ENEMIES      Arthur

SEE ALSO     Arthur / Medrawt / Ogyruan

REMARKS      Gwenhyvar became a consort of her husband's

  nephew Medrawt while Arthur was on his campaign in Gaul.

  Together they tried to take control of Britain and sought

  help from the Picts, Scots, Irish and Germani tribes.

  Arthur returned home with a huge army and defeated Medrawt.

  Gwenhyvar retired to a Land of Women.

 

 

NAME         Gwenwynwyn

ALTERNATIVE  Gwenwynwyn (White Onion / Leek)

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England / Ireland

REGION       Gwent

LANDMARKS    River Usk

CENTERS      Caerleon-on-Usk (Kaerusk)

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    Naw (father); Bedyw (brother)

SEE ALSO     Arthur

REMARKS      Gwenwynwyn was a warrior of the Cymry who fought

  under Arthur.

 

 

NAME         Gwion

EPITHET      Little Gwion (Gwion Bach)

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     water boy / ovate

TYPE         poetic inspiration / shapechanger /

             reincarnation

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

TERRITORY    The Otherworld - Lake Tegid (Llyntegid) /

             Morgannwg

LANDMARKS    Afon Dyfi

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    son of Gwreang of Llanfair

ENEMIES      Cerridwen

SEE ALSO     Cerridwen / Elffin / Morfran / Taliesin

REMARKS      Gwion Bach son of Gwreang of Llanfair was the

  water boy for the ovate Cerridwen when she was mixing her

  potion of poetic inspiration that was to be used on her son

  Morfran (Afagddu the Ugly).  Cerridwen also employed a

  blind man to stir the brew so that he would not know what

  ingredients the sorcerer was using.

       When the time came for Morfran to receive his drops of

  inspiration, Gwion pushed him from the boiling cauldron and

  was splattered by 3 drops of Cerridwen's brew.  The brew,

  having lost its purpose, turned to poison, destroyed the

  cauldron, then flowed into a nearby stream where it killed

  two horses belonging to Gwyddno Garanhir, the father of

  Elffin.

       Gwion Bach now had the gift of prognostic senses and

  he realized that his life was in danger from Cerridwen, so

  he immediately turned himself into a hare and hopped away.

  Cerridwen turned herself into a black greyhound and chased

  after him.  Gwion jumped into a river and turned himself

  into a fish, but Cerridwen adopted the form of an otter and

  chased him.  Gwion, seeing that Cerridwen was gaining on

  him, changed himself into a bird and took to the air only

  to find that he was being chased by a hawk.  Gwion spied a

  farmyard and changed himself into a grain of wheat on the

  floor of the hen house.  Cerridwen adopted the form of a

  tufted black hen and ate the grain of wheat.

       Cerridwen became pregnant and 9 months later Gwion was

  reborn.  Cerridwen set the baby in a covered coracle and

  let him float out to sea where 40 years later he was caught

  in the fish weir of Gwyddno Garanhir.  On the eve of

  Samhain, Elffin son of Gwyddno found the baby at the weir

  on the Dyfi river and brought him home to his wife, who

  accepted him as their child and named him Taliesin.

 

 

NAME         Gwlyddyn

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     druid

TYPE         engineer / architect

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwent

LANDMARKS    River Usk

CENTERS      Caerleon-on-Usk

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

SEE ALSO     Arthur

REMARKS      Gwlyddyn, a master builder, was responsible for

  the design and construction of Arthur's raith at the site

  of present-day Caerleon-on-Usk on the river Usk in Gwent.

 

 

NAME         Gwrhyr

EPITHET      Interpreter of Tongues (Gwrhyr Gwastad

             Ieithoedd)

ALTERNATIVE  Gwrhyr {Gu-heer}

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     ovate

TYPE         interpreter of languages

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England / Ireland / France

REGION       Cornwall / Brittany

TERRITORY    The Otherworld - Loyw's fortress (Caer Loyw)

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

SEE ALSO     Culhwch / Mabon

REMARKS      Gwrhyr was chosen to accompany Culhwch on his

  quest becuse he could interpret all tongues including that

  of animals, birds, fishes, etc.  To find Mabon, Gwrhyr had

  to communicate with the Raven of Cilg Wri, the Stag of

  Rhedynfre, the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd, the Eagle of Gwernabwy

  and the Salmon of Llyn Llyw.  The Salmon, who was the

  oldest of species alive, remembered hearing a human cry

  coming from Caer Loyw in the area of present-day

  Gloucester.

 

 

NAME         Gwron

EPITHET      Ollamh

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     ollamh

TYPE         master bard / musician

CULTURE      Pictish / Briton

COUNTRY      France / England

REGION       Brittany / Cornwall

TERRITORY    Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr

LANDMARKS    Loire

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 6th c / BC 550 ca.

SEE ALSO     Alawn / Dyvnwal / Plennydd / Prydain

REMARKS      Gwron, Alawn and Plennydd developed the concept

  of usage and privileges which was to become the foundation

  for the customs of the bards of the Island of Britain. This

  was accomplished during the time of Prydain and his son

  Dyvnwal when they left Llydaw (Brittany) on the Loire river

  and came to Lloegr (England), landing in Cornwall.

 

 

NAME         Gwyar

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rigbean (noble woman)

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      England

REGION       Cornwall

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    Uther (father); Igerna (mother); Lot of

             Lodonesia (husband); Gwalchmai and Medrawt

             (sons); Arthur (brother)

SEE ALSO     Arthur / Gwalchmai / Igerna / Medrawt / Uther

REMARKS      Gwyar was the sister of Arthur and married Lot

  of Lodonesia and bore two sons: Gwalchmai and Medrawt.

 

 

NAME         Gwyddion ap Don

EPITHET      Son of Genius / Lord of Knowledge

ALTERNATIVE  Gwydion {Guhd'-yon, Gwud-yon}

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     hero / warrior / druid

TYPE         horse warrior / astronomer / sorcerer /  poet /

             teacher

CULTURE      Danann

COUNTRY      Wales

REGION       Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} / Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY    Gwynedd

LANDMARKS    Maenawr Bennardd / Maenawr Coed Alvaun

SITES        Caer Gwyddion (Milky Way)

CENTERS      Caer Dathl (Fort Dathal) at Caernarfon

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES    Don (mother); Arianrod (half-sister); Llew

             (son); Gilfaethwy (brother/consort); Hyddwn,

             Hychdwn and Bleiddwn (sons); Amaethon and

             Govannon (half-brothers); Math (uncle/foster-

             father) / Dylan (nephew)

SEE ALSO     Amaethon / Arawn / Arianrod / Blodeuedd / Don /

             Dylan / Gilfaethwy / Govannon / Gwynn ap Nudd /

             Idris Gawr / Llew Llaw Gyffes / Math / Pryderi

REMARKS      Gwyddion was a son of Don, goddess of the

  Danann.  He was a foster son to her brother Math and

  resided at Caer Dathl, a site in present-day Caernarfon.

  Arfon means "looking over Mona" and Mona was one of the

  major Druidic centers of the Celtic world.  Here Gwyddion

  studied the arts and sciences and in spite of a troubled

  youth he became known as one of the 3 happy astronomers of

  the island of Britain, the other two being Idris Gawr and

  Gwynn ap Nudd.  His knowledge of the stars was such that he

  understood the rhythms of nature, could regulate the

  calendar and predict future events.

       When Gwyddion was young, his brother Gilfaethwy became

  obsessed with Math's virgin footholder.  Gwyddion knew that

  Math could only be away from her in times of war and strife

  so he concieved a plan that would cause trouble between

  Gwynedd and Dyfed.

       Gwyddion had heard that Arawn of Annwn had given

  Pryderi a sounder (herd) of supernatural boars.  Gwyddion,

  who was an eloquent speaker, convinced Pryderi to trade the

  boars for items of great value that were not what they

  seemed.  Gwyddion conjured 12 stallions with gold fixings

  and 12 black greyhounds with white fronts, gold collars and

  gold leashes.  He then turned twelve toadstools into

  shields with gold trim.

       When Pryderi found out that he had been tricked out of

  his supernatural boars he invaded the territory of Gwynedd.

  Math, who was the head chieftain of the territory,

  abandoned his position with his feet in the lap of the

  virgin and went to lead his warriors to repel the invasion

  from Dyfed.

       This now allowed his brother Gilfaethwy enough time

  for a tryst with Goewin, the virgin footholder.  However,

  Goewin was not interested in Gilfaethwy and shunned his

  advances.  Gilfaethwy and Gwyddion resorted to raping her,

  then joined Math and his warriors.

       Gwyddion was challenged by Pryderi to single combat

  and they fought at a site between Maenawr Bennardd and

  Maenawr Coed Alvaun.  Gwyddion used his sorcery to help him

  defeat Pryderi, and when Math found out that Gwyddion had

  not only killed Pryderi in unequal combat but had also

  instigated the conflict and raped Goewin, he conceived of a

  unique punishment for the two nephews.

       Gwyddion and Gilfaethwy were turned into animals by

  Math and made to sire and bear each other's children.  The

  first year Gwyddion was changed into a buck and sired a son

  called Hyddwn (The Tall Deer).  The second year he was

  turned into a sow and bore a son to Gilfaethwy called

  Hychdwn Hir (The Tall Swine) and the third year he sired a

  son called Bleiddwn (The Tall Wolf).  Each year the two

  brothers brought their offspring back to Caer Dathl and

  Math turned them into human babies.  The children were

  brought up at Caer Dathl to be a continuous reminder to the

  brothers of what they had done.

       When their punishment was over, Math asked them who

  should be his new virgin footholder.  They suggested

  Arianrod (Goewin) and when she stepped over Math's spell-

  binding wand she left two baby boys behind.  Gilvaethwy

  claimed the first as his, and the second was the son of

  Gwyddion.

       Because Gwyddion had raped Arianrod and she was by now

  a powerful ovate, she cursed her son never to have a name,

  weapons or a wife of a known race.  Because they were

  Danann, the mother controlled these rites of passage into

  their society.

       Gwyddion raised his son at Caer Dathl and in time

  tricked Arianrod into naming the boy Llew Llaw Gyffes and

  into arming him, and when it came time for the young man to

  marry, Gwyddion and his uncle Math used their sorcery to

  conjure a bride from 3 important flowers.  The young bride,

  who was named Blodeuedd, proved to be treacherous and

  nearly caused the death of Llew.  Gwyddion changed her into

  an owl as punishment.

 

 

NAME         Gwyddon Ganhebon

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     druid

TYPE         poet / teacher / scholar

CULTURE      Pictish / Briton

COUNTRY      France / England

REGION       Brittany / Cornwall

TERRITORY    Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr

LANDMARKS    Loire

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 6th c / BC 550 ca.

REMARKS      Gwydddon Ganhebon was a Pictish druid who

  migrated to Cornwall in Lloegr (England) from the territory

  of Llydaw (Brittany) around the Loire.  Cymry mythology

  considers him to have been the first man in the world to

  compose a poem and explain the arts and sciences with the

  use of stone carvings.

 

 

NAME         Gwyn Glohoyw

EPITHET      The Splendid

ALTERNATIVE  Gwyn {Gwin} / Gwynn Gloyw (White Shiny)

GENDER       M

CATEGORY     warrior

TYPE         horse warrior

CULTURE      Briton / Demetae tribe

COUNTRY      Wales

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES    Gloyw (father); Cigva (daughter)

SEE ALSO     Cigva / Gloyw

REMARKS      Gwyn Glohoyw accompanied Bran on his expedition

  to Ireland but was not one of the 7 survivors.

 

 

NAME         Gwynn ap Nudd

EPITHET      Of the Wild Hunt / Whitehawk (Gwalchgwynn)

ALTERNATIVE  Gwyn {Gwin} (white)

GENDER       M

SYMBOL       crescent moon (hunter's moon)

FESTIVAL     Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)

CATEGORY     deity / warrior / druid / hunter

TYPE         astronomer / leader of the Wild Hunt

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales / England

TERRITORY    The Otherworld - The Underworld (Annwn)

SITES        Glastonbury Tor

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

ACCESSORIES  horse (Dubh)

RELATIVES    Nudd (father); Creddylad (half-sister)

ENEMIES      Gwythyr

SEE ALSO     Arthur / Creddylad / Gwyddion ap Don / Gwythyr

             ap Greidyawl / Idris Gawr / Nudd

REMARKS      Gwynn the son of Nudd held his court on the

  summit of Glastonbury Tor.  Gwynn, Gwyddion and Idris were

  known as the 3 happy astronomers of the Island of Britain.

  Gwynn's knowledge of the sun, moon and constellations gave

  him the ability to read the calendars and predict future

  events.

       Gwythyr son of Greidyawl had captured Creddylad

  daughter of Nudd.  Gwynn pursued them, and when he finally

  caught up with them he engaged in combat with Gwythyr.

  Arthur intervened and sent Creddylad home to her father and

  put a geis on the two dragons to fight over her every

  Beltainn until doomsday, when the winner would have

  Creddylad as a prize.

       Gwynn was known to have the ferocity of the fiends of

  Annwn (The Underworld) and he rode Dubh, the black horse of

  Moro Oerfeddawg.  As the leader of the wild hunt, he

  collected the souls of the fallen heroes and led them to

  The Otherworld.

 

 

NAME         Gwythyr ap Greidyawl

ALTERNATIVE  Gwythur

GENDER       M

FESTIVAL     Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)

CATEGORY     warrior

CULTURE      Cymry (tribes that fight side by side)

COUNTRY      Wales

AGE          Post-Roman

DATES        AD 6th c

RELATIVES    son of Greidyawl

ENEMIES      Gwynn

SEE ALSO     Arthur / Creddylad / Culhwch / Gwynn ap Nudd /

             Isbaddaden / Olwen

REMARKS      Gwythyr son of Greidyawl captured Creddylad

  daughter of Nudd.  They were then pursued by Gwynn ap Nudd

  and when he finally caught up with them, the two males

  engaged in combat.  Arthur intervened and sent Creddylad

  home to her father and put a geis on the two dragons to

  fight over her every Beltainn until doomsday, when the

  winner would have Creddylad as a prize.

       Because Gwythyr had once saved a colony of ants from a

  fire, they helped him reap the harvest of 9 lots of linseed

  that Culhwch had to turn into linen for Olwen's wedding

  veil.  This solved one of the tasks which Isbaddaden had

  given to Culhwch.

 

 

NAME         Gyptis

GENDER       F

CATEGORY     rigbean (noble woman)

TYPE         daughter of a chieftain

CULTURE      Ligurian - Segobrigii tribe / Hallstatt

COUNTRY      France

CENTERS      Marseille

AGE          Iron

DATES        BC 7th c / BC 600 ca. (founding)

RELATIVES    Euxenos (husband)

REMARKS      Gyptis invited Euxenos the Phocaean to marriage

  by offering him wine from a golden cup.  He was one of the

  founding leaders of Marseille.