Chapter 18

GODS / HEROES / WARRIORS

P - Peith (Guelder Rose) - Tree Alphabet / (─┼┼┼─) Line Ogham

NAME Paris

EPITHET The Protected

ALTERNATIVE Parigii / Alexander

GENDER M

CATEGORY warrior / chieftain

TYPE chariot warrior / connoisseur of beauty

CULTURE Trojan / Goidel - Parisii tribe

COUNTRY England

REGION Cambridgeshire

TERRITORY Troad

LANDMARKS Wash / Mount Ida

CENTERS Troy (Gogmagog Hills)

AGE Bronze

DATES BC 13th c / BC 1240 (defeat of Troy)

BATTLES Trojan War

RELATIVES Priam (father); Hecuba (mother); Hector and

Helenus (brothers); Oenone (wife); Helen

(consort)

ENEMIES Achaean / Danann

SEE ALSO Athena / Aphrodite / Eris / Hera / Hector / Hera

/ Helen / Menelaus / Priam

REMARKS When Paris was born, the filidh warned that he

would cause damage to Troy, so he was fostered to the high

chieftain's cowherd on Mount Ida. There he grew up with

the local cattle herders and married the maiden Oenone. One

day, Paris was asked by the gods to judge a beauty contest

between the 3 goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. The

contest was a result of the action by Eris, goddess of

strife. She was angry about not being invited to a banquet

and had thrown a golden apple into the feast with the

inscription "To the Fairest".

All 3 goddesses tried to bribe Paris: Hera offered

power and riches, Athena offered wisdom and Aphrodite

offered him the love of the most beautiful woman in the

world. Paris pronounced Aphrodite the most beautiful.

Not long after the contest, Paris discovered his true

identity. With his link with the ruling family now

ascertained, he left his wife and went off to visit

Menelaus, the head chieftain of Lacedaemon. As Helen, the

wife of Menelaus, was the most beautiful woman in the

world, Aphrodite caused her to fall in love with the

handsome Paris and when Menelaus was away in Crete, Paris

abducted her and returned to Troy. This triggered an

invasion of Troy by the allies (Achaeans) of Menelaus.

Paris proposed that if he fought a duel with Menelaus

it could end the war. The winner would keep Helen and all

her possessions (i.e. the strategically-placed gateway to

the silver mines of Lacedaemon and the Mediterranean).

However, Paris was lacking in warrior skills and had to be

rescued by Aphrodite, who caused him to disappear in a

cloud during the duel. Even after this obvious loss of the

combat, the Trojans refused to honor their agreement so the

Achaeans escalated their hostilities.

During the war, Paris was wounded by a poisoned arrow

and finally returned home to his wife, Oenone daughter of

the river deity Cebrenus. She refused to heal him, so he

returned once more to Troy, where he died.

NAME Partholon

ALTERNATIVE Bartholome / Parrtholoin / Parrtholon /

Parthalon / Partholon {pahr-thol'-lun}

GENDER M

SYMBOL 1 eye

FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)

CATEGORY deity / warrior / druid / Ri Ruirech

TYPE god of agriculture / master of every art / head

chieftain

CULTURE Partholean tribe

COUNTRY Turkey / Ireland

TERRITORY Phrygia / Munster

LANDMARKS Black Sea / Magh Sen nElta (Old Plain of Flocks)

SITES Da Econd (Two Fools) / Inber Scene / Slemna

AGE Bronze

DATES BC 19th c

BATTLES Magh Ibha

RELATIVES Sera (father); Dealgnaid (wife); Senboth,

Laighlinne, Slainge, Rudraidhe, Eber, Er, Orba,

Ferann and Fergna (sons); Aidne, Aife, Aine,

Fochain, Muchos, Melepard, Glas, Grennach,

Ablach and Gribendach (daughters); Becsomus and

Tat (brothers); Nemhedh and Tuan (great-

grandnephews); Magog (ancestor)

ENEMIES Fomorii / Cichol Grichenchos

SEE ALSO Cichol Grichenchos / Ciocba / Dealgnaid / Eber /

Fis / Fochmart / Laighlinne / Magog / Nemhedh /

Rudraidhe / Senboth / Slainge / Tath / Tuan mac

Starn

REMARKS Partholon son of Sera was a descendant of Magog

son of Iafeth. Partholon's father, Sera, was the ruler of

Phrygia, a territory in modern-day Turkey.

Partholon and his followers attempted a coup but it

failed and he lost an eye in combat with his father. After

7 years in exile, Partholon returned with a shipload of

mercenaries and "burnt a house over his mother and father".

He then made his older brother Becsomus the new ruler of

Phrygia.

Partholon then left his homeland and led his people in

search of new lands. Their boats (barks) carried 1000

people including his wife Dealgnaid; 3 sons and chieftains

Laighlinne, Slainge and Rudraidhe plus their wives Iafe,

Ciocba and Nerbgene; 10 daughters Aidne, Aife, Aine,

Fochain, Muchos, Melepard, Glas, Grennach, Ablach and

Gribendach and their husbands Brea, Bronnad, Ban, Carthenn,

Ecnach, Athcosan, Luchraid, Lugaid, Ligair and Greber.

Partholon's voyage from Phrygia to Ireland was

approximately 2½ month in duration and they landed on the

14th (16th/17th) day of the moon in the modern month of May

at the Da Econd (Two Fools) river. Another version of the

story said they made landfall 286 years after the Deluge at

Inber Scene (mouth of the Shannon) in Munster on the eve of

Beltainn.

Among Partholon's followers were his chief attendant

Ith; his steward Beoil; his 3 druii Tath (Consolidation),

Fis (Knowledge) and Fochmare (Enguiry); his poet (Saith)

and leech (Barcorp Ladra); his 3 champions Milchu, Meran

and Muinechan; his advisor and son Senboth; his 7 farmers

Tothacht, Imus, Aitechbel, Cuil, Dorcha, Dam and Toba

(Tarba/Topa/Todhga); his tail-ploughman (Rimead) and head

ploughman (Tairrle); his coulter (Fetain) and share

(Fodbach); and most important his 4 oxen Lee, Leemag,

Imaire and Etirge.

After their 10th year in Ireland the Partholeans

fought the battle of Magh Ibha at Slemna against the

Fomorii, who were led by Cichol Grichenchos. The first

week was a battle of magic which went against the Fomorii.

Next came a battle of solid weapons in which the

Partholeans were again the victors.

Partholon was hit by a poison dart and died of those

wounds 19 years later. He was buried on Magh Sen nElta

(Old Plain of Flocks). The plain was so named because

nothing would grow on it, so flocks of birds enjoyed

sunning themselves there.

After Partholon's death, 4 of his sons made the first

division of Ireland. Er the eldest ruled a province from

Ailech Neit to Ath Cliath of Laigen. Orba ruled a province

from Ath Cliath of Laigen to the island of Ard Nemed.

Feron's territory was from Ard Nemed to Ath Cliath and

Fergna's province was from Long Medraige to Aileech Neit.

NAME Penarddun

EPITHET Head of the House

ALTERNATIVE Penarddun {pen-ath'-un}

GENDER F

CATEGORY rigbean (noble woman)

TYPE Sovereign (Penarglwyddiaeth / Penaduriaeth)

CULTURE Belgae - Catuvellauni tribe

COUNTRY England / Wales

REGION Hertfordshire / Essex / Gwynedd {Gwin-eth} /

Clwyd {clud}

TERRITORY Gaul / Belgica / Lloegr / Gwynedd

AGE Iron

DATES BC 2nd-1st c

RELATIVES Digueillus (father); Mynogan (mother); Beli

(brother); Llyr (1st husband); Manawyddan

(son); Euroswydd (2nd husband); Nissyen and

Evnissyen (sons); Lludd, Cassubellaunos,

Llevelys, Nynniaw (nephews); Capoir

(grandfather)

SEE ALSO Beli Mawr / Cassubellaunos / Euroswydd /

Evnissyen / Llevelys / Lludd / Llyr / Manawyddan

/ Nissyen / Nynniaw

REMARKS Penarddun was the supreme head of house of Beli

Mawr (progenitor). They were the Catuvellauni tribe of the

Belgae culture who migrated from Gaul to Lloegr (England)

and settled in present-day Hertfordshire and Essex.

Penarddun married Llyr and was mother to Manawyddan. The

marriage helped tie the two cultures of the Belgae and the

Goidel of Lloegr together. Penarddun then married

Euroswydd and bore his two children Nissyen and Evnissyen.

This forged a link with the Danann and the gold channel

from Ireland to Britain and Gaul.

NAME Plennydd

EPITHET The Beam of the Radiant One (Tes ys Plennydd)

ALTERNATIVE Belennydd

GENDER M

CATEGORY deity / druid

TYPE sun god / astronomer

CULTURE Pictish / Briton

COUNTRY France / England

REGION Brittany / Cornwall

TERRITORY Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr

LANDMARKS Loire

SITES Ynys Prydain (Island of the Pretani)

AGE Iron

DATES BC 6thc / BC 550 ca.

SEE ALSO Prydain

REMARKS When Gorboduc the high chieftain of Britain was

growing old, Porrex plotted to murder his brother. Ferrex

heard of the plot and escaped to the continent where he

raised an army of warriors. He sailed back to Britain but

was killed in the battle that followed.

Porrex's mother had always favored Ferrex and sought

revenge by hacking Porrex to pieces while he slept. After

his death, Britain was thrown into chaos with civil wars

among the tribes until the coming of Prydain to Cornwall

with his Pictish warriors of the La Tène A period.

NAME Poseidon

EPITHET Earth-Shaker

GENDER M

CATEGORY deity

TYPE sea god

CULTURE Achaean

TERRITORY Gaul

AGE Bronze

DATES BC 13th c / BC 1240 (defeat of Troy)

BATTLES Trojan War

ACCESSORIES chariot and golden-maned horses / trident

RELATIVES Cronos (father); Rhea (mother); Tyro (wife);

Neleus and Nestor (sons); Amphitrite (wife);

Triton (son); Thoosa (wife); Polyphemus (son);

Zeus, Dis (brothers); Hera and Demeter

(sisters); Galatea and Thetis (sisters-in-law);

Achilles (nephew); Ouranos (grandfather); Gaia

(grandmother)

ENEMIES Troy

SEE ALSO Achilles / Dis / Galatea / Hera / Nestor / Zeus

REMARKS When the universe was divided up between Zeus,

Dis and Poseidon, Poseidon was allotted the sea. He was

not happy with his allotment and fought Zeus over it, but

lost. As punishment for not accepting his fate he was made

to work for the chieftain of Troy, Laomedon, for whom he

built the fortress walls. Laomedon did not reward Poseidon

as he had promised, so Poseidon sent a sea-monster which

destroyed the countryside and periodically demanded the

sacrifice of a maiden until it was killed by Heracles

(Belenos). Poseidon supported the Achaeans during the

Trojan War.

Poseidon was portrayed as having a sea-going chariot

drawn by golden-maned horses with brazen hooves. He

carried a trident and lived in a raith at the bottom of the

sea. He was considered responsible for storms and

earthquakes. Poseidon's son Polyphemus was the cyclops

("round-eyed") who had only one eye.

NAME Priam

GENDER M

CATEGORY warrior / Rix

TYPE chariot warrrior / high chieftain

CULTURE Trojan / Goidel

COUNTRY England

REGION Cambridshire

TERRITORY Troad

LANDMARKS Wash

CENTERS Troy (Gogmagog Hills)

AGE Bronze

DATES BC 13th c / BC 1240 (defeat of Troy)

BATTLES Trojan War

RELATIVES Laomedon (father); Hecuba (wife); Hector, Paris,

Troilus, Deiphobus and Helenus (sons); Polyxena

and Cassandra (daughters); Dardanus (ancestor)

ENEMIES Achaean / Danann

SEE ALSO Achilles / Belenos / Hector / Odysseus / Paris /

REMARKS Priam was the high chieftain of Troad during the

time of the Trojan War. The alternate name Dardanians came

from his ancestor Dardanos, high chieftain of Troad. As

high chieftain, Priam supported 50 foster-sons and 50

foster-daughters. His father Laomedon had held that

position before him and incurred the vengeance of Poseidon

and then Heracles by failing to deliver promised rewards.

Priam was the only one of his father's sons to survive

Heracles's (Belenos's) wrath. His filidh had warned him

about Paris's future actions causing trouble for Troy, so

he sent him into seclusion when he was an infant.

Priam was already an elderly man when the actions of

his son Paris triggered the invasion of his land by the

Achaeans. He had many warriors and 3000 horses at his

disposal, but the invaders were also great in number and

well-equipped. Finally after 10 years, the Trojans were

able to gain ground when the chief combat warrior of their

enemy, Achilles, withdrew from battle.

His defeat occurred when his son Hector killed

Patroclus, a chieftain and best friend of Achilles.

Achilles then went into a warrior's frenzy and much to his

horror, Priam watched as his unarmed son Hector was

slaughtered by Achilles, dragged off to the enemy camp and

left for the dogs.

The old ruler decided to risk a solitary visit to

Achilles at his camp, to negotiate the return of his son's

body. Achilles, who was by then cooled down, returned

Hector's remains which had not yet been touched by the

dogs. They agreed on an 11-day truce in order to permit

suitable burial rites for Hector.

After 10 years of war, Troy was finally destroyed when

Odysseus contrived the use of the Trojan Horse. Priam was

killed by Neoptolemus, son of Achilles.

NAME Prisciliano

GENDER M

CATEGORY druid

TYPE philosopher

CULTURE Celtiberian

COUNTRY Spain

REGION Galicia / Leon

SITES Santiago de Compostela

AGE Post-Roman

DATES AD 4th c / AD 345 (birth) / AD 385 (beheaded)

ENEMIES Christian church

REMARKS In the AD 4th century, a Celtic Galician named

Prisciliano was teaching a doctrine of druidic beliefs and

developed a large following of believers in Galicia and

Leon.

Prisciliano's initiates walked barefoot in order to

stay in contact with the forces of the earth. They were

sun worshippers, abstained from eating meat and retreated

to hermitages in the holy mountains along with their

families and servants.

This belief in the mixing of the sexes in their

spiritual retreats was opposed by the developing Christian

religion. During the council of Zaragoza in AD 380 the

male-dominated Christian council condemned Prisciliano to

death. After waiting 5 years, the church beheaded him for

his threatening beliefs.

There is a popular belief among scholars and Galician

nationalists that the body at Santiago de Compostela is

that of Prisciliano and not St James.

NAME Prydain

EPITHET Father of Beauty

ALTERNATIVE Cloten / Clotten / Pryd (seasonal time) /

Prydain (principles of the seasons) / Prydein

GENDER M

SYMBOL horse

CATEGORY deity / warrior / Brenin / ovate

TYPE chariot warrior / head chieftain / law maker

CULTURE Pictish - Trinovantes (Lloegrwys) tribe / Briton

COUNTRY France / England

REGION Brittany / Cornwall

TERRITORY Gaul / Llydaw / Lloegr

LANDMARKS Loire

AGE Iron

DATES BC 6th c / BC 550

RELATIVES Aedd Mawr (father); Dyvnwal Moelmud (son)

SEE ALSO Aedd Mawr / Dis / Dyvnwal Moelmud

REMARKS Prydain was of the Trinovantes tribe near the

mouth of the Loire river in Brittany. He led Pictish

warriors from Llydaw (Brittany) to Lloegr (England) where

they landed at Cornwall. They were also known as the

Lloegrwys tribe, or the children of Lloegr. In Lloegr,

Prydain suppressed the "Dragon Tyranny" which was a state

of constant warfare between tribes. He then became head

chieftain and established a system of laws.

His title Prydain is the Brythonic name for the Picts

(Pretini). He and his people brought the La Tène A period

to Britain and in time they became known as the Britons.

NAME Pryderi

EPITHET The Golden-haired Youth

ALTERNATIVE Pryderi {pri-dehr'-ee, prid-er-ree, pri-dair'-y}

(Anxiety/Trouble) / Gwri Gwallt Eurin (Gwri

Golden Hair)

GENDER M

SYMBOL horse

FESTIVAL Beltainn (Brilliant Fires)

CATEGORY hero / warrior / druid / Brenin

TYPE horse warrior / artificer / head chieftain

CULTURE Danann / Demetae tribe

COUNTRY Wales

REGION Dyfed / Glamorgan / Powys

TERRITORY Dyfed / Ceredigion / Morgannwg / Ystrad Tywr /

Seisyllwch

LANDMARKS Prescelly Mountains / Maenawr Coed and Maenawr

Bennardd

SITES Oxford / Maen Tyriawig above Melenryd (buried)

CENTERS Caer of Gorsedd Arberth (mound of Arberth)

AGE Iron

DATES BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES Ath Cliath

ACCESSORIES supernatural boars

RELATIVES Rhiannon (mother); Arawn (father); Pwyll (step-

father); Teyrnon (foster-father); Pendaran Dyfed

(foster-father); Cigva (wife); Manawyddan (step-

father)

ENEMIES Matholwych / Cassubellaunos / Llwyd / Gwyddion

SEE ALSO Arawn / Bran / Cassubellaunos / Cigva / Gwawl

fab Clud / Gwyddion ap Don / Gwyn Glohoyw /

Llwyd fab Cil Coed / Manawyddan mab Llyr / Math

/ Matholwych / Pwyll / Rhiannon / Teyrnon

REMARKS The child that was born to Rhiannon and Pwyll on

the eve of Beltainn disappeared while his mother slept and

her maids were inattentive. He was found by Teyrnon and

was raised by him and his wife who named him Gwri Golden

Hair. Pryderi was born at the same time as Teyrnon's mare

foaled a colt. The colt was trained for Gwri and became

his own horse.

When Gwri was 7 years old it was discovered that he

was in fact the son of Rhiannon (Sovereign) and Pwyll, the

head chieftain of Dyfed. Pendaran Dyfed gave Gwri Golden

Hair the new name Pryderi (anxiety or trouble) because of

the trouble his disappearance had caused.

Pryderi led his warriors to Ireland under the war

leader Bran and was one of the 7 who survived the battle of

Ath Cliath against Matholwych, the high chieftain of

Ireland. When Pryderi finally returned home he found that

his father was dead, having been killed in battle defending

his territory against the Belgae chieftain Cassubellaunos.

Eventually Pryderi had to recognize Cassubellaunos as

the Rix of southern England and Wales and went to pay

homage to him at Uffington Castle, a Belgae stronghold and

spiritual center. Pryderi began to rule his territory and

in time he acquired the 3 cantrefs of Ystrad Tywi and the 4

cantrefs of Seisyllwch.

Pryderi suggested to Manawyddan, another survivor of

the Ireland campaign and cousin of Cassubellaunos, that he

should marry Pryderi's mother. Manawyddan was one of the 3

humble chieftains who had no land until he married Rhiannon

and acquired the 7 cantrefs of Dyfed to rule.

Pryderi married Cigva, daughter of Gwynn the Splendid,

and the family ruled jointly from Gorsedd Arberth (mound of

Arberth) which is present-day Narberth. One evening as the

four nobles sat on the supernatural hill Arberth,

everything around them disappeared except their fortress.

For a while they lived on their supplies but soon

those were gone and they had to survive by hunting and

fishing. Soon the four tired of this primitive existence

and went to England looking for work as artificers. There

they had many adventures until they grew weary and went

back to their fortress in Dyfed.

One day while hunting, Pryderi and Manawyddan saw a

white boar with red ears. Their dogs began a chase and as

the hunters followed they saw the boar and dogs enter a

strange white fort that they had never seen before. Pryderi

entered the fort, against Manawyddan's advice.

Inside the fort Pryderi saw an empty courtyard with a

white fountain set in a marble base. Coming out of the sky

were four chains suspending a golden cauldron above the

marble base. The cauldron was a work of beauty and

Preyderi stepped forward onto the marble base to touch it.

As soon as he touched the cauldron, he lost his power of

speech, his hand stuck to the cauldron and his feet to the

base. Manawyddan, after seeing the white boar, then the

dogs and now Pryderi all disappear into the white fort

without a sound, went back to Arberth hall to tell Rhiannon

and Cigva. Rhiannon was angry at Manawyddan for leaving

Pryderi in trouble and raced to the mysterious fort. When

she entered the gates she saw Pryderi holding onto the

cauldron and went over to see what was wrong but as soon as

she stepped onto the marble base she became stuck as well

and the fort disappeared without a trace.

They realized that they had been taken prisoners by a

wizard named Llwyd who was extracting revenge for his

friend Gwawl who had been the loser in the courting of

Rhiannon. While he was a prisoner, Pryderi was given the

lowly task of gate-hammerer for the fort and had to carry

the heavy knockers about his neck. Pryderi and his mother

were lucky that Manawyddan was able to trick the wizard

into returning him, his mother, their people and their

possessions to Dyfed.

Pryderi was forced into a war with Math, head

chieftain of Gwynedd, when Math's nephew Gwyddion used his

talents to trick Pryderi into exchanging his supernatural

boars, a present from Arawn of Annwn, for an illusion of 12

horses, 12 dogs, 12 shields, all of which were decorated

with gold but soon disappeared after the boars were take

away.

Pryderi and his warriors rode after Gwyddion but were

confronted by a larger force led by Math. Pryderi

suggested that the difference was between himself and

Gwyddion and they should settle the matter in combat. The

two dragons of combat fought between Maenawr Coed and

Maenawr Bennardd. Pryderi was killed in the fight and was

buried at Maen Tyriawig (Maen Twog, Maen Tyfyawg) above

Melenryd.

NAME Pwyll

EPITHET Head of Dyfed / Master of Hades (Pen Annwn)

ALTERNATIVE Pwyll {pool, pwill, poo-ull}

(wisdom/deliberation/prudence)

GENDER M

CATEGORY hero / warrior / Brenin

TYPE horse warrior / head chieftain

CULTURE Briton - Demetae tribe

COUNTRY Wales

REGION Dyfed

TERRITORY Dyfed

LANDMARKS Prescelly Mountains

SITES Glynn Cuch / The Otherworld (Annwn)

CENTERS Caer of Gorsedd Arberth (mound of Arberth)

AGE Iron

DATES BC 2nd-1st c

BATTLES Seith Marchawg - The Seven Horseman

ACCESSORIES cauldron of plenty

RELATIVES Rhiannon (wife); Pryderi (stepson)

ENEMIES Gwawl / Llwyd / Casswallawn

SEE ALSO Arawn / Caradawg / Cassubellaunos / Gwawl /

Heveydd / Llwyd / Pryderi / Rhiannon / Teyrnonn

REMARKS One day Pwyll was sitting with some friends on

the mound of Gorsedd Arberth, the royal seat of Dyfed. The

mound had the supernatural qualities that if people of

noble spirit sat upon the hill they would either be hit and

wounded or they would have a vision. As the company of

friends sat on the mound a maiden of great beauty wearing a

golden cloak and riding a white mare came out of nowhere

and rode past them without speaking.

No one knew who she was, so Pwyll sent a rider to ask

her name and whereabouts but no matter how fast he rode he

could not get any closer. Next day as he was sitting on

the mound the same maiden rode by and again he asked

someone to catch up with her but again the rider failed.

Then Pwyll himself rode after her and asked her to stop,

for the sake of the man whom she loved. She halted her

horse and gave her name as Rhiannon, daughter of Heveydd

the Ancient.

Rhiannon explained that she was being forced to marry

someone she did not love and that if Pwyll would not have

her then she would remain unmarried. Pwyll replied that if

he had all the women on earth to choose from he would

choose her. Rhiannon then invited Pwyll to a festival the

following year.

Pwyll arrived at the caer of Heveydd the Ancient with

100 warriors. He was seated with Rhiannon to his left and

her father on the right. While they were feasting, a young

red-haired warrior from the north appeared. The handsome

youth said he had come to ask a favor of Pwyll and

unwittingly Pwyll said he would grant him anything in his

power. Rhiannon then informed Pwyll that this was Gwawl,

the suitor from the north that she did not want to marry.

She scolded Pwyll for making the worse possible use of his

wit. Gwawl said that he would like to have the bride

Rhiannon and the feast for himself. Rhiannon, being quick

of thought, told Gwawl that this was not the bridal feast

and he would have to come back in 12 months' time.

Rhiannon devised a plan where Pwyll would act as a

beggar with a supernatural bag that could not be filled.

All worked out for the best and Rhiannon and Pwyll were

married and all was pleasant until after the 3rd year when

Rhiannon still was not pregnant. The people of Dyfed

became unhappy because Pwyll, as the head chieftain, had to

be successful with sovereignty if the tribe was to prosper

and as yet there was no child.

While hunting one morning in the woods of Glynn Cuch,

Pwyll noticed a pack of white hounds with red ears chasing

a stag. Pwyll put his own hound onto the stag and began to

chase them when he was overtaken by the owner of the dogs,

a handsome noble dressed in gray and riding a dapple gray

horse. The man introduced himself as Arawn, a chieftain of

Annwn, and he critized Pwyll for the way he had set his

hound on a quarry that his own hounds had already run down.

Pwyll apologized and offered to make amends. Arawn

then told Pwyll of his problem with a rival chieftain in

Annwn named Heveydd. If Pwyll would agree, Arawn would use

his sorcery to change their shapes so that each would look

like the other. Then Pwyll would go to Annwn looking like

Arawn and govern for the year and Arawn in Pwyll's form

would govern Dyfed. At the end of the year, Pwyll would

meet Havgan in combat and defeat him. Pwyll must remember

to deal him one blow and no more, otherwise Heveydd would

rise stronger than before and Pwyll would lose.

Pwyll agreed and went to govern Annwn but met an

unexpected situation when he was introduced to Arawn's

wife. Pwyll was courteous to her and treated her as a wife

during the day but when night came and they retired to bed

he never touched her but slept facing the wall.

When the day of combat came, Pwyll disguised as Arawn

met his father-in-law Heveydd Hen at a river ford to do

battle. They fought from horseback and in the first

contact Heveydd was thrown from his horse and landed on the

ground. He begged Pwyll to hit him again but Pwyll had

been warned and refused to touch him. Pwyll then took his

army and conquered the whole of the territory, making

himself Master of Annwn.

When the appointed time arrived, Pwyll went back to

Glynn Cuch and met with Arawn. They exchanged bodies and

returned to their own homes. Pwyll found Dyfed very

healthy and when he asked his people how he had ruled in

the past year they told him that his rule had been

exceptionally good. He then told his people the story of

how he and Annwn had switched places. The two leaders then

swore a pact of friendship, giving each other many gifts of

great wealth.

Rhiannon also benefitted from the exchange and gave

birth to a boy, but he disappeared the night he was born.

Rhiannon was accused of killing the baby and was punished

by being made to carry any visitors on her back from the

entrance gate to the hall and tell them the story of what

she had done. Seven years later, Teyrnon the chieftain of

Gwent ys Coed arrived with a boy whom he believed was the

son of Rhiannon and Pwyll. The council all agreed the boy

was the missing son, and he was named Pryderi.

During the invasion of Ireland against Matholwch,

Pwyll remained in Dyfed as one of the 7 Horsemen (Seith

Marchawg) to guard Wales. He was killed in a battle when

Dyfed was attacked by the Belgae chieftain Cassubellaunos.