Arianrhod and Her Sons

Math fab Mathonwy, King of Gwynedd, required a virgin to hold his feet whenever he was not at war. His niece, Arianrhod, was proposed for the role. To prove her purity, she stepped over Math’s magical wand, but as she did, she dropped two sons. The first, Dylan ail Don, immediately leaped into the sea, taking on its nature. The second, a small bundle, was snatched up by Arianrhod’s brother, the magician Gwydion, who hid it in a chest. When the boy grew, Gwydion presented him to his mother, but Arianrhod, shamed by the memory of her public failure, cursed the child. She declared he would never have a name unless she gave it, never bear arms unless she provided them, and never have a wife of any race that dwells on earth. Through powerful illusions and clever disguises, Gwydion tricked Arianrhod into naming the boy Lleu Llaw Gyffes and later into arming him during a phantom siege. Finally, to break the third curse, Gwydion and Math used magic to fashion a woman out of oak, broom, and meadowsweet blossoms. They named her Blodeuwedd, and she became the wife Lleu was destined to have.

“The fair-haired one has hit it with a steady hand.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of Arianrhod and Her Sons?

The story suggests that a mother's rejection cannot thwart a hero's destiny, though the methods used to circumvent curses can have lasting consequences. It also highlights the power of wit and magic over stubborn spite.

Who is Arianrhod in Welsh mythology?

Arianrhod is a powerful figure in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, often associated with the moon, stars, and fate. She is the daughter of Don and the mother of Dylan and Lleu Llaw Gyffes.

What were the three curses Arianrhod placed on Lleu?

Arianrhod placed three 'tynghedau' or destinies on her son: he would have no name unless she named him, no weapons unless she armed him, and no human wife.

How did Gwydion trick Arianrhod into naming her son?

Gwydion disguised himself and the boy as shoemakers. When the boy hit a wren with a single stone, Arianrhod remarked he was 'the fair-haired one with the skillful hand,' accidentally giving him the name Lleu Llaw Gyffes.

What happened to Arianrhod's first son, Dylan?

Dylan ail Don immediately took to the sea after his birth, acquiring the ability to swim as well as any fish. He is considered a Celtic sea deity and was later killed by his uncle Govannon.

How was the curse of the wife finally broken?

Since Lleu could not marry a woman of any race on Earth, the magicians Math and Gwydion used enchantments to create a woman out of flowers. This woman, Blodeuwedd, was not born of human flesh.