Rhiannon is a Goddess from Welsh mythology who appears in the Mabinogi, specifically the first and the third branches. She is depicted as a beautiful woman, and is heavily associated with horses.
In the first branch, the Prince of Dyfed, named Pwyll, travels to a sacred ancestral mound which can either show a marvel, or deal blows to a person. Rhiannon appears at the mound and promises the prince a marvel. She later visits his court, dressed in gold and riding a shining white horse; she herself is the marvel Pwyll was promised. Pwyll sends his horsemen riding after her, but they never catch her. He even chases her himself, but she only stops when he begs him.
Rhiannon states that she wishes to marry the prince; she is already betrothed to Gwawl ap Clud, but she would prefer to marry the prince. He agrees, and the wedding is planned. However, at the wedding feast Gwawl appears, although Pwyll does not realise who this man is. He asks that Pwyll grant him one request, and Pwyll agrees without first hearing what the request is. Unsurprisingly, Gwawl requests Rhiannon be returned to him so they can be married.
Understandably, Rhiannon is none too pleased with this arrangement and Pwyll's agreement to the request without first hearing what was actually being requested. However, she devised a plan; at the wedding feast for herself and Gwawl, Pwyll was to dress as a begger and request that Gwawl fill a small bag of food for him. Unbeknown to Gwawl, Rhiannon would bewitch the bag so that it would never fill, at least not by 'normal' means. Pwyll does as Rhiannon asks, and in an effort to combat the magic placed upon the bag, Gwawl himself climbs inside. This allows Pwyll to trap Gwawl in the bag, at which point he is beaten by Pwyll's guards until he agrees to give Rhiannon up. Rhiannon finally marries Pwyll, and returns to Dyfed to rule as Queen.
After a couple of years of happy marriage, Pwyll begins to be pressured by the nobles of his court to produce an heir. In the third year, Rhiannon gives birth to a baby boy. However, whilst in the care of Rhiannon's maids, on the night of his birth, the baby goes missing. Terrified of the consequences, the maids kill a puppy and smear the blood on the sleeping Rhiannon's face, and when she awakes they accuse her of eating the baby. Unable to refute the claims, Rhiannon accepts punishment for this crime, and was condemned to sit at the gates of the castle every day and recount her tale to travellers passing through. She must also offer to carry them on her back. However, Pwyll will still not denounce her, and she remains as Queen despite her alleged crime. But where exactly did the baby disappear to?
In the first branch, the Prince of Dyfed, named Pwyll, travels to a sacred ancestral mound which can either show a marvel, or deal blows to a person. Rhiannon appears at the mound and promises the prince a marvel. She later visits his court, dressed in gold and riding a shining white horse; she herself is the marvel Pwyll was promised. Pwyll sends his horsemen riding after her, but they never catch her. He even chases her himself, but she only stops when he begs him.
Rhiannon states that she wishes to marry the prince; she is already betrothed to Gwawl ap Clud, but she would prefer to marry the prince. He agrees, and the wedding is planned. However, at the wedding feast Gwawl appears, although Pwyll does not realise who this man is. He asks that Pwyll grant him one request, and Pwyll agrees without first hearing what the request is. Unsurprisingly, Gwawl requests Rhiannon be returned to him so they can be married.
Understandably, Rhiannon is none too pleased with this arrangement and Pwyll's agreement to the request without first hearing what was actually being requested. However, she devised a plan; at the wedding feast for herself and Gwawl, Pwyll was to dress as a begger and request that Gwawl fill a small bag of food for him. Unbeknown to Gwawl, Rhiannon would bewitch the bag so that it would never fill, at least not by 'normal' means. Pwyll does as Rhiannon asks, and in an effort to combat the magic placed upon the bag, Gwawl himself climbs inside. This allows Pwyll to trap Gwawl in the bag, at which point he is beaten by Pwyll's guards until he agrees to give Rhiannon up. Rhiannon finally marries Pwyll, and returns to Dyfed to rule as Queen.
After a couple of years of happy marriage, Pwyll begins to be pressured by the nobles of his court to produce an heir. In the third year, Rhiannon gives birth to a baby boy. However, whilst in the care of Rhiannon's maids, on the night of his birth, the baby goes missing. Terrified of the consequences, the maids kill a puppy and smear the blood on the sleeping Rhiannon's face, and when she awakes they accuse her of eating the baby. Unable to refute the claims, Rhiannon accepts punishment for this crime, and was condemned to sit at the gates of the castle every day and recount her tale to travellers passing through. She must also offer to carry them on her back. However, Pwyll will still not denounce her, and she remains as Queen despite her alleged crime. But where exactly did the baby disappear to?
Teyrnon was the lord of Gwent-Is-Coed in South-East Wales, a horse lord who bred beautiful mare foals every midsummer Eve. However, every year the foals started to go missing. One year, he takes his mare into his house and watches over her as she gives birth. As the foal is born, a monsterous, clawed hand appears through the window, trying to snatch the foal. Teyrnon attacks the hand with his sword and rushes outside to confront the monster, but when he arrives he finds that the monster is gone. Instead, by the door is a human child. He raises the child as his own, but notices that the child grows at a supernatural speed, and seems to have a special connection with horses. Not only that, but he bore an uncanny resemblance to Pwyll, and Teyrnon eventually realises that this must the son of the King. He returns the child to Pwyll and Rhiannon, and they call him Pryderi. He later goes on to marry Cigfa of Gloucester.
In the third branch, war has broken out against the Irish, and two survivors return to Wales; Pryderi and Manawydan. The King of Britain was killed during the war, and they discover that Manawydan's nephew, Caswallon, has taken the throne. As the throne rightfully should have passed to Manawydan, he decides to go to war against his nephew to reclaim the Kingship. Pryderi allows him to marry the now widowed Rhiannon, and they take residence at Gorsedd Arberth. However, one day a magical mist descends on the land and when it parts, all domesticated animals and people have disappeared, save for Rhiannon, Pryderi, Manawydan, and Cigfa.
The four travel from place to place, hunting and crafting to make a living. They eventually return to Dyfed, and whilst out hunting Pryderi and Manawydan discover a magical white boar. They follow it, and it leads them to a newly built tower. Pryderi enters the tower, against Manawydan's advice, and is trapped. Manawydan returns to Rhiannon, who chastises him for leaving Pryderi behind, and she sets out to rescue him herself. However, as she does the magical mist returns and Pryderi, Rhiannon, and the tower disappear. Manawydan sets out to find them, and it is discovered that this has all been an act of vengeance against Rhiannon for her treatment of Gwawl, perpetrated by the magician Llwyd ap Cilcoed, who had been a friend of Gwawl's. Eventually all are reunited and the land of Dyfed is restored.
Rhiannon is associated with the Otherworld, being able to travel between that and the physical world. She is skilled enough at magic to be able to use it when needed to her advantage, and is smart and cunning. It has been suggested that several of her actions are motivated by love, such as the love she has for her son, and so she is also associated with love and relationships; however, this is not an association that resonates strongly with me. Personally, I see more as a Goddess who advocates for what is right, for fairness and justice. She is a great deity to call upon to aid you in finding the confidence to follow your own path, in helping you to see the bigger picture, and to move forward with peace and quiet strength.
In the third branch, war has broken out against the Irish, and two survivors return to Wales; Pryderi and Manawydan. The King of Britain was killed during the war, and they discover that Manawydan's nephew, Caswallon, has taken the throne. As the throne rightfully should have passed to Manawydan, he decides to go to war against his nephew to reclaim the Kingship. Pryderi allows him to marry the now widowed Rhiannon, and they take residence at Gorsedd Arberth. However, one day a magical mist descends on the land and when it parts, all domesticated animals and people have disappeared, save for Rhiannon, Pryderi, Manawydan, and Cigfa.
The four travel from place to place, hunting and crafting to make a living. They eventually return to Dyfed, and whilst out hunting Pryderi and Manawydan discover a magical white boar. They follow it, and it leads them to a newly built tower. Pryderi enters the tower, against Manawydan's advice, and is trapped. Manawydan returns to Rhiannon, who chastises him for leaving Pryderi behind, and she sets out to rescue him herself. However, as she does the magical mist returns and Pryderi, Rhiannon, and the tower disappear. Manawydan sets out to find them, and it is discovered that this has all been an act of vengeance against Rhiannon for her treatment of Gwawl, perpetrated by the magician Llwyd ap Cilcoed, who had been a friend of Gwawl's. Eventually all are reunited and the land of Dyfed is restored.
Rhiannon is associated with the Otherworld, being able to travel between that and the physical world. She is skilled enough at magic to be able to use it when needed to her advantage, and is smart and cunning. It has been suggested that several of her actions are motivated by love, such as the love she has for her son, and so she is also associated with love and relationships; however, this is not an association that resonates strongly with me. Personally, I see more as a Goddess who advocates for what is right, for fairness and justice. She is a great deity to call upon to aid you in finding the confidence to follow your own path, in helping you to see the bigger picture, and to move forward with peace and quiet strength.
