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Gwenddydd
A Cymric Myrddinic Heroine: Blessed Day
Gwenddydd is a Cymric (Welsh) hero of the Old North known from the Welsh poem 'The Dialogue between Myrddin (Merlin) and his sister, Gwenddydd' and the Merlinic poems in the Black Book of Carmarthen where she is portrayed as Myrddin (Merlin's) sister. |
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Cym: Blessed Day
Gwenddydd is known from two sources: a single poem contained within the Llyfr Coch Hergest known as the Cyfoesi Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer (The Dialogue between Myrddin (Merlin) and his sister, Gwenddydd). The poem is of the discourse type with the stanzas alternating between Gwenddydd as the querent and Myrddin as the responder. She asks him who will succeed the heroes of old (most being the heroes of the sixth-century old North of Rheged, Catraeth and Ystrad Clud) whereas Myrddin responds with the heroes of the Cymric north (ie Gwynedd). The poem portrays Gwenddydd as Myrddin's twin sister and takes place during Mryddin's madness (his Myrddin Wyllt phase). The last king in the poem is a 'Henry' who may be Henry I or Henry II, dating the poem to the early or mid 1100s which would make it contemporanous with the other Cyfoesi/Ymddiddan poems.
Gwenddydd is also known from a reference in a poem known as Yr Afallennau (The Apple Trees) contained within the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin. The poem relates part of the tale of how Myrddin became mat at the battle of Arfderydd (c 573 CE) At the battle, Myrddin's nephew, the son of his sister Gwenddydd was killed as was his lord, Gwenddoleu. Before the battle's close Myrddin went mad and he flees to Coed Celyddon (The Caledonian Woods) where he lived a wild life in constant terror of pursuit by Rhydderch Hael. Though in both poems, the Afallennau and the Ymddiddan Myrddin a Gwenddydd ei Chwaer Gwenddydd is presented as Myrddin's sister, in other tradditions she protrayed as his mistress hich would make Gwenddydd's son Myrddin's own son.
Beyond this there is little to be inferred about Gwenddydd's character save that she is a pesonage of the Cosmic Twin archetype and may represent Myrddin's awen or poetic spirit.
If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.
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