Welsh Journals

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THE GREAT PART PLAYED BY RADNORSHIRE IN CELTIC MYTHOLOGY. By Dr. G. ARBOUR STEPHENS. LLYN GWYN is a beautiful little lake delightfully situated a mile and a half south of Nantmel and only four miles-as the crow flies-from Llandrindod. It is edged to a great extent by pine trees and in it is a small island on which these trees grow-the whole forming a very pretty picture. Notwithstanding its attractiveness from a scenic point of view, very few visitors are ever induced to pay a visit to Llyn Gwyn. Gwyn, son of Nudd of the underworld, was king of the Fairies and we can quite understand the beauty of the place appealing to such highly intelligent little creatures, who no doubt made use of the circle represented today by the cresentic dyke and ditch, on the edge of the Lake. In addition to Llyn Gwyn there is Pistyll Gwyn and Gwynfaen, to serve as memorials to this king of the Fairies. The Helygen of Llanfihangel close by, is interesting as it suggests the willow grove of Ceridwen the Welsh earth or corn goddess. At Llanyre, or as it ought to be Llan Llyr the old Celtic god Llyr is represented, and it is interesting that he was the husband of Ceridwen, otherwise known as Peniardun, by whom he had Urien. This reminds one of Neptune as the husband of Ceres, by whom he had Orion. In this district is Dwfnant and one wants to know if this was one of the Arthurian 11 Dumnonias ? In this connection we must remember that Arthurianism was a cult of great importance, with a large number of initiated members all over Wales, and in fact Britain, so it is only to be expected that we should find a reduplication of place-names associated with the Arthurian ritual. It is also important to note that Arthurianism is found memorialized only in those districts where the Romans used to co-operate with the Celts. In this district of Radnorshire there is the camp at Castell Collen and another near Dolau. With the Roman roads running past New- bridge to the silver and lead mines of Cardiganshire and past Nantmel