Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Website Faulkner-Stevens Art
One day Alanna was
playing with
her all of her figurines. When she was finished playing
with the figurines, she put her favorite figurine into her new jewelry
box for safekeeping. She then got ready for bed. After
Alanna had been lying down for a little while she heard a small noise
coming
from the other side of the room. She was very scared and thought
it might be in her imagination. However, the noise
continued. Alanna carefully crept out of bed and across the room
to try to figure out where the noise was coming from. She
discovered it was from the corner of the room where she kept all of her
dolls. The noise was coming from her jewelry box! She
picked up the box and slowly opened it up. Her figurine was
moving! Alanna looked at the goddess in disbelief, thinking it
must be a dream. Then the goddess Rhiannon spoke! She said,
"Hello." Alanna was in shock, but managed to return the
"Hello." Then the goddess said, "Let me tell you my story."
My name is
Rhiannon and I am
known
as the Welsh goddess of the moon and Divine Queen of the
fairies. I am also known as a mistress of the Singing
Birds. My birds are marvelous. The birds’ songs are so sweet that
warriors are granted a peaceful and spell-bound sleep for seven years
after listening to them, which is a wonderful trick.
My story is a tragic one.
It all started the day I was out riding my magically swift white horse, Epona. I was riding so quickly that it looked as though I was not touching the ground. It was that day that I appeared to Pwyll, the lord of Dyfed, and his men on the Mound of Wonders. I was dressed beautifully in a dazzling gold dress. Pwyll wore a purple robe with shimmering gold trim. When Pwyll saw me, he sent his fastest horsemen after me, but none could manage to catch me. I was quicker and I did not want them to catch me. However, Pwyll was persistent and did not want to give up and eventually managed to catch me by simply asking me to stop. As soon as he did, I immediately brought my horse to a halt. And that is where the trouble began...
I was so captivated by him that I became entranced and immediately fell in love. It was truly love at first sight. However, there was a problem with our love. I was engaged to be married. I did not love Gwawl, the man I was supposed to marry. It was an arranged marriage that I had no say in. The marriage was forced upon me. The only thing I could do was devise an elaborate plan so that Pwyll and I could be married. The plan was that Pywll would meet me in a year and a day at the court of my father.
The plan went perfectly. I tricked Gwawl easily because I knew his weaknesses. Gwawl was very lustful and often tried to seduce me. I always denied him, but one day, I put my plan into action. I decided to seduce him and lured him to my chambers. It was there I was able to trick him. I blindfolded him and was then able to trap him in a sack. After I trapped him, I transported him to Hefeydd, where he was wanted for stealing horses, a crime punishable by death.
Pwyll and I were happily married and it was not long before I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. We named him Pryderi. This is where our perfect story takes a turn for the worse.
Our beautiful boy vanished on the first night of his birth. All six of my maids were watching him and did not want to be punished for his disappearance. So, my maids betrayed me by smearing the blood of a puppy all over my face and hands so they would not be blamed for Pryderi’s disappearance. I did not know this at the time, so I when I woke up, I did not know what to think. Of course it looked as though I was guilty for having done away with my own child. I was punished for seven years. I was forced to spend those seven years by sitting outside the castle and telling my story to all of the passers-by who did not know it already. I then had to offer to carry the visitors into the court on my back, as if I were a horse.
My child, meanwhile, was kidnapped by the jealous Gwawl and turned up at the court of Teyrnon. He was found outside a stable when Teirnon was chasing a strange creature away from his home. Teirnon and his wife adopted my child. When Pryderi turned seven years old and was growing into young manhood, Teirnon recognized the child to be the son of Pwyll. He then returned Pryderi to Pwyll and me. We re-named him Pryderi, which means worry, and my punishment ended.
My story is a tragic one.
It all started the day I was out riding my magically swift white horse, Epona. I was riding so quickly that it looked as though I was not touching the ground. It was that day that I appeared to Pwyll, the lord of Dyfed, and his men on the Mound of Wonders. I was dressed beautifully in a dazzling gold dress. Pwyll wore a purple robe with shimmering gold trim. When Pwyll saw me, he sent his fastest horsemen after me, but none could manage to catch me. I was quicker and I did not want them to catch me. However, Pwyll was persistent and did not want to give up and eventually managed to catch me by simply asking me to stop. As soon as he did, I immediately brought my horse to a halt. And that is where the trouble began...
I was so captivated by him that I became entranced and immediately fell in love. It was truly love at first sight. However, there was a problem with our love. I was engaged to be married. I did not love Gwawl, the man I was supposed to marry. It was an arranged marriage that I had no say in. The marriage was forced upon me. The only thing I could do was devise an elaborate plan so that Pwyll and I could be married. The plan was that Pywll would meet me in a year and a day at the court of my father.
The plan went perfectly. I tricked Gwawl easily because I knew his weaknesses. Gwawl was very lustful and often tried to seduce me. I always denied him, but one day, I put my plan into action. I decided to seduce him and lured him to my chambers. It was there I was able to trick him. I blindfolded him and was then able to trap him in a sack. After I trapped him, I transported him to Hefeydd, where he was wanted for stealing horses, a crime punishable by death.
Pwyll and I were happily married and it was not long before I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. We named him Pryderi. This is where our perfect story takes a turn for the worse.
Our beautiful boy vanished on the first night of his birth. All six of my maids were watching him and did not want to be punished for his disappearance. So, my maids betrayed me by smearing the blood of a puppy all over my face and hands so they would not be blamed for Pryderi’s disappearance. I did not know this at the time, so I when I woke up, I did not know what to think. Of course it looked as though I was guilty for having done away with my own child. I was punished for seven years. I was forced to spend those seven years by sitting outside the castle and telling my story to all of the passers-by who did not know it already. I then had to offer to carry the visitors into the court on my back, as if I were a horse.
My child, meanwhile, was kidnapped by the jealous Gwawl and turned up at the court of Teyrnon. He was found outside a stable when Teirnon was chasing a strange creature away from his home. Teirnon and his wife adopted my child. When Pryderi turned seven years old and was growing into young manhood, Teirnon recognized the child to be the son of Pwyll. He then returned Pryderi to Pwyll and me. We re-named him Pryderi, which means worry, and my punishment ended.
I pretty much
accurately
followed the story except for a couple of
minor details:
I made up the name of Rhiannon’s horse. The name, Epona, is actually the name of another Celtic goddess that I think is known for having horses.
I made-up the “outfit” that Pwyll wore when he met Rhiannon. I thought purple with gold sounded pretty royal and luxurious, so he could appear to be captivating.
I also elaborated on the part where Rhiannon tricks Gwawl. The stories basically just said that Gwawl was lustful and prideful, so Rhiannon was able to trap him in a sack. I made up the “place” Hefeydd, which is actually the name of Rhiannon’s father (I just liked the sound of his name and it sounded like a cool place!).
Gwawl did not really steal a horse. I am not sure, but I do not think the stealing of horses is punishable by death. The idea just sort of came to me.
I included this story in my Storybook for the obvious reason - Rhiannon is my name! I wanted to learn the story behind the origin of my name. I thought this story was interesting mainly because we have the same name, but also because it is actually an interesting story. I loved all of the events that happened. It was a really unusual story.
This story contributes to my overall topic because it is the first of two stories that I am going to do on Celtic goddesses. I think it would be cool for people to just remember the basic story, that way they could say they know of a Celtic story. It is the first Celtic story I read and probably the first Celtic story for many others to read.
This story was told in a style similar to how the other stories in my Storybook will be told.
I made up the name of Rhiannon’s horse. The name, Epona, is actually the name of another Celtic goddess that I think is known for having horses.
I made-up the “outfit” that Pwyll wore when he met Rhiannon. I thought purple with gold sounded pretty royal and luxurious, so he could appear to be captivating.
I also elaborated on the part where Rhiannon tricks Gwawl. The stories basically just said that Gwawl was lustful and prideful, so Rhiannon was able to trap him in a sack. I made up the “place” Hefeydd, which is actually the name of Rhiannon’s father (I just liked the sound of his name and it sounded like a cool place!).
Gwawl did not really steal a horse. I am not sure, but I do not think the stealing of horses is punishable by death. The idea just sort of came to me.
I included this story in my Storybook for the obvious reason - Rhiannon is my name! I wanted to learn the story behind the origin of my name. I thought this story was interesting mainly because we have the same name, but also because it is actually an interesting story. I loved all of the events that happened. It was a really unusual story.
This story contributes to my overall topic because it is the first of two stories that I am going to do on Celtic goddesses. I think it would be cool for people to just remember the basic story, that way they could say they know of a Celtic story. It is the first Celtic story I read and probably the first Celtic story for many others to read.
This story was told in a style similar to how the other stories in my Storybook will be told.
Rhiannon
By Karen Davis
Encyclopedia Mythica
Rhiannon
By Patricia Monaghan
Goddess Gallery
Rhiannon – Great Queen of the Celts
By Rowen Saille
The White Moon Gallery
The Next Story
Back to Storybook
Back to My Homepage
Email Rhiannon