Celtic Gods: The Cymric Hero, Euroswyd (Splendid Foe)

Euroswyd
A Cymric Mabinogi Hero: Splendid Foe

Euroswyd is a Cymric (Welsh) hero known from the Welsh Triads and the Mabinogi of Branwen ferch Llŷr where he is the father of sacred twins and the enemy of the god, Llŷr.



Synonyms:
Cym: Splendid Foe

References to Euroswyd are found in the the Trioedd Ynys Prydain and the Mabinogi of Branwen ferch Llŷr. In the Mabinogi he is presented as the second husband of Penarddun, the father of the cosmic twins Nissien and Efnissien and the step-father of Brân and Branwen.

Were it not for a single reference in the Trioedd Ynys Prydain then his myth would be entirely lost. In triad 52 Euroswyd is being the captor of one of the 'Three exalted prisoners of the Island of Britain'. His prisoner being Llŷr Lledyeith (half-speech/half-nation). This points towards there being an emnity between Euroswyd and Llŷr and that Euroswyd somehow managed to oust Llŷr and replace him as Penarddun's husband though the precise tale is lost.

The name Euroswyd contains the Cymric word aur (gold) and the archaic form *oswyd (enemy); thus the name can be interpreted as 'Splendid Foe' and might be a reference to his enmity with Llŷr.



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