Celtic Gods: The Cymric Hero, Glwyddyn Saer (Door-man, the Mason)

Glwyddyn Saer
The Cymric Arthurian Hero, Glwyddyn Saer: Door-man, the Mason

Glwyddyn Saer is a Cymric (Welsh) hero known from the MAbinogi of Culhwch ac Olwen, the oldest Arthurian tale, where he is named as the one who constructed Ehangwen, Arthur's hall.



Synonyms:
Cym: Door-man, the Mason

Glwyddyn Saer is known only from a single mention in the narrative of Culhwch ac Olwen where it is said: 'Glwyddyn Saer who constructed Ehangwen (blessed or white spread), Arthur's Hall'.

No meaning has been presented for Glwyddyn's hame. His descriptive saer means carpenter and/or stonemason; it is possible that his forename is a compound of Clwyd (gate or door) and dyn which would make him Door-man the Mason. Could he therefore, as well as being the constructor of Arthur's court, have been Arthur's porter as well? This is interesting in light of the possibility, as discussed by Rachel Bromwich in the Trioedd Ynys Prydain that Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr who is usually taken to be Arthur's proter is actually the porter of Gwrnach Gawr. Certainly one of the functions of the door-keeper would be the upkeep of the Llys, so a mason/carpenter would fulfil this function well.

In function Glwyddyn might also be the wood/stone-working counterpart of the iron-working Gofannon.



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