Celtic Gods: The Cymric Hero, Gwenwynwyn (Thrice-blessed)

Gwenwynwyn
A Cymric Mabinogion Hero: Thrice-blessed

Gwenhwyfar is a Cymric (Welsh) hero known from the Mabinogi of Culhwch ad Olwen and the Welsh Triads where he is described as Arthur's foremost champion. He seems to be the son of Arianrhod and Naf and thus a deity and his attributes make him a sea or maritime god.



Synonyms:
Cym: Thrice-blessed

Gwenwynwyn is another rather shadwoy figure, a legendary figure who survives in references in the tale of Culhwch ac Olwen and in triads 14 and 35 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein.

Culhwch ac Olwen gives his ancestry as Gwenwynywn mab Naw mab Seithfed in the lists of the four sons of Seithfed. The Llyfr Coch variant of Culhwch ac Olwen also describes Gwenwynwyn as 'Arthur's foremost champion'. Triad 14 of Trioedd Ynys Prydein describes Gwenwynwyn mab Naf as one of the 'Three Seafarers of the Island of Britain'. Triad 35 mentions Gwenwynwyn as a member of the third levy 'that departed the Island and did not return'. Here Gwenwynwyn is a member of the host of Caswallon, along with Gwnar his brother, both being the sons of Lliaws son of Nwyfre.

Naw and Naf are the same patronymic and as Rachel Bromwich has shown in the Trioedd Ynys Prydein the patronymic Lliaws of triad 35 is derived from Niaws, a corruption of Naf (lord). This would make Gwenwynwyn and his brother, the sons of Arianrhod and Naf by the lineage shown above.

Gwenwynwyn's name represents gwyn (white/blessed) repeated three times and can be interpreted to mean thrice-blessed.



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