Celtic Gods: The Cymric Folk Hero, Seithennin (He who was born seventh)

Seithennin
A Cymric Folk-hero/Villain, also known as Seithenhin: He who was born seventh

Seithennin (Seithenhin) is a Cymric (Welsh) folk hero/villain known primarily from the tale of the drowning of Cantref Gwaelod. Originally he was a hero, saviour of Cantref Gwaelod in battle who saw the land he fought for lost by treachery. Over the generations, however, he evolved into the villain of the tale, the man who allows the sluice gates to be open over night, drowning the realm.



Synonyms: Seithenhin
Cym: He who was born seventh

Seithennin is a figure knwon from a single poem in the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin which is sometimes known as Boddi Maes Gwyddno (The Drowning of Gwyddno's Reaml) and sometimes known as Seithennin which presents a fragment of the early legend of Cantref Gwaelod the submerged land of Cymric legend. In the poem, Seithennin seems to be a hero and a warror; saviour of Cantref Gwaelod in battle who sees his land lost by the treachery and foolishness of Mererid, guardian of the sacred well of Cantref Gwaelod.

Over time, however, other versions of the drowning of Gwyddno's realm (which are all chronicled here. Over time it seems that Seithennin has evolved into the villain of the tale. In one version Mererid becomes the guardian of the sluice-gates and Seithennin is the prince of neighbouring realm of Caer Rhiog. He is in love with Mererid and one night manages to entice her he a feast at Gwyddno's court. They pass the night away: which just happens to be a stormy night with an unusually high tide. The sluice gates are left open and Cantref Gwaelod is submerged beneath the seas.

In the most recent vesion of the tale, Seithennin is entirely portrayed as the villain of the piece. He is a drunkard and it is he who leaves the sluice-gates open. Getting drunk at a feast he forgets to close the sluice gates and because of is folly and dereliction Cantref Gwaelod is drowned. It is interesting to note through the succession of the threee tales how Seithennin goes from hero to accomplice to villain.

Seithennin's name can be interpreted as being derived from the Cymric components seith (seven) and genni (birth) giving 'He who was Born Seventh'.



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