Llyn Llyw: the Brythonic pool of the oldest animal

The Llyn Llyw is a mythological pool on the River Severn known from the Mabinogion of Culhwch ac Olwen. In Culhwch ac Olwen the hero of the tale, Culhwch is fated to only marry one woman, Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Pencawr (chief of the giants). But before Culhwch can marry Olwen, first he must find her and then he must undertake a series of impossible tasks set by her father, Ysbaddaden. One of these tasks is to hunt the Twrch Trwyth. But before the the hunt can begin the master huntsman, Mabon fab Modron must be found. Culhwch gains the aid of his uncle, Arthur, and knights are despatched to the four conrners of the empires to seek information about him. They learn that Mabon had been taken from his mother, Modron when he was but three nights old and it was unknown as to whether he lived or died. Gwrhyr Gwalstawd Ieithoedd, Cei and Bedwyr are sent by Arthur on the quest for his (Arthur's) cousin Mabon fab Modron. Gwrhyr is included on this quest because 'he knows all languages and is familiar with those of the birds and the beasts'. First they come to the oldest known creature, the Ousel of Cilgwri and Gwrhyr enquires as to what the bird knows of Mabon's whereabouts. The Ousel protests that it knows nothing of Mabon but points them in the directin of an even more ancient creature than itself, the Stag of Rhedynfre. Again Gwrhyr asks of his quest and the stag directs them to the Owl of Cwm Gwlwyd who directs them to the Eagle of Gwernabwy. Again, this bird has not heard of Mabon but it knows of one being older even than itself an directs them towards Llyn Llyw where the great Salmon lives. Finally, then encounter a creature who knows of Mabon and takes Cei and Gwrhyr upon his back to the prison where Mabon is held. Thus is Mabon found and freed by Cei and Bedwyr. Thus the inhabitant of Llyn Llyw is the classical mythological Celtic salmon: a beast of great age and wisdom/knowlege.

The Cymric Salmon of Llyn Llyw lived in a pool on the river Hafren (severn) and the association of magical salmon and the Severn is probably an ancient one, as a depiction of the god Nudd/Nodons from Lydney Park in Gloucestershire shows a figure (probably Nodons) hooking a salmon from the river. In this context even the name of the pool is interesting as Llyn Llyw literally means 'the pool/lake of leadership'. Thus the great salmon of Llyn Llyw might once have been associated with sacral kingship. A function that might once have been linked to the functions of the Severn's tutelary goddess Sabrina/Habrena.

The association of salmon with wisdom is a common Cymric and Irish theme, and in the Irish tradition salmon gain wisdom by consuming hazelnuts. In this respect, the number of spots on a salmon's back is supposed to represent the number of nuts consumed. Even when not directly embodying wisdom salmon the traditions talk of salmon carrying important information between people. This would indicate that Llyn Llyw on the Severn (the course of the river is shown on the left) might well have been enclosed by a hazel grove. Thus the pool would have been doubly sacred: being enclosed in ints own Nemeton (a Collnemeton or a hazel grove) as well as being a pool, a place linked in Celtic mythos to the netherworld.

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