In Welsh mythology, Olwen (or Olwyn) is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden and cousin of Goreu. She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion. Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch (sometimes spelled as Kilhwch) comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks which he must complete before he can win her hand. With the help of his cousin King Arthur, Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.
In the tale Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion, she is described as a vision of beauty: wearing a flaming-red dress with a red-gold torc and many golden rings, she has "hair yellower than the broom", red (ruddy) cheeks, white skin and pale hands. She is also depicted as having the ability to spring white flowers from every step she takes.[1][2]
Other talesedit
The name "Olwen" reappears in the non-Arthurian folktaleEinion and Olwen, about a sheep herder who travels to the Otherworld to marry Olwen; they later have a son named Taliesin.[2][3] The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is related to Culhwch and Olwen.
English author and publisher of the Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest noted that Olwen became the object of later poetry by Dafydd ap Gwilym and Sion Brwynog. The latter begins a poem with the verse Olwen gulael lan galon ("Olwen of slender eyebrow, pure of heart").[4]
Etymologyedit
The meaning of the name Olwen is "white footprint"[5] or "white track".[2] According to legend, she was so gentle and fragile that white trefoils would grow in her footprints. Some authorities consider her to have been originally a solar goddess, based on the etymology of her name and light-related attributes.[6][7]
Professor John T. Koch states that "recent Welsh generally employs olwyn rather than rhod for 'wheel'."[8]
^Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. McFarland and Company. 2013. p. 260. ISBN978-0-7864-7111-9
^ abcBruce, Christopher W., ed. (1998). "Olwen ('White Track')". The Arthurian Name Dictionary. Routledge. p. 384. ISBN978-1-136-75538-5.
^"The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries: Section I: The Living Fairy-Faith: Chapter II. Taking of Evidence: V. In Wales". www.sacred-texts.com.
^The Mabinogion, from the Llyfr Coch o Hergest and Other Ancient Welsh Manuscripts; with an English Translation and Notes by Lady Charlotte Guest. Part IV. Containing Kilhwch and OlwenPublication Recor. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans. 1849. p. 320.
^Simon Andrew Stirling, The Grail: Relic of an Ancient Religion, 2015
^Monaghan, Patricia. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Folklore. Facts on File. 2004. p. 369. ISBN0-8160-4524-0
^Koch, John T. (1989). "Some Suggestions and Etymologies Reflecting upon the Mythology of the Four Branches". Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium. 9: 1–10. JSTOR 20557203.
January 01, 1970
olwen, tanker, a122, welsh, mythology, olwyn, daughter, giant, ysbaddaden, cousin, goreu, heroine, story, culhwch, mabinogion, father, fated, ever, marries, when, culhwch, sometimes, spelled, kilhwch, comes, court, given, series, immensely, difficult, tasks, w. For the tanker RFA Olwen see RFA Olwen A122 In Welsh mythology Olwen or Olwyn is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden and cousin of Goreu She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion Her father is fated to die if she ever marries so when Culhwch sometimes spelled as Kilhwch comes to court her he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks which he must complete before he can win her hand With the help of his cousin King Arthur Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies allowing Olwen to marry her suitor Contents 1 Description 2 Other tales 3 Etymology 4 Notable persons with this name 5 See also 6 ReferencesDescription editIn the tale Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion she is described as a vision of beauty wearing a flaming red dress with a red gold torc and many golden rings she has hair yellower than the broom red ruddy cheeks white skin and pale hands She is also depicted as having the ability to spring white flowers from every step she takes 1 2 Other tales editThe name Olwen reappears in the non Arthurian folktale Einion and Olwen about a sheep herder who travels to the Otherworld to marry Olwen they later have a son named Taliesin 2 3 The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is related to Culhwch and Olwen English author and publisher of the Mabinogion Lady Charlotte Guest noted that Olwen became the object of later poetry by Dafydd ap Gwilym and Sion Brwynog The latter begins a poem with the verse Olwen gulael lan galon Olwen of slender eyebrow pure of heart 4 Etymology editThe meaning of the name Olwen is white footprint 5 or white track 2 According to legend she was so gentle and fragile that white trefoils would grow in her footprints Some authorities consider her to have been originally a solar goddess based on the etymology of her name and light related attributes 6 7 Professor John T Koch states that recent Welsh generally employs olwyn rather than rhod for wheel 8 Notable persons with this name editOlwen Brogan British archaeologist Lady Olwen Carey Evans DBE daughter of British Prime Minister David Lloyd George Olwen Fouere Breton Irish actress on stage and in film Dame Olwen Hufton British historian of early modern Europe women s history and social history Olwen Wymark American playwright and author Olwen Davies Headmistress of St Swithun s School and St Mary s Hall and sister of the conductor Meredith Davies British singer actress Petula Clark born Petula Sally Olwen Clark Olwen Burton American physicist and scientist See also editList of solar deitiesReferences edit Bane Theresa Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology McFarland and Company 2013 p 260 ISBN 978 0 7864 7111 9 a b c Bruce Christopher W ed 1998 Olwen White Track The Arthurian Name Dictionary Routledge p 384 ISBN 978 1 136 75538 5 The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries Section I The Living Fairy Faith Chapter II Taking of Evidence V In Wales www sacred texts com The Mabinogion from the Llyfr Coch o Hergest and Other Ancient Welsh Manuscripts with an English Translation and Notes by Lady Charlotte Guest Part IV Containing Kilhwch and OlwenPublication Recor London Longman Orme Brown Green and Longmans 1849 p 320 Welsh ol footprint track and gwen white fair blessed cited from http www behindthename com name olwen Simon Andrew Stirling The Grail Relic of an Ancient Religion 2015 Monaghan Patricia The Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Folklore Facts on File 2004 p 369 ISBN 0 8160 4524 0 Koch John T 1989 Some Suggestions and Etymologies Reflecting upon the Mythology of the Four Branches Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium 9 1 10 JSTOR 20557203 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olwen amp oldid 1166957735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
