Rhiannon is a key figure in the Mabinogi, a collection of medieval stories from Wales. While the stories have been Christianized over the centuries, many of these figures still retain attributes that we associate with deities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This suggests that these figures either were<\/em> deities whose roles and importance were deliberately toned down, or that they were syncretized with older gods and goddesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her story is a tragic one, though she triumphs in the end. She has also been adopted by various modern Pagan traditions as a full-fledged goddess in her own right, allowing her to further triumph over the medieval scribes’ attempts to reduce her deific status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rhiannon first appears in the First Branch of the Mabinogi. She’s spotted at Gorsedd Arberth by Pwyll, prince of Dyfed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Arrayed in gold and riding a shining horse, Pwyll is immediately captivated. He sends his fastest riders after her to no avail — no matter how swiftly they ride, she easily outpaces him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pwyll’s luck isn’t any better. It’s only when he stops and beseeches her to stop that he’s finally able to reach her. She teases him in return, pointing out that she would’ve stopped had he but asked her — after all, she was seeking him out in order to marry him, since she no longer wanted to be with her husband Gwawl ap Clud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, Pwyll’s rash nature continues to cause problems for the couple. At their wedding feast, a beggar approaches and asks Pwyll for a favor. Pwyll promises him anything he can give. The beggar, however, is Gwawl, and he demands Rhiannon back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through clever trickery, Pwyll and Rhiannon get Gwawl to give up his claim to her. She’s finally able to marry Pwyll, but it isn’t long before the kingdom begins clamoring for an heir to the throne. A year later, Rhiannon gives birth to a fine son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Misfortune strikes the couple again, as Pwyll and Rhiannon’s son vanishes one night. Terrified of being punished for misplacing the baby, one of Rhiannon’s maids kills a puppy and smears Rhiannon’s face and hands with its blood. When Rhiannon awakens, the maids claim that she’d eaten the baby in a fugue state.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAbout Rhiannon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n