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Somerset bard.
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Somerset bard
Hi everyone,
I’m doing some research for a herbal project, which has led me to the story of Blodeuwedd. Does anyone happen to know what the Middle Welsh terms are that are used in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi to name the flowers – Oak, Broom and Meadowsweet? I have access to a modern Welsh version, but can’t seem to find the original Middle Welsh on line, and I wonder if they are different?
Many thanks if anyone can help!
DowrgiHi there,
I believe the terms are:
blodeu y deri (flowers of oaks)
blodeu y banad(y)l (flowers of broom)
blodeu yr erwein (flowers of meadowsweet)The passage reads:
‘Ac yna y cymerasant hwy blodeu y deri, a blodeu y banadl, a blodau yr erwein, ac o’r rhei hynny, aswyno yr un forwyn decaf a theledicaf a welas dyn eiroed.’Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi, gol. Ifor Williams, 1930, (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd), tud. 83.
Notes:
– deri is the plural form of dâr (oak)
– banadl/banadyl – the spelling varies slightly across manuscripts, but the meaning is stable (broom)
– erw(e)in / erwen / erwein – the Middle Welsh term for meadowsweet; erwain/erwaint, brenhines or llysiau’r forwyn in contemporary Welsh.Bennathow,
/|\DowrgiPS: The Middle Welsh spellings can vary a little – the spellings given above are normalised/standardised Middle Welsh.
If you look on Archive, and/or consult the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru (historical Welsh dictionary) online, you can find variants.
Hope this helps!
Dowrgi, you’re a super star! Thank you so much :-)
DowrgiGlad to have been of some assistance.
A bit of extra information.
The word dâr, ‘oak tree’, can also carry a figurative sense in Welsh, referring to a mighty chieftain or warlord.
Meadow-sweet (Filipendula ulmaria) in English was originally ‘mead-sweet’, a name linked to its mediaeval use as a sweetener for mead. Another English name for meadow-sweet is ‘queen of the meadows’, and one of its Welsh names, brenhines, may likewise be used figuratively to refer to a queen or even a goddess. The Cornish word for meadow-sweet is medhles – ‘mead-plant’.
Broom, banadl, is cognate with Cornish banadhel and Breton balan. Its derivation may trace back to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning either ‘a way or path’ or ‘to strike’. When broom was in full bloom, with abundant flowers, it was considered a good omen. It was also the emblem of the House of Plantagenet. Given that the Mabinogi manuscripts date to around the fourteenth century, and considering the strained relationship between the Welsh kingdoms and England at that time, this may hint — perhaps in true bardic fashion — at a pointed reference to Anglo-Welsh relations. This, I should stress, is only personal speculation.
Given the context of the Fourth Branch, and Blodeuwedd’s unhappy relationship with Lleu, it may be worthwhile to explore some of the deeper interpretive possibilities.
Regarding Blodeuwedd herself, it is worth noting that the origins of her name are not as straightforward as they may seem. Although Blodeuwedd (‘flower-face’) is the usual form, there are alternatives: Blodeufedd, which may connect the name to mead, and Blodeuedd, an older plural form simply meaning ‘flowers’. In light of the points discussed above, it is tempting to consider a possible association with mead and female sovereignty — a theme that recurs throughout Insular Celtic mythology and literature.
Bennathow,
/|\DowrgiAs an afterthought, in the mediaeval bardic world, nothing was ever just what it seemed. Puns, hints, symbolic choices and allusions were the mark of a skilled poet, so taking a story entirely at face value would miss half the fun. With that in mind, the Fourth Branch feels deliberately layered – the choice of oak, broom and meadowsweet for Blodeuwedd’s magical creation can hardly be accidental, and the different forms of her name — some tied to mead, others simply meaning ‘flowers’ — open the door to themes of sovereignty, ritual and transformation that run throughout Welsh and Irish mediaeval literature. You may also want to explore the Irish mythology of Bláthnat (Bláthíne), whose name means ‘little flower’ and whose sorrowful tale does indeed have some striking similarities or parallels with the themes found in the Fourth Branch.
Bennathow,
/|\Hi Dowrgi,
That’s all so interesting! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge; I really appreciate it! I’ve also read that Meadowsweet was part of Cù Chulainn’s belt that he used to calm his battle rage, and the plant is also used in modern emotional herbal medicine to calm anger and restless thoughts. You’ve sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole about mead circling and female sovereignty!
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