Beli Mawr

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Beli Mawr fab Mynogan ( Welsh [ 'beli maur vaːb mɘ'nogan ]: "Beli the great, son of Mynogan"), also Beli Mawr vab Manogan , is a figure from the Welsh legend. He is mentioned as the mythical ancestor of some Welsh noble families.

Mythology and Etymology

In the stories Breuddwyd Macsen ("Macsen's Dream") and Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys ("The Story of Lludd and Llefelys") and in the branches of the Mabinogi , he is King of Britain , son of Mynogan and partner of the Anu and the Dôn . His children include the sons Afallach , Lludd or Nudd, Llefelys , Gwydyon and Caswallawn as well as the daughters Penarddun and Arianrhod , his grandson is Gwynn fab Nudd .

“Do you have any news?” Said Manawydan . “No,” they said, “except that Caswallawn, the son of Belis, has seized the Isle of the Strong and is in London as the crowned king.” ( Branwen ferch Llŷr , “Branwen, Llŷr's daughter”)

Beli Mawr is considered a legendary figure whose name can perhaps be associated with the ancient Celtic deity Belenus . As with this one, his name could mean "The Radiant One". He is also compared to Irish legendary figures such as Balor , Dian Cecht and especially Bile . However, Birkhan has expressed his doubts about these interpretations.

Geoffrey of Monmouth names him in his Historia Brittonum Belinus filius Minocanni (in the original version as the son of Digueillus ), but also Hely , who took control of Gaul and Britain after a dispute with his brother Brennus. He also mentions him as an opponent of Caesar during the conquest of Britain by the Romans . However, there is nothing to be found in Geoffrey of a father Manogan or Mynogan.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts. P. 52.
  2. ↑ a b Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 584.
  3. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Pp. 663 f., 792.

See also