Taliesin

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Taliesin , also Taliessin (* approx. 534 ; † approx. 599 ) was probably a historical bard in Britain . He is considered to be the author of the earliest surviving works in the Welsh language . It is believed that Taliesin held the position of bard at at least three British royal courts of his time.

Historical biography

Alleged birthplace of Llyn Geirionydd
The grave of Bedd Taliesin

After History Of The Britons ( "History of the Britons") Taliesin lived in North in the second half of the 6th century England and is likely therefore that the language Cumbrian have used. The Historia counts him among the Medieval Welsh Literature (whale. [ 'Kanveirð' ]), the first known by name poets of the British Celts. In the Cymrian language , he probably wrote numerous poems, which are collected in the Llyfr Taliesin ("The Book of Taliesin") from the early 14th century. However, Ifor Williams assigned him only 12 of these works with certainty due to content and language comparisons. These songs and poems are dedicated to historically verifiable kings, for example those of Powys and Elmet . Most of his works, however, deal with King Urien of Rheged . Some of the events described therein have also come down to other sources. Even cautious historians therefore assume that the verses addressed to Urien actually date from the 6th century. The others were created later and already treat him as a historical person or legendary figure.

Mythological biography

According to another tradition, first recorded in the 16th century, Taliesin was the foster son of the King of Ceredigion . According to the same tradition, Taliesin is said to be buried near the places of his childhood in Ceredigion. The shores of Lake Llyn Geirionydd at the foot of Carnedd Llewelyn in North Wales is also named in Llyfr Coch Hergest ("The Red Book of Hergest") as the place of his birth. Bedd Taliesin is the listed remnant of a Bronze Age round cairn in which, according to legend, the poet is buried.

In the story Branwen ferch Llŷr (" Branwen , the daughter of Llŷr ") Taliesin is mentioned as one of the few Welsh people who return to their homeland from Ireland . In Culhwch ac Olwen ("The Story of Culhwch and Olwen ") he is a retainer of King Arthur . In the Englynion y Clyweid ("The Proverbs of the Wise") Avaon, the son of Taliesin, is ascribed the phrase "Cheekiness does not hide the fear of the heart" .

Gwion Bach

Hanes Taliesin ("The Story of Taliesin") is a mythical tale about his youth, in which he originally carried the name Gwion Bach [ gwion baːx ] ("Little Gwion"). This story can be traced back to the 9th century but was not recorded until the 16th century. It is contained in the "Weltchronik" by Elis Gruffydd (* ~ 1490, † 1552).

reception

The English hard rock band Deep Purple released the album The Book of Taliesyn in 1968 , named after the above. Llyfr Taliesin .

The Taliesin and Taliesin West studios were used by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a summer and winter residence.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Taliesin  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ^ Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of the Celtic religion and culture. P. 93 f.
  2. ^ Ifor Williams : The Poems of Taliesin . Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin 1968. pp. Xxvi ff.
  3. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Pp. 730, 871.
personal data
SURNAME Taliesin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Taliessin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION welsh bard
DATE OF BIRTH at 534
DATE OF DEATH at 599