Llew’s Making, Betrayal, and Return

Mabinogion

This flow traces Llew’s emergence from imposed restrictions through magical creation, betrayal, near-death, recovery, and vengeance.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Family Crime A Family Crime from "Mabinogion". Goewin’s Assault Abuse of Math’s custom Gilvaethwy desires Goewin, the maiden whose lap Math must rest his feet upon.

A Family Crime from "Mabinogion". Goewin’s Assault Abuse of Math’s custom Gilvaethwy desires Goewin, the maiden whose lap Math must rest his feet upon.

Goewin’s Assault Abuse of Math’s custom Gilvaethwy desires Goewin, the maiden whose lap Math must rest his feet upon. Gwydion engineers a war to draw Math away, and Gilvaethwy assaults her. Consequences spread Math punishes both nephews by transforming them into animals for successive years. Their private wrongdoing has already cost lives and disrupted the court’s order.

The Stolen Swine The Stolen Swine from "Mabinogion". Gwydion’s Deception A coveted gift Gwydion disguises himself as a bard and persuades Pryderi to exchange Annwvyn’s swine for magical-looking horses and hounds.

The Stolen Swine from "Mabinogion". Gwydion’s Deception A coveted gift Gwydion disguises himself as a bard and persuades Pryderi to exchange Annwvyn’s swine for magical-looking horses and hounds.

Gwydion’s Deception A coveted gift Gwydion disguises himself as a bard and persuades Pryderi to exchange Annwvyn’s swine for magical-looking horses and hounds. War and loss When the illusion fades, Pryderi pursues the thieves. Gwydion kills him in single combat, turning a clever theft into a lasting political and personal rupture.

Llew’s Birth and Ban Llew’s Birth and Ban from "Mabinogion". A Child Denied a Name Birth and abandonment Arianrod gives birth to Dylan and another child but refuses to acknowledge the second.

Llew’s Birth and Ban from "Mabinogion". A Child Denied a Name Birth and abandonment Arianrod gives birth to Dylan and another child but refuses to acknowledge the second.

A Child Denied a Name Birth and abandonment Arianrod gives birth to Dylan and another child but refuses to acknowledge the second. Gwydion secretly raises the hidden boy. Three imposed limits Arianrod declares that her son will have no name, arms, or wife unless she grants them. Gwydion’s resolve to answer each restriction defines the boy’s early life.

A Wife from Flowers A Wife from Flowers from "Mabinogion". Blodeuwedd Is Created A magical marriage Math and Gwydion form Blodeuwedd from flowers and make her Llew’s wife.

A Wife from Flowers from "Mabinogion". Blodeuwedd Is Created A magical marriage Math and Gwydion form Blodeuwedd from flowers and make her Llew’s wife.

Blodeuwedd Is Created A magical marriage Math and Gwydion form Blodeuwedd from flowers and make her Llew’s wife. Llew receives lands and becomes a popular ruler. A dangerous arrangement Blodeuwedd’s creation fulfills the prohibition against an ordinary bride, but it does not guarantee affection. The marriage’s magical origin leaves room for a different attachment to take hold.

The Eagle’s Recovery The Eagle’s Recovery from "Mabinogion". Betrayal and Restoration A disclosed weakness Blodeuwedd coaxes Llew into explaining the extraordinary conditions under which he can be killed.

The Eagle’s Recovery from "Mabinogion". Betrayal and Restoration A disclosed weakness Blodeuwedd coaxes Llew into explaining the extraordinary conditions under which he can be killed.

Betrayal and Restoration A disclosed weakness Blodeuwedd coaxes Llew into explaining the extraordinary conditions under which he can be killed. Gronw uses the information to strike him with a poisoned spear. A return to human form Gwydion follows a sow to Llew, now an eagle, and restores him with his wand. Llew heals, returns to power, and kills Gronw despite the stone he raises as a shield.

At the beginning of the fourth branch

After Math punishes his nephews

After Arianrod arrives at Math’s court

After Llew reaches adulthood

After Gronw’s attack at the bath