Llŷr ( cy, Llŷr Llediaith (); ''Lleddiaith'' meaning "half-speech" or "half-language") is a figure in
Welsh mythology, probably originally a deity, probably derived from Irish
Ler ("the Sea"), father of ''
Manannán mac Lir''.
Other than his progeny and odd titbits, his identity remains obscure.
Llŷr appears as the father of
Brân,
Brânwen and
Manawydan by
Penarddun Penarddun is a figure in Welsh mythology, the wife of Llŷr. The Second Branch of the ''Mabinogi'' names Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan as her children by Llŷr, and ascribes to her two additional sons by Euroswydd: Nisien, a good man, and Efnysien ...
in the
''Branwen, Daughter of Llyr'', the Second Branch of the ''
Mabinogi''.
[, New Revised ed. 1993, p. 21, "Bendigeidfran son of Llŷr was crowned king.. His two brothers on the mother's side (Nisien and Efnisien) were sons of Euroswydd by his mother Penarddun."]
The
Welsh Triads states that Llŷr was imprisoned by
Euroswydd Euroswydd is a figure in Welsh mythology, the father of Nisien and Efnysien by Penarddun, daughter of Beli Mawr. In the Second Branch of the '' Mabinogi'' Penarddun is the wife of Llŷr, by whom her children are Brân, Branwen, and Manawydan. ...
, and presumably, Penarddun subsequently married Euroswydd, giving birth by Euroswydd to her two younger sons,
Nisien
Nisien is a figure in Welsh mythology, the son of Penarddun and Euroswydd and twin brother of Efnysien. He appears in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, which names Brân the Blessed, Branwen, and Manawydan
Manawydan fab Llŷr is a figure of Wels ...
and
Efnisien, as stated in the
Second Branch.
[
]William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's play ''King Lear
''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane a ...
'' is based on material taken secondhand (through Raphael Holinshed) from Geoffrey of Monmouth's mythical king King Leir
''King Leir'' is an anonymous Elizabethan play about the life of the ancient Brythonic king Leir of Britain. It was published in 1605 but was entered into the Stationers' Register on 15 May 1594. The play has attracted critical attention princ ...
, who has often been connected, but is likely unrelated, to Llŷr.
The House of Llŷr
(*) Unbordered names are figures not in Llŷr's line of descent, though perhaps members of the extended family.
(*) This stemma is subject to further elaboration. If the Beli above is to be equated with Beli Mawr then Caswallawn
Cassivellaunus was a historical British military leader who led the defence against Julius Caesar's second expedition to Britain in 54 BC. He led an alliance of tribes against Roman forces, but eventually surrendered after his location was revea ...
stands as Penarddun's sibling. But Bromwich observes that Penarddun should be emended to being the sister of Beli, which would bring consistency with statement elsewhere that Caswallawn and Brân are cousins.[, endnotes, p.284- on "Bran Vendigeit m. Llyr".]
See also
*The House of Dôn
Notes
References
;(Dictionaries)
*, p. 301, under "Llŷr".
*
*The New Companion to the Literature of Wales, Meic Stevens.
;(Texts)
*
*
*Gantz, Jeffrey (translator) (1987). ''The Mabinogion''. New York: Penguin. .
*Jones, Gwyn; Jones, Thomas (1993). ''The Mabinogion''. London: Everyman. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Llyr
Mabinogion
Sea and river gods
Welsh gods
Welsh mythology
Mythological characters