Cad Goddeu

Cad Goddeu or Kat Godeu ( "The Battle of Goddeu ", also called " Battle of Trees" ) is an Welsh poem is about the supplies in Llyfr Taliesin ( "Book of Taliesin " ) from the 14th century. Decorated in dark, almost incomprehensible verse poem of 74 verses tells the story of a dispute between Gwydyon and Arawn.

Content

Through the brother of Gwydyons Amaethon committed against Arawn theft of a dog, a roe buck and a Kibitzes the fight is triggered. During this battle, both sides fight with magical means ( Arawn revives a forest ), each page is different Geis (Tabu ) performances. The forces of Gwydyon could be defeated only if the name was his companion, Lady Achren guess; her name is supposed to mean trees. Arawn's forces were on the other hand will only be frustrated if the name of his fighter Bran was guessed. Gwydyon to uncover Brans name succeeds, so he wins the fight.

Esoteric

In Robert Graves book " The White Goddess" represents each of the 34 plant names that fought in the battle, one of the letters of the Druidic Ogham alphabet. According to Graves controversial hypothesis Gwydyon won the fight because he guessed the name of Bran, as this was a conical branch - the alder was loud Graves interpretation of one of the main symbols Bran in Celtic mythology. In fact, far ( " Alder " ), the Irish symbol name of the Ogam character in question, bran means in Welsh and festlandskeltisch " Raven". Graves ' hypothesis is decisively rejected by most scholars of (see at Birkhan ).