Finding Lost Gods in Wales
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- Опубліковано 4 тра 2023
- Since the late 19th century, scholars have thought the poetry and stories of medieval Wales, gathered in manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest and the Book of Taliesin, represent stories about pagan gods and goddesses - but recently this has been challenged. These books deal with magic and enchantment and contain vivid characters such as Rhiannon, the proud and wilful Arianrhod, the beautiful and treacherous flower-maiden Blodeuwedd, the decent and vulnerable Lleu Llaw Gyffes, and the supreme bard Taliesin.
A lecture by Ronald Hutton recorded on 26 April 2023 at David Game College, London.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/w...
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I wish Prof Hutton had his own show every week. I would watch hours and hours worth. His knowledge and delivery are an example in excellence
Agree!
100% agree
As a Cornishman, it is sometimes upsetting to realise that a majority of people think of us as 'English' per se. England over-ran Cornwall many years ago, eroding the Cornish identity to a larger extent. Our Cornish language has, to most intents and purposes, been replaced by the English language. This is the 'way of things'. However, contrary to popular belief, many Cornish folk of the older generation have never seen ourselves as 'English', merely somewhat 'Anglicised' by the numerically more prevalent Anglo-Saxons (English). Now here is an example of our differing identities. Quite recently, the Neo-Cornish language was re-introduced, as part of the curriculum, in certain Cornish educational facilities. "Nothing new there", I hear some say, but here's a thing. In the far South West of Cornwall, there is still, and always has been, a nucleus of us who speak the original Brythonnic, Cornish language. As a former miner, I have worked along-side men from the Penwith part of Cornwall, who are a part of these speakers of the Cornish language proper. Also, unlike the lowland Scots and English, we older generation Cornish have never spoke of witches, we speak of, "The little people": The Piskies. These are but two examples of a seperate identity structure that sets 'us' apart. Please do not get me wrong, I am no 'Cornish Nationalist, bristling with a self-righteous indignacy toward the 'English heathen', as my Grand-mother used to refer to the "Sowson". My wife is an Englishwoman, though the rest of my relations are of Breton, Welsh and Irish Republican decent. I am simply making a legitimate observation, which may, or may not, give rise to future exploration by Professor Ronald Hutton. "Piskies, Quoits and Fogus", say I and I.
East Anglia, once a Celtic stronghold, is also often overlooked as simply English, despite our distinct magical traditions, folklore, and remnants of Celtic language in counting rhymes, etc.
"What baffles us as scholars may be a gift to us as artists" Wonderful and true.
Yes, I love it.
…reminds me of the song, For Artists Only.
It's a great day when there's a new lecture from Prof. Hutton. Thank you!
The man is an utter clown! 😂😂😂
utter rubbish lecture!
it's HIM!!🙀🎉 He's been on Time Team a few times!!!
Indeed it is
@@davideddy2672 what are you on about?
MONKS HOWL LIKE A CHOIR OF DOGS!
Man that SLAPS! Fantastic stuff! Will definitely re-watch and take notes.
The best academic lecture I have heard about Welsh literature. I lived in Wales for 17 years. I love the Welsh.
Were you in the army there 'tin soldier'?
@dave_hoops why did you serve in the military Dave mate ?
So incredibly important to have lectures like this available to the public, especially at a time when certain groups and ill informed people are seeking to rewrite history to suit their own narrative through social media propaganda and pressure groups.
YES! I love listening to his lectures as long as these are available. Prof. Hutton is one of the few scholar, who still hold true culture in honor.
Prof. Hutton has true encyclopedic knowledge --LISTEN to him answer audience questions with such incredible specificity : dates, ancillary characters, etc.
A truly GIFTED SCHOLAR ❤
🤣😂🤣
@@davideddy2672imagine clicking a video just to laugh at the content, rather than watch something you appreciate, what a strange person you are
The way he speaks, him and people like Tolkien (I've heard his voice on tape from a reading he did in the 60s) just the rise and fall of his voices tempo. Captivating. I would love to attend a lecture of his.
Never thought I’d be listening to a lecture on Welsh gods… but here I am, and glad of it!
Me too...
As a Welsh person, thanks for this lecture on Welsh culture, you welsh pronunciation it's not bad actually. Im a proud welsh woman and will always be.🏴
I'm a Welshman who lives in a village near Bridgend called COITY and we have a beautiful castle here, it's great to see Welsh history being taught in England.
@@adamweston4152 I know Bridgend but not Coity, we are lucky in Wales hey we have beautiful castles etc & yes it is great that Welsh history being taught in England, wish it would also be taught outside the UK too as Wales don't seem to get mentioned outside the UK much. 🏴
@@adamweston4152 I know Coity well, I'm from Maesteg.
@@The4thDensity really, just up the road from me then. Caerau has got ancient castle ruins and caerau actually means land of castles..
@@adamweston4152 Hi Adam. Yeah I've been following that story about the ruins but it seems that the Welsh Authority isn't interested in preserving that area as a site of historical interest. All they are interested in is the holiday chalet park which has been in the planning for quite some time. It's all about the financial gain that it will generate, same old story. I used to play on the mountain Foel Fawr as a kid in the late 70's early 80's. Such a shame.
What a treat to hear such an interesting lecture about Wales. We are so often overlooked. The head of Bran is buried on a hill called Twm Barlwm near where I live, it's protected by a swarm of bees. That's what everyone around here believes anyway.
Diolch yn fawr Professor Hutton.
@Theresa323 - I agree. Wales is the ignored Celtic nation. Yet our literature, traditions and Cymraeg language are the last links to the Britonnic roots of Britain. The problem is that our history and traditions are so often reappropriated by ‘others’ that not many know of the original Welsh/Briton origins. Eg; Arthur is a Welsh name (Means ‘Great Leader/man’). Professor Hutton is a breath of fresh air. Inspirational.
The entire lecture, is one example of why I LOVE Professor Hutton so much! Thank you!
This is an amazing lecture as I'm Welsh and never got taught this in school.
I am German Austrian and I wish it would be possible to have a true scholar like him present our old culture in Such a manner. Sadly, this is unwanted since decades and with "political correctness" established, this wish won't ever be granted. 😢
Professor Hutton, always a delight. Never disappoints!
Interesting FLW house in Wisconsin is names Taliesan
FLW was Welsh -American so that’s the link
Oh, it's Professor Hutton? I can immediately click 'Like' with confidence :D
Wonderful talk with such love of Welsh culture. Thank you.
A wonderful lecture - a case where the supporting text slides were not needed because the speech was so clear and well delivered. Thank you.
The clarity of delivery and elegance of structure in Hutton's erudite analysis offers the listener an almost magical experience. A fascinating and intensely absorbing lecture. What a wonderful scholar he is.
Well said!
Insightful, witty, succinct and poetic at the same time. Excellent talk.
Burying Bran at the tower of london sounds like it might be related to the name Brân which welsh word translates to crow (oft interchangeable with the word for raven) which might have some connection to the ravens at the tower of london.
Also Avalon sounds the same in welsh as Afal lôn which would be 'apple lane'
Robert Graves, in his book 'The White Goddess', goes into the burial of Bran's head under the White Hill in London where it was to protect Britain from harm; after Arthur dug it up the country was unprotected, first the Vikings and then the Normans came. William built the White Tower over it as an act of subjugation and the rest of the Tower of London subsequently followed. The story of the Ravens protecting England is a continuation of Bran protecing Britain from invasion, perhaps if Arthur hadn't dug it up the Normans wouldn't have succeeded! Iolo Morganwg refers to it too in 'The Triads of Britain' #53 'The three concealments and disclosures of the isle of Britain' but of course that was Iolo, but it's still an interesting read.
Two hours after release i can sit here in Linköping, Sweden, and listen to this lecture, while indian-looking neighbors on the green practice cricket. The world is growing smaller.
I, a white Canadian woman of Scotch-Irish descent, now live next door to an indigenous family, Zapotecs, in SW Mexico.
Prof Ronnie is my fav! Big Ups Prof Ronnie Aitch! 💪🏽💪🏽😎😎✌🏽✌🏽
This lecture is one of the greats. I'd watch him any time.
Always a pleasure to hear Professor Hutton share his knowledge. Thankyou for the upload 🙏
My life long desire to hear the, best of all possible, pronunciation of these characters has come at last . Prof.Hutton triumphs again ! Wishing you at
Gresham all the best and thank you for posting these wonderful lectures .
The great and most esteemed professor Hutton , delivers another broadside to the good ship ‘ misconception’ thanks
Particularly interesting as my dear daughter is named Rhiannon. I always thought her story was about the contrast between royalty and humility.
Quakers appear to have adopted welsh/druid tolerance, anti slavery, wide sharing of wisdom of women, love of animals and more. As well as their basic pacifist philosophy .
This lecture is so packed with information that I shall have to listen to it all again.
Good lecture. Ive heard that the ancients that are associated with horses were the Tuatha Da Dannan. Their legends are part of the Irish legends so its very possible that Rhiannon was a part of these legends too, especially the horse association with her. Glad i found your channel. Been trying to look into our welsh histories ❤
I love Professor Hutton's bright, clear and always interesting lectures!
Kernow Bys Vyken. Us Cornish and our ballads are still here too
if i see a prof hutton video from gresham, i just click on it and like it before even watching it
Me too!
The guy is constantly wrong and parrots a victorian made up history
This was brilliant. Would love to see a lecture from Professor Hutton about Irish folklore and gods too
Seconded.
Third 🙏
Yes please.
Why? They are all based on the far older Brythonic (Welsh) ones.
Love listening to Prof Hutton. In depth information presented clearly, and with a hint of humour.
As always a great lecture. Awesome when I see a new one pop up on my feed. Thank you Prof. Hutton.
Fascinating and informative...as are all Prof. Hutton's talks and lectures and published works. Thank- you...and him, so much!
Except mainly wrong
Fantastic! Such a wonderful interesting lecture bravo Professor Hutton 👑🎉
Prof Huttons lectures are always a delight.
It's interesting what "Arwen" means and then realize Tolkien's character named thus is based on his wife.
Fantastic lecture and an appropriately poetic conclusion. Thank you!
Very chuffed to hear the Prof echo the reasons why I chose to call my daughter Rhiannon
There are times a scholar and his subject are perfectly matched!
I had initially thought I would fall asleep to this lecture, but it was so fascinating that I watched and really enjoyed the whole thing! Thank you so much!
Diddorol iawn! Diolch yn fawr! :) (Interesting! Thank you very much! ) 💃
At the risk of being thought superficial, when the question of Bran the Blessed burial, which Professor Hutton suggested it might be a reference to the ancient custom of burying significant people under landmarks, I immediately thought of Richard III buried under a car park.
LOL. That was church property, and the R helped.
It is fortunate for us all that scholarship still thrives. Thank you, Gresham College and Prof. Hutton.
I got deep into Welsh history back when I was in college. My mom's side of the family is pretty much entirely Welsh and Irish. I kind of came to the same conclusion he does here, but about "Celtic Spirituality" in general. It seems that every source I tried to track down referred to just a few guys in the 18th and 19th century. Other than that there are the accounts of Christian monks and such, but that is an outsiders perspective. Essentially the Romans started the job and the Christians finished the erasure of Celtic religion.
How far eastward did you look?
Local legend states that my namesake was baptised by Saint Aelhearn. His church stands on that site in the pentref of LLanaelhearn
Have had the pleasure of meeting with this gentleman before.
Very… Reticent about his own beliefs.
There are many examples of academics who are reluctant to vocalise in public their beliefs. If these beliefs are boldly different than mainstream opinion they will be subject to massive critical response rather than measured discussion. Eventually they could loose their paid job(tenure). Sticking to facts and carefully worded theories backed up by research is the only way of keeping the respect of peers.
Diddorol ac arbennig.
Roedd ei ynganu o'r geiriau Cymraeg yn ganmoladwy.
Ardderchog.
Cymru am byth❤️
I love how when Google translated this, it turned the Welsh flag to an English one ☠️
@@kylewilliams8114RIP flag 😅
@@kylewilliams8114 ouch 🤣
Fantastic lecture, I’m glad this was recommended to me.
A very erudite and interesting lecture - thank you.
Surprised you didn't mention the legend of the Lady of the Lake and the tradition of the Physicians of Myddfai. Professor David Bellamy was hugely impressed by the West Wales pharmacopoeia recorded by - I think - the Black Book of Carmarthen. While the Lady of the Lake story appears to have links to continental fables like the story of the water witch Melusine (supposed ancestress of the Angevins), the herbal remedies reflect a very sophisticated knowledge of the plant resources of the Welsh countryside and are still taught in classes on medical herbalism at the National Botanic Garden. I would be surprised if they do not reflect many centuries of traditional experimentation. Maybe this is where the Druids are lurking? 🏴💚
Medieval Welsh sounds like a magic spell!
Another fantastic lecture from Prof. Hutton!
Truly compelling and fascinating. A most enjoyable lecture thank you 🌹🌹🌹
As a Welshman it is weird to hear myself referred to in the past tense. Hahahahaha
As a proud welsh man diolch an incredible retelling of our unique history with our poetry and our ancient kingdoms and how we were very troublesome for the saxons and later the normans brilliant lecture and not bad with the pronounsiation either our language is far from easy to master especially if your not born to it 🏴🇬🇧
Thanks a lot for this fabulous lecture!
Not all the ancient british moved to the far reaches , lots stayed and lived alongside !
That is a very important point.
I was born in wales cant say i use it as my first language though i do have friends who still speak it....💖💖
placenames probably offer a clue to Pagan deities. Notably the River Severn, which is thought to be derived from the Celtic goddess Sabrina.
Britons (Welsh) haven’t been Pagan since 1st century BC
The Mabinogi are true tales recorded to the timeline according to the positions and movements of the stars and planets. Ergo, some names refer to people, some are the names of the relevant stars at the time. Britain (particularly Wales and probably elsewhere) has features (natural and enhanced) that reflect the firmament. These features are locatable and can also give the location of many happenings. In Wales, many Cymric place names translate ‘the obvious’. A knowledge of the old astronomical names will be enlightening to those truly interested. It wasn’t just the Greeks etc., who had their ‘pantheon’ (thought to be ‘gods’ 😅).
Before Christian Era?@@WalesTheTrueBritons🎉
What a fantastic lecture and delivered WONDERFULLY! Gwych rhaid ddweud! 🥰
With regard to the question about Bran's head being buried under the tower of london. I am reminded of the bog bodies of the iron age and kingship, particularly Old Croghan Man who appears to have been dismembered before burial. There is also the purported Iron Age practice of head hunting, the head appears to have been imbued with particular powers in the iron age tribal mind. In other headhunting cultures, the head is used in magical practices post capture and the heads (and bones) of particularly powerful people are seen to have a particular anima or Mana that is believed to imbue the holders with power. the Christian veneration of saints relics itself probably developed from an older practice that may well have been in practice in the UK cultures and neighboring peoples at the time of Roman colonization.
No. Christian veneration of the relics of martyrs is already heavily recorded in the 1st and 2nd centuries, centuries before Christianity ever came to the British Isles. Please do not opine about Christianity when you know nothing about it. It's deeply offensive for you to rewrite the history of my people.
'Mabinogion' is really Mabinogi.
Lady Charlotte assumed that Mabinogi was not a plural and added 'ion' to pluralise.
This was wonderful, and valuable. Diolch yn fawr!
My maiden name traces back to 1512 in Wales. I enjoyed this very much. Thanks
I love everything British. Your prodigal sons the USA love and esteem you, your King, and the people, thank you.
There are weirdly a few radicals in Welsh history, St David being a vegetarian is one but also William Price being a proponent of cremation and also an all-round cool dude.
And what about Owain Glyn Dwr?
@@vickiburns1642 He was much later, and probably a single real person. Some legends grew up around him, but there are records of his military activity.
I’m proud to be able to say that Dr William Price was an ancestor of my maternal Grandmother!
Why's it weird? There have have been lots of radicals in Wales.
thank you
Wonderful presentation. Yes, I definitely want to know more about the ox with the headband and collar!
Britain's Hidden History explains the work of Wilson and Blackett, which is based on still extant historical documents.
Including the Bible. Timothy 2 : 4 : 21 . Some of the family of Bran.
I get so caught up in his beautiful speech I have to listen twice to hear the talk! What a treasure!
Interestingly there is a town in South Wales named Bethlehem and in North Wales a small hamlet called Nasareth.
Brilliant. Many thanks.
I am now thinking of gods wandering aimlessly around saying we're am I.
11:33 pretty sobering to think that five centuries might be enough to wipe out a whole culture simply by forgetting and no longer practicing
22:10 😂
25:33 Ox plus Seven always sounds like ancient astronomy to me: The Pleiades Star Cluster (6 or rather 7 sisters in Greek Mythology) are considered the shoulder of Taurus the Bull, and they are the direction the Taurid Meteor stream seems to originate from etc. (add my usual catastrophism Spiel about the running of the bulls in Pamplona, to the Tauroctony Scene on the altars of the Mithras cult, to killing the Bull of Heavem in the Gilgamesh Epos, to the Lascaux Cave Paintings were the Bull is clearly shown in direct proximity to some dots that probably represent the Pleiades star cluster) 27:07
That last answer has to be one of the most erudite "maybe"s ever recorded!
Very good.. was surprised and educated
Diolch yn fawr iawn
Cymru am byth 🏴
Is it wrong for me to say "hey i recognise this guy the Professor from Cunk On Britain" 🥰😂👍
Wonderful!
If only even an incomplete run of _Pagan Times_ had survived.
The title of Tolkien's "Red Book" must be inspired by the British manuscript.
How come Hutton in not consecrated as a Bard in the eisteddfodd?
Nice know I've been pronouncing Taliesin right all these years
I was stuck on Lady Ceridwens daughter Creiryu? Got told how to pronounce it. Can't spell it though❤😂
Hutton is just amazing to me. Hes like a jedi master, or mystic, passing on ancient knowledge to those willing to listen. Kinda like merlin. I imagine him living high upon a mountain you can only find when the planets aline. Or in some cave lost to all that are unworthy of finding it! He has a great sence of humour and I don't think he sees himself as such a bed of knowledge that puts him above others.
Brilliant!
Darn it, Hutton, you completely skipped the MOUND above the Prince's court where he conversed with his nobles. The mound is a BARROW where was held to be the presence of the spirits of the ancestors, hence it was universally selected as the site for speaking justice and for laws being amended. The mound is the entrance to Annwvyn the Other World. From there the Prince sees the Goddess Rhiannon (the equivalent of Epona) on her horse on the highway that is a spirit or death road. Such roads which were unfit to traverse by carts have been excavated, leaving the archaeologists to wonder. According to scholars Pwyll Prince of Dyfed is an Iron Age tale.
Interesting. I follow welsh pantheon. Want to go to Snowdonia and lake Bala as well as Anglesey. Been Cardiff. Love Welsh
I remember this professor from the BBC Farm series
Thank you
Great Lecture.
Brilliant
Go, Ron!
nice to see my country portrayed in a respectful manner, I find most historians to be biased and mean spirited towards the Welsh. Our own government and government funded historical organisations hide our history from us and only express interest in Roman, Saxon and Norman history. I did a little flat stone walling in collage, was shocked when I realized where all our history had gone, the flat stone walls! Recent genetic studies show very little difference in our DNA compared to ancient natives. I saw a castle excavated, when they couldn't label it as Roman, they quickly re-buried it. They won't ever let us have our history until they are finished stripping all our mineral wealth, that has always been the plan!
I have been enjoying all his lectures.
Cymru am byth 🏴🏴❤️
….“The Normans had Jack-Booted their way through Wales”…. Great, visual language