Gwydion the son of Don

Also known as: Gwydion · Family: Gwynedd · Role: brother of Gilvaethwy · First appears: MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 1

Gwydion is the son of Don and the brother of Gilvaethwy. In the first chapter, “One day his brother Gwydion gazed steadfastly upon him.” He and Gilvaethwy then arranged for the swine to be given to Gwydion in exchange for Pryderi’s horses, dogs, and shields, leading Pryderi to send an embassy to Math the son of Mathonwy and ask that the matter be left between himself and Gwydion.

In the next chapter, Gwydion and Gilvaethwy are named as Math the son of Mathonwy’s nephews, whose attack had wronged Goewin and dishonoured Math. Gwydion is also connected with Dylan and Arianrod; in the following chapter he becomes an enemy of Arianrod and brings up Llew Llaw Gyffes at Dinas Dinllev until Llew is capable and fully grown.

When Llew Llaw Gyffes is lost, Gwydion pledges himself to finding his nephew: “Lord,” said Gwydion, “I shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew.” He later stands against Blodeuwedd, turning her into a bird because of the shame she brought upon Llew Llaw Gyffes, while remaining Llew Llaw Gyffes’s elder-kin. Taliesin also recalls having been in Don’s court before Gwydion’s birth.