Blodeuwedd

Role: bride of Llew Llaw Gyffes · First appears: MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 3

Life events

• Math and Gwydion create Blodeuwedd from flowers, and she becomes Llew’s bride.(MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 3)
  • With: Math the son of Mathonwy Gwydion the son of Don Llew Llaw Gyffes
  • “So they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw. And they baptized her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd. After she had become his bride”
• Blodeuwedd and Gronw Pebyr declare their mutual love after meeting at the court.(MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 3)
  • With: Gronw Pebyr
  • “And he gazed on her, and the same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so.”
• Blodeuwedd and Gronw Pebyr plot to learn how Llew will die so they can remain together.(MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 3)
  • With: Gronw Pebyr Llew Llaw Gyffes
  • “There is none other counsel,” said he, “but that thou strive to learn from Llew Llaw Gyffes in what manner he will meet his death.”
• Blodeuwedd discovers Llew's vulnerability and reveals it to Gronw Pebyr.(MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 4)
  • With: Llew Llaw Gyffes Gronw Pebyr
  • “No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr.”
• Gwydion transforms Blodeuwedd into an owl as punishment.(MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 4)
  • With: Gwydion the son of Don
  • “For I will turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shall never show thy face in the light of day henceforth.”

MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 3

• married with Llew Llaw Gyffes “After she had become his bride, and they had feasted, said Gwydion, ‘It is not easy for a man to maintain himself without possessions.’”
• courtship with Gronw Pebyr “And Blodeuwedd looked upon him, and from the moment that she looked on him she became filled with his love. And he gazed on her, and the same thought came unto him as unto her, so that he could not conceal from her that he loved her, but he declared unto her that he did so. Thereupon she was very joyful. And all their discourse that night was concerning the affection and love which they felt one for the other, and which in no longer space than one evening had arisen. And that evening passed they in each other's company.”

MATH THE SON OF MATHONWY 4

• with Llew Llaw Gyffes (Blodeuwedd deceives Llew and arranges the ambush intended to kill him.) “‘Lord,’ said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, ‘I have been thinking how it is possible that what thou didst tell me formerly can be true; wilt thou show me in what manner thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a cauldron and upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee?’ ‘I will show thee,’ said he. Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael.”
• with Gronw Pebyr (They act together as allies and conspirators.) “As soon as he departed Gronw and Blodeuwedd went together unto the palace that night.”
• with Gwydion the son of Don (Gwydion punishes Blodeuwedd for her treatment of Llew.) “And he said unto her, ‘I will not slay thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that. For I will turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shall never show thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that through fear of all the other birds.’”
• married with Llew Llaw Gyffes “That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home. And the day they spent in discourse, and minstrelsy, and feasting.”
• with Gronw Pebyr (They collaborate in the plot against Llew.) “No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to Gronw Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and that day twelvemonth it was ready.”
• enemies with Llew Llaw Gyffes “Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush on the hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the bank of the river Cynvael.”
• enemies with Gwydion the son of Don “And he said unto her, 'I will not slay thee, but I will do unto thee worse than that. For I will turn thee into a bird; and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shall never show thy face in the light of day henceforth.'”

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Extracted from the original text of The Mabinogion. Made with Rho MD.