Rhiannon holds a significant place in the early narratives and myths of Britain, particularly in the Mabinogi. These tales were compiled during the 12th and 13th centuries from earlier oral traditions by Welsh writers of the medieval era. Rhiannon is recognized as the Celtic goddess associated with the moon, and her name translates to ‘Divine Queen’ of the fairies.
Prominently featured in some of the earliest British prose, Rhiannon’s narrative is primarily presented in the First Branch of the Mabinogi, with supplementary details revealed in the Third Branch. She is depicted as a strong-willed woman from another realm who ultimately chooses the Prince of Dyfed, Pwyll, to be her partner, despite being previously promised to an older suitor she found distasteful. Within these narratives, Rhiannon is characterized by her intelligence, political acumen, and renowned for her generosity and wealth.
Rhiannon makes her entrance at Gorsedd Arberth, an ancestral mound located near the principal courts of Dyfed. Pwyll has accepted the mound’s magical challenge to display a marvel. These mounds, referred to as tors, were believed to harbinger magical occurrences and were regarded as entrances to the realm of the otherworld below. Out of caution, many people steered clear of these magical sites, fearing they might become enchanted should they set foot upon them. Rhiannon emerges as the anticipated marvel for Pwyll and his court after he accepts the challenge. Captivated by her presence—dressed in golden attire, riding a magnificent white horse—Pwyll’s companions express concern.
Disregarding their warnings, Pwyll sends his top horseman after Rhiannon for two days, trying to persuade her to return with them. Despite Rhiannon maintaining a leisurely pace, her enchantment keeps her well ahead of her pursuers. On the third day, Pwyll himself pursues her but also fails to catch up. However, he calls out to her, imploring her to stop. Initially rebuffing him for his pursuit, Rhiannon reveals that she had been seeking him as a husband instead of her original betrothed, Gwawl ap Clud.
After two blissful years of marriage, the couple feels immense pressure to have a child, which culminates in the birth of their son during their third year together. Unfortunately, the infant brings significant turmoil and sorrow to their lives. It was customary for Rhiannon to have six attendants to help care for the newborn. However, one fateful night, all the nursemaids fell asleep instead of attending to their responsibilities. When they awakened and discovered the cradle empty, they feared the repercussions for their negligence. To avoid punishment, they concocted a plan to frame Rhiannon, who was still considered an outsider. In a desperate bid to escape severe penalties, the women killed a puppy, smeared its blood on a sleeping Rhiannon, and scattered its bones to implicate her in the murder of her own child. They raised the alarm, accusing her of infanticide and cannibalism.
Despite her protestations of innocence, Rhiannon was condemned to undergo a penance. She was sentenced to spend the next seven years at the castle gate, enduring both the harsh winter cold and scorching summer heat. During this time, she was compelled to share her tale with every traveler and offer to carry them on her back as a beast of burden. Meanwhile, the infant was discovered by Teyrnon, the Lord of Gwent-Is-Coed. Teyrnon, a horse lord, encountered the child in the form of a young foal before he transformed back into a newborn. He and his wife claimed him as their own, naming him Gwri Waalt Euryn, signifying ‘the hair on his head was as yellow as gold.’ The boy grew at an extraordinary rate and had a natural affinity for horses. Over time, Teyrnon realized the child resembled Pwyll, having once served as his courtier. Being an honorable man, he returned the child to the royal family of Dyfed. Pwyll and his court recognized him as their son and renamed him Pryderi, which reinstated Rhiannon to her rightful honor alongside her husband.
In some variations of the tale, Rhiannon is identified as the Celtic goddess who eventually evolved into Vivienne, better known as the Lady of the Lake. She is credited in Arthurian legend for presenting King Arthur with the sword Excalibur, enabling his ascension to power.
When Rhiannon first appears within the Mabinogi, her entrance is marked by magical qualities, embodying the Otherworld myth within the context of Gorsedd Arberth—her unique blend of slow yet unreachable movement defined her as both an extraordinary and enchanting presence.
Rhiannon’s stories continue to be reinterpreted and celebrated in modern narratives through various media forms, such as literature, theater, film, and music. Notably, she served as an inspiration for Fleetwood Mac’s song “Rhiannon”.
