Posted on 12/29/2007 8:51:08 PM PST by SunkenCiv
According to Welsh mythology the Land of the Dead - or Annwn: Celtic Underworld - was ruled over by Gwynn ap Nudd. He escorted the souls of the dead there, and led a pack of supernatural hounds... experts say there is a grain of truth in the story from which it developed, with the evidence now pointing to Ruabon and Halkyn Mountains. Steve Blake, author of the Keys to Avalon, which argued the myths of King Arthur are firmly rooted in North Wales, said: "Llangollen and the Dee Valley are rich in this piece of Celtic folklore. Central to this is St Collen, from whom Llangollen takes its name, who in the sixth century established the church and surrounding area as his parish. One story has him battling Gwyn ap Nudd on a nearby hill..." But archaeology and a late 19th century Ordinance Survey map on the wall of Llangollen town hall could help substantiate the North Wales claim to some legends held dear by Glastonbury. Research and surveys have high-lighted the greatest concentration of bronze and iron age burial chambers anywhere in the world on Ruabon and Halkyn mountains. This points to the area being extremely significant with an ancient Welsh work entitled the Stanzas of the Graves giving a clue to whom is actually buried there. It is believed there are in excess of 500 burial chambers on the mountain although modern maps only show those on the edges of the Eglwyseg escarpment. This is because the vast majority were destroyed during World War II as the area was used for decoy bombing."
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypost.co.uk ...
|
|
|||
Gods |
I'm working on getting one for each continent. :') |
||
|
· Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
|||
Interesting..
Northern Wales is one of the prettiest areas in the UK. I loved Conwy.
Are there apple orchards there? I seem to recall from a medieval lit course in college that Avalon means apple orchard . . .
Thanks. I didn't know that.
"The word "Avalon" is from the British word lava, which means apple. Hence, Avalon is known as "The Island of Apples." An actual Avallon (note the alternate spelling) exists in Burgundy.
Not often I get to tell you something you didn't know! :)
Wow very cool. I want to go to Wales and Scotland one day. If nothing else because the mountains are the same chain as the Appalachians prior to the formation of the Atlantic and the British basically were the first geologists.
hit on “sinking lands wales”:
http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/7280/welsh.html
Anglesey - once joined to Carnarvon by the tall forests of the Sinking Lands. It is separated from the Island of the Mighty by the Straits of Menai.
Bran the Blessed - first born of Llyr and Penardim; nephew and successor to Beli of the Deep as High King of the Island of the Mighty. He led the hosts of the Island of the Mighty against King Matholuch of Ireland to avenge the wrongs committed to Branwen, Bran’s sister and Matholuch’s wife. Being of unusually large proportions, Bran was forced to wade through the Sinking lands to reach Ireland. On returning, he was ambushed at Morddwydtyllyon, and received a fatal wound from Matoluch. Bran was called “ancestor to many saints.”
Carnarvon - once joined to Anglesey by the tall forests of the Sinking Lands.
Casket of Ancient Spells - saved from the Sinking Lands and brought to the Island of the Mighty. Although Math would have returned them to the Lost Lands of the West, Don preserved them, telling only Arianrhod of their hiding place. Its power contributed to the destruction of Caer Arianrhod.
Hu the Mighty - killed a man for bringing the Casket of Ancient Spells from the Sinking Lands.
Lost Lands of the West - through the use of powerful magic such as that contained in the Casket of Ancient Spells, the sea rose up and claimed these lands. They may have been connected to the Sinking Lands. Caer Sidi was probably its capitol.
Sinking Lands - its tall forests once joined Anglesey to Carnarvon. The hosts of Bran crossed it to reach Ireland. Bran himself waded across. They may have been connected with the Lost Lands of the West.
Ancient footprints found on Welsh beach
IC Wales | Februrary 2, 2007 | Sally Williams, Western Mail
Posted on 02/12/2007 9:51:27 AM EST by aculeus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783353/posts
and for that matter:
Clare Places: Islands: Mutton Island or Enniskerry
(9th century catastrophe in Ireland)
Clare County Library | prior to November 19, 2005 | staff writer
Posted on 11/18/2005 2:58:58 PM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1524751/posts
The Snowdonia Mountains is where I believe Bron-y-Aur is located, which is where much of Led Zeppelin’s third and fourth album material was created.
Wow, never knew that either. Nice picture here, also the story of it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bron-Yr-Aur
I caught you smiling at me - that's the way it should be
Like a leaf is to a tree
So fine
All the good times we had, I sang love songs so glad
Always smiling, never sad
So fine
As we walk down the country lanes I'll be singing a song
You hear me calling your name
Hear the wind within the trees telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me
Well, if the sun shines so bright, or our way is darkest
night
The road we choose is always right
So fine
Can any love be so strong when so many loves go wrong
Will our love go on and on and on and on and on and on?
As we walk down the country lanes I'll be singing a song
You hear me calling your name
Hear the wind within the trees telling Mother Nature 'bout you and me
My, my la de la come on now it ain't too far
Tell your friends all around the world, ain't no companion
like a blue-eyed merle
Come on now, well let me tell you what you're missing
messing 'round them brick walls
So, of one thing I am sure - it's a friendship so pure
Angels singing all around my door
So fine
Yeah, ain't but one thing to do - spend my natural life
with you
You're the finest gal I knew
So fine
When you're old and your eyes are dim, There ain't no old shep gonna happen again
We'll still go walking down country lanes, I'll sing the same old song
Hear me call your name
You zep fans, it’s like you never grow old. :’)
In many ways, you're correct.
...you...you...you’re not packin’ your bags for the misty mountains, are ya? ;’)
Keys of Avalon is the best Arthur book yet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.