Welsh Mythology tells us the story of Mabon ap Modron or
the "the Great Son of the Great Mother". Mabon was an ancient God, born of
Modron at the beginning of time, so long ago that even in the time of King
Arthur, hardly anyone had ever even heard of Them. The only thing that
anyone remembered of Mabon ap Modron was that when He was but three nights
old, He was mysteriously stolen from His mother's side.
The story of Mabon's return begins with a young man called Culhwch
(KESH-lookh). Culhwch was a brave young knight, who one day came across the
lovely Olwen (Goddess of Beauty). Olwen was the daughter of Ysbaddaden
(iss-pa-THAW-then), the Giant Chieftain, who was under a geis, or a doom.
No man had ever gone to the giant's fort and escaped alive, for Ysbaddaden
knew that he would meet his death upon the day his daughter wed. He set 39
impossible tasks, which included so many heroic tasks and dangerous quests
that it would take an army of heroes one hundred years to finish them, a
separate volume to record them, and a course in Old Welsh merely to
pronounce them. This he told each would-be suitor, that is, if he was able
to survive the initial meeting of Ysbaddaden. Culhwch was fearful, but
determined. Ysbaddaden then told Culhwch if he were able to complete each
task, he would then have to bring the head of the Great Boar, Tyrch Trwth
(terkh trooth). For between the ears of this boar lay a mirror, comb and
razor, the items which must be used to prepare Ysbaddaden for his daughter's
wedding. And the only one who could kill Tyrch Trwth was Mabon ap Modron,
who was stolen from his mother's side at only three nights old. Culhwch
accepted each challenge and confidently vowed to complete each quest
victoriously.
"I need help," he thought to himself, "This quest is too much for one young
knight to do alone. I must go to the court of my cousin, King Arthur, and
ask him to send some of his champions with me."
Culhwch was greeted warmly at his cousin, King Arthur's court. Culhwch told
the court of his great mission, and King Arthur, who had always loved a good
love story, was touched by his young cousin's resolve.
"I will send three of my most trusted companions to help you find Mabon and
rescue him," Arthur promised. He chose Cai (kay), Arthur's foster brother;
Eidoel (AY-dol), who was called Mabon's kinsman; and Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear),
Interpreter of Tongues, who could speak all the languages of all the peoples
and animals of the world.
They wandered the earth searching for the Oldest Animals, and ask them if
they could remember what happened to Mabon. At last they came upon the home
of the ancient birth known as the Ouzel (Blackbird) of Cilgwri
(kil-GOOR-ee).
"Ouzel of Cilgwri," Gwrhyr said, "we are Arthur's messengers, come to ask
you in the name of all that is sacred if you have news of Mabon, son of
Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when he was only three nights
old."
The Blackbird told them "I have been here a long time. When I first came
here, there was a smith's anvil, and I was a young bird. No work was done on
that anvil except for when my beak lay upon it in the evening, and today
there is not even a nut of it that has not been worn away. But in all that
time, I have not heard of Mabon, son of Modron. But since you come from
Arthur, I will guide you to a place where there is an animal older than me."
Ouzel guided them through the forest until they came to the home of the Stag
of Rhedynfre (reh-DEN-vray). The stag was very ancient. His antlers had so
many points they looked like a forest of many-branched trees growing out of
his head.
"Stag of Rhedynfre," Gwrhyr said, "we are Arthur's messengers, come to ask
you in the name of all that is sacred if you have news of Mabon, son of
Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when he was only three nights
old."
"I have been here a long time. When I first came here, there was only one
small antler point on each side of my head, and there were no trees here
except for a single oak sapling. That grew into an oak of a hundred
branches, and the oak fell and wore away and today there is nothing left of
it but a red stump. But in all that time, I have heard nothing of Mabon, son
of Modron. But since you come from Arthur, I will guide you to a place where
there is an animal older than me."
The Stag guided them through the forest until at last they came to a deep
woods, where the Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd (coom COWL-id) lived.
"Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd," Gwrhyr said, "we are Arthur's messengers, come to ask
you in the name of all that is sacred if you have news of Mabon, son of
Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when he was only three nights
old."
"I have been here a long time. When I first came here, I was a young bird,
and this whole valley was an ancient forest. People came and cut down all
the trees. In time, a new forest grew up, and then new people came and cut
it down, and this now is the third wood. And look at me! My wings are worn
to mere stumps, I am so old. And in all that time, I have heard nothing of
Mabon, son of Modron. But since you are Arthur’s messengers, I will be your
guide to a place where the eldest of us all lives."
The Owl guided them through the forest and up to a high mountain, where the
Eagle of Gwernabwy (gwer-NAH-bwee) lived.
"Eagle of Gwernabwy," Gwrhyr said, “we are Arthur's messengers, come to ask
you in the name of all that is sacred if you have news of Mabon, son of
Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when he was only three nights
old."
"I have been here a long time. When I first came here, I had a stone so tall
and high, that from its top I could peck at the stars, and now it is worn
away so small that your hand could cover it. And in all that time, I have
heard nothing of Mabon, son of Modron."
Discouraged, the Companions prepared to leave, the Eagle had been their last
hope in finding what happened to Mabon ap Modron. Wherever He was, He was
imprisoned forever. But then the Eagle spoke again.
"Once I flew as far as Llyn Llyw (shlin shloo) seeking food. I saw a huge
silver fish swimming in the lake. I tried to catch him, thinking he would
make a tasty dinner, but he pulled me under and I barely escaped with my
life. I gathered all my kin to seek vengeance, but he sent messengers of
peace. He came and asked my help in removing tridents that had been thrown
at him. I pulled 50 out with my talons, and we became friends. If he doesn’t
know something of the person you seek, no one does! I will be your guide,
and take you to where he lives."
The Eagle guided them down the mountain, through the valleys, and finally
along the river until they came upon the shores of Llyn Llyw. There they saw
the great Salmon swimming in the clear water.
"Salmon of Llyn Llyw," the Eagle said, "I have come with Arthur’s
messengers, seeking new of Mabon, son of Modron, who was taken from His
mother's side when He was only three nights old. In the name of all that is
sacred, tell us what you know."
"This is what I know," the Salmon told them, "On every high tide I go up the
river to Caer Loyw (care loy), and there I hear the sounds of such suffering
that never in my life have I heard such distress before. Two of you come on
my back, and I will take you there."
The salmon then took Gwrhyr and Cai on his shoulders to the walls of Caer
Loyw, a dark and terrifying castle, and on the other side of the walls, they
could hear the sound of crying and wailing.
"Who is that crying and wailing in this house of stone?" Gwrhyr called.
"It is I, Mabon, son of Modron," they heard in reply, "and I have reason to
cry, for no one was ever so miserable as I am, imprisoned here."
"How can you be freed? Can you be ransomed for gold and silver or worldly
wealth, can you be freed with peaceful talking, or must you be freed by
fighting?"
"No gold or silver or worldly goods, nor even peaceful talking can free me,"
came the answer, "I can only be freed by fighting and battle."
"Don't despair! We will go and get aid from King Arthur, and surely we shall
free you!"
Gwrhyr and Cai returned with the Salmon to where Eidoel waited with Culhwch.
They thanked the Salmon and make their way back to King Arthur's court,
where they told their story.
Arthur quickly agreed to lend aid to the imprisoned Mabon, and gathering all
his warriors, they all made their way back to Caer Loyw, and besieged the
castle where Mabon was held prisoner. While Arthur and his warriors attacked
the front of the castle, Cai and Gwrhyr again traveled on the back of the
great Salmon. And when they reached the gate, Cai broke through the wall and
took Mabon upon his back. He carried Him out of the castle, and this is how
Mabon, son of Modron, was freed at long last.
"How can I ever thank you?" Mabon asked them when the battle was over and He
at long last stood on the outside of His prison.
"Help me with my quest," Culhwch said, "Only You can succeed in hunting the
Great Boar Tyrch Trwth and winning from him the mirror, the comb and the
razor that lie between his ears."
So they set off into the deepest forest any of them had ever seen. Day and
night they traveled, and always, Mabon led the way, guided by His instinct.
At last, as the sun set on the third day, they heard a great snorting and
bellowing and stamping in the woods. Quickly they took their places on
either side of the path. Then, with a roar like a hundred lions, the giant
boar came rushing out of the forest. He was big as an elephant, with tusks
as long as a small tree and sharp as a knife, and between his ears was a
mirror, a comb, and a razor.
Mabon ap Modron, stood tall and unafraid, and thrust His spear deep into the
Boar's heart. With a bellow that shook leaves from the trees five leagues
around, the Great Boar died. Culhwch took the mirror, the comb and the razor
from between the boar's ears, and he and his companions went back to the
castle of the giant chieftain, Ysbaddaden. They carried Tyrch Trwth in a
sling among the five of them, to be roasted for the wedding feast.
Ysbaddaden turned pale when he saw that Culhwch had returned successfully.
Sighing, with tears running from his eyes, he allowed the companions to comb
his hair and shave his beard while he gazed at himself in the mirror. Then
Culhwch and Olwen were married, and a great feast of pork was held. And when
all the feasting and rejoicing was done, they cut off the giant’s head.
