Llew - God of Agriculture and Prosperity
A short series on Celtic Gods and Goddesses
Many scholars see Llew as the Welsh equivalent of Lugh (which means light), the Irish god of light who is the master of all men's crafts. There are several parallels between his character and Lugh, who is also known for his agility of hand and skill in all things.
Llew has been worshipped since the Iron Age.
He was the god of agriculture, fertility and prosperity and is often called the 'Father of the Gods'. He was a popular figure in the pantheon of Celtic gods and was even linked to the later Christian god, Jesus.
Llew was believed to bring abundance and bounty to the earth as a god of fertility. His image was often depicted as a large bull or ram, symbolising the importance of fertility in the Celtic culture. He was also associated with the sun and the moon and was seen as a protector of crops and livestock.
The Celts held a strong belief in the power of magic, and Llew was seen as a benevolent force. He was believed to have the power to grant wishes and make dreams come true. More importantly, he was a powerful protector, safeguarding people and their land from danger, and bestowing them with luck and fortune, instilling a sense of security and protection.
In ancient times, the Celts offered sacrifices to Llew to receive his blessing and assistance.
In modern times, Llew can be seen as a symbol of hope, strength, and abundance. He reminds us of the importance of the ancient Celtic gods and beliefs and that anything is possible if we believe in the power of the gods.
So far, so good.
The Llew I have been writing about, comparable to Lugh, has the full title Llew Llaw Gyffes.
The story of Llew Llaw Gyffes is a little more complex.
Llew was the son of Arainhrod, brought up by the bard Gwydion. His mother puts several geises upon him; he cannot take a mortal wife, bear arms, or have a name.
These essential rites of passage are overcome by Gwydion's cunning. He tricks his mother into naming him and supplying him with weapons. Gwydion and Math also create a wife for him out of flowers and nine elements.
His new wife, Bloddeuwedd, soon falls in love with a hunter called Gronwy, and the two set about plotting Llew’s death.
She tricks Llew into revealing that he can only be killed by standing with one foot in a cauldron placed on a riverbank and the other foot on a billy goat at twilight. Blodeuwedd suggests this is impossible and has Llew show her it is not. At this point, Gronwy jumps out from behind a bush and severely wounds Llew with a spear. Llew changes into an eagle and flies away to an ancient oak tree. Gwydion eventually restores him to mortal form, changing Blodeuwedd into an owl as penance.
Thus, Lleu Llaw Gyffes is a hero of Welsh mythology.
He appears most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, the tale of Math fab Mathonwy, which tells the story of his birth, marriage, death, resurrection, and accession to the throne of Gwynedd.
He is a warrior and magician, invariably associated with his uncle Gwydion. He is widely understood to be the Welsh equivalent of the Irish Lugh and the Gaulish Lugus.
Alan /|\