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[W] The original form of Merlin. One of the Welsh Triads tells us that Britain was called Clas Myrddin, “Myrddin’s enclosure,” before it was populated. Professor John Rhys argues that Myrddin was a deity specially worshipped at Stonehenge, which, according to a tradition recorded by Geoffrey of Monmouth, was erected by him. As Christianity replaced the old religion, it is said that he took nine attendant bards and the “thirteen treasures of Britain” and went to Bardsey Island, off the Lleyn peninsula, Gwynedd. In his Hibbert Lectures [English Text Society, p. 693] Rhys says that a Greek traveller in the first century a.d. mentioned an island where Kronos was supposed to be imprisoned with his attendants. Kronos slept, for that was the bond forged for him. This is a Hellenised account, for Kronos (Cronos) was one of the Titans and father of Zeus. He is believed to be an ancient pre-Hellenic god of fertility. The Romans identified him as Saturn. Rhys also believes that the Greek was referring to Myrddin and that Myrddin was therefore a sun god who made the descent into the western sea and was imprisoned there by the powers of darkness. See Merlin.
[W] The Welsh equivalent of Suibhne Geilt, who took himself into the wood and there grew feathers and could leap from tree to tree.