Reincarnation

The reincarnation, or transmigration, of souls theme frequently occurs in Celtic mythology. Not only the gods could be born again (sometimes entering the womb of a woman as a fly or ear of corn) or pass through different stages of existence, but mortals could also participate in this complex process. In Irish mythology one of the most interesting reincarnation cycles is that of the swineherds Friuch and Nár, who go through various changes to emerge, in their final forms, as Finnbhenach and Donn, the two massive bulls who have their final clash in the closing stages of the Táin Bó Cuailgne. In Welsh myth, perhaps the most fascinating transmigration tale is that of Gwion Bach, who changes from youth into hare, fish, bird, and grain of wheat and, finally, is reborn from the womb of his enemy as the great poet Taliesin.

Retaliator

[I] Díoltach. One of the three swords of Manannán Mac Lir, it never failed to slay.

Rheged

[W] The ancient British Celtic kingdom before it split into Strath-Clóta and Cumbria.

Rhiannon

[W] “Great Queen.” Pwyll, lord of Dyfed, is seated at Arberth when he sees a beautiful maiden riding by on a majestic white horse. It is Rhiannon. Rhiannon and Pwyll arrange their marriage, but at the wedding feast Pwyll, by thoughtlessly granting a boon to a suppliant, has to give Rhiannon to Gwawl (Light), son of the goddess Clud, who is his rival for the hand of the girl. However, at Gwawl’s wedding feast, by means of a ruse, Gwawl has to give her back to Pwyll. Pwyll, having entered the feast in disguise, tricks Gwawl into entering a magic bag provided by Rhiannon. Then Pwyll’s men gather around to kick and beat the unfortunate man. There is a similarity here to the Irish tale of Brandubh, king of Leinster, who wins Mongán’s wife from him by a similar trick and in which Mongán then recovers her in like fashion.

In the fourth year of marriage Rhiannon bears Pwyll a son, but on the night he is born the women in attendance fall asleep. The child is carried off in mysterious circumstances. Finding the child gone, the women, to save themselves, kill some dog pups and smear the blood on Rhiannon and accuse her of killing her own child. Years later, having suffered an unjust punishment, Rhiannon hears that her child is safe and has been raised by Teyrnon, lord of Gwent