“The Spoils of Annwn” (Preiddeu Annwn), which has become the basis for the Christian Arthurian legend of the Holy Grail. In this version, Arthur and his warriors make a disastrous expedition to Annwn to carry off the magic cauldron, a chief symbol of kingship and authority in the ancient Celtic world. But of the three shiploads of warriors who set out, only Arthur and seven men return.

Gwydion also led a magical host against the dark gods of Annwn, helped by his son Lleu and his brother Amathaon. They fought the battle of Godeu, or the Trees. His enemies are Arawn, king of Annwn, who is aided, strangely, by Bran, ruler of the Island of the Mighty. The aim of the war is to secure for the human world the dog, deer, and lapwing. The quasi-mythical bard Taliesin says:

“I have been in the battle of Godeu, with Lleu and Gwydion, “They changed the forms of the elementary trees and sedges.”

Answerer, The

[I] See Freagarthach.

Anu

[I] The mother goddess. Sometimes given as Ana and also occurs as Búanann, “the lasting one,” mother of all heros. It is generally accepted that she is one and the same deity as Dana or Danu. Hence the gods are the Tuatha Dé Danaan, children of Dana. The mountains called “The Paps of Anu” in Co. Kerry are named for her.

Aobh

[I] Sometimes Aebh. The eldest daughter ofAilill of Aran and foster child to the Bodb Dearg. Her sisters were Aoife and Arbha. She was chosen to be the wife of the ocean god Lir and had four children by him. The first were the twins Fionnuala and Aedh; the second were the twins Fiachra and Conn. But she died in childbirth. See Aoife.

Aoife

[I] There are three prominent characters who bear this name. The first Aoife, the daughter of Árd-Greimne and sister of Scáthach, was a warrior princess of the Land of Shadows. Her sister Scáthach went to war with her but tried to leave Cúchulainn, who was her pupil at the martial arts academy she ran, behind. However, Cúchulainn followed Scáthach to the Land of Shadows. Aoife challenged him to single combat. By a ruse Cúchulainn won the contest and spared her on condition she make peace with Scáthach. Aoife then fell in love with Cúchulainn and became his mistress. When he left he gave her a gold ring. She told him that she would bear his