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enchantment that nine months passed as one day for Elcmar, and thus he did not know that Boann had borne a son to the Dagda. The son was the love god Aonghus Óg.
[W] Sometimes given as Helen. Daughter of Eudaf, from whom the kings of Cornwall claimed descent. Elen Lwddog (Elen of the Hosts) married Macsen Wledig and on his death devoted herself to Christian work, founding monasteries at Llanelen in Monmouth, at Llanrihidion in Llanelen, at Capel Elen, Penrhosllugwy, Anglesey, and many other places. Her children also distinguished themselves. Plebig became a disciple of Ninian and founded Llanbeblig, the first monastery in Wales; Owain ap Macsen founded a dynasty in south Wales; Demetus founded the dynasty of Dyfed; Leo founded the dynasty of Kent; Antonius went to the Isle of Man; and Cystennin ap Macsen has his tomb at Segontium. Her daughter Sevra married Vortigern, and their son Brydw was blessed by St. Germanus of Auxeree during his visits to Britain. In some traditions Elen appears as the wife of Myrddin (Merlin).
[W] Son of Gwyddno, an unlucky youth who was fishing with his father when they caught a leather bag. Inside was the baby Taliesin, whom they decided to raise. The first poem Taliesin composed was in praise of Elffin, who grew in riches and won favour with King Arthur. Elffin boasted that his wife was the most virtuous in the land and that his bard was more skillful than any of Arthur’s poets. Angry, Arthur’s servants had Elffin flung into prison. Rhun is then sent to seduce Elffin’s wife and bring back proof of her folly. But Taliesin helps Elffin’s wife trick Rhun and he mistakes her maid for her. Arthur was angry that the test had not worked. Then he challenged Taliesin to come before him. Taliesin pouted his lips and put a finger to his mouth saying “Blerwm blerwm,” whereupon all that Arthur’s bards could utter was these words. Then he sang, suggesting he was Merlin, and there is a similarity to the song of Amairgen, in which Taliesin claims to have been part of eternity, being with God “on the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell.” Elffin is brought from prison, but his chains fall away at Taliesin’s song.
[W] One of Arthur’s two huntsmen, the other being Trachmyr.
Isle of Man. See Mannin.
[W] See Elffin.
[I] Emain of the Apple Trees, an island paradise ruled by Manannán Mac Lir.
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