Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Cauldren and The Underworld

Cymidei Cymeinfoll in the Welsh language can have two main meanings. One of which is the goddess of war, and the other being the big belly of war referring to the idea that she could give birth to a fully armed warrior every six weeks. Her husband, Llasar Llaesgyfnewid, who’s name can mean flame or blade was one of the protectors of the cauldron of regeneration. The cauldron was known for reviving diseased warriors in battle but not being able to restore their speech. Both Cymidei and Llasar lived under The Lake of Cauldron in Ireland.
The Lake of Cauldron and the cauldron itself can be seen as symbols of the underworld. Cymidei and Llasar live or work in the underworld and are the keepers of the cauldron. When Cymidei and Llasar leave the lake/underworld they’re able to carry the cauldron with them allowing them to continue to resuscitate people.
Some Pagan beliefs are that after death a spirit is reborn in another body. This could hint that when a warrior dies, they go into the underworld, and when revived they come back to a life form that may not entirely or at all be themselves, which therefore makes them lose their voice.

1 comment:

  1. Nice! Note that some interpretations think that Mathlowch tries to kill the two giants in order to get the cauldron (therefore he is lying to Brandigeidfran about his tale of the troublesome monsters).

    ReplyDelete