Does anyone know the full story of the goddess RHIANNON?

Question

I know part of the story is that she was punished for somethiing she didn't do, but past that I am lost.

Answer 1

Story of Rhiannon
Pwyll first met Rhiannon when she appeared as a beautiful woman dressed in gold and riding a white horse. Pwyll sent his horsemen after her, but she was too fast. After three days, he finally chased her himself. When he spoke, asking her to stop, Rhiannon told him she would rather marry him than the man she was being forced upon, Gwawl. She made a tryst with Pwyll and after a year from that day, he won her from Gwawl by tricking him to climb into a magic bag that Rhiannon had given to Pwyll-striking an agreement to free him in exchange for Rhiannon.

Rhiannon gave birth to a son after three years of their rule; however, on the night of the birth, the child disappeared while in the care of six of Rhiannon's ladies-in-waiting. They feared that they would be put to death, and to avoid any blame, smeared blood from a puppy on the sleeping Rhiannon, and lay its bones around her bed. Pwyll imposed a penance on Rhiannon for her crime, to remain in the court of Arberth for seven years, and to sit every day near a horse-block outside the gate telling her story to all that passed. In addition, she was to carry any willing guest to the court on her back.

The child appeared outside a stable of King Teyrnon, whose mares had just given birth but the foals had disappeared. Teyrnon had been watching his stables when he saw a mysterious beast coming to take the foal; Teyrnon stopped the beast by cutting off its arm at the elbow, and found the child outside the stable. He and his wife adopted him. The child grew to adulthood in only seven years and was given the foal which had led Teyrnon to the stable. Teyrnon realized who the child was and returned him to Pwyll and Rhiannon, who named him Pryderi (worry).

Pryderi married Cigva and became King of Dyfed after his father died. He then invited Manawydan (his stepfather) to live with him in Dyfed. Soon, Dyfed turned into a barren wasteland and only Rhiannon, Pryderi, Cigva and Manawydan lived. Manawydan and Pryderi, while out hunting, saw a white boar which they followed. Pryderi and his mother, Rhiannon, touched a golden bowl that the boar led them to and became enchanted. Manawydan and Cigva were unable to help them until they captured a mouse which was actually the wife of Llwyd, Rhiannon's enemy (seeking revenge for her treatment of Gwawl), and the spell was lifted...

Answer 2

In her tale the power and fertility of the horse, and its connection to the sacred kingship, are found in a confused and shadowy form. Rhiannon, the horse goddess, is also associated with birds, whose songs could awaken the dead and lull the living to sleep. ...

Rhiannon gives birth to a boy, who is mysteriously abducted while mother and nurses sleep. Fearing revenge, the nurses smear blood and bones from a dog around the sleeping Rhiannon, and declare that she has devoured the child. Judgement is passed upon her for her crime: And the penance that was imposed upon her was this, that she
should remain in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven years, and that she should sit every day near unto a horse block that was outside the gate. And that she should relate her story to all who should come there if they did not know it already; and that she should offer to carry guests and strangers, if they would permit her, upon her back into the lace. But it rarely happened that any would so permit.

Answer 3

Rhiannon,Celtic goddess of the moon and inspiration,the enchanting fairy princess who rode so swiftly that no horseman could catch her,loved and chose to marry a mortal
king of wales.
Accused of murdering their infant son,Rhiannon bore her punishment with a grace and dignity that melted the hearts of her adopted countrymen.
Eventually proven innocent,Rhiannon was reunited with her husband and son and restored to her throne.
Later the Celtic goddess Rhiannon became the famous Lady
of the Lake who,in the legends of Camelot,gave Arthur the
magical sword called Excalibur.

Answer 4

Yes..

The punishment story is not the first.. but I'll start with that..

Rhiannon was married to the King, she gave birth to a son. After she fell asleep, her attendents also fell asleep. When they awoke the baby was missing. Terrified that they would be killed if it were known they fell asleep, they killed a (puppy, goat, etc.. different versions say different animal) and placed the bones and blood by the bed.. they then smeared blood on the sleeping mothers mouth.. They began shrieking and crying, when the King came to find out what was wrong they said that Rhiannon had eaten her son. Rhiannon knowing that she had not, did not want to cause her attendants to be killed, so she did not argue. Being the King, he did not want to have to have his wife killed, so he made her stand outside the gates, tell people coming in what she had done, and offer to carry them in on her back.

Meanwhile, a farmer has been worrying because his animals were being killed while he slept.. so, one night he stays up listening .. when he hears a noise he runs out to the barn, where he sees a demon ( I don't think it was originally a demon, but that's how it's normally told) who sneaks out the window.. leaving behind a baby. He took the child in, and took care of him. Living in the woods, away from town, it takes a long time for the news of what happened at the castle to get to him.. but, seeing that the baby had the same fair hair and blue eyes, thought it was most likely the same baby.. and so he brings the baby to the castle. Happy Family is reunited again, and the baby is named Pryderi (meaning trixster or trouble depending on which origin you give it).. Of course the real end to that is rarely given.. the attendents were put to death in the end..


Regarding next post.. that's not correct, Stevie Nicks has said over and over in interviews that she is not. The origin she gives for the song Rhiannon was an old paperback novel called Triad by Mary Leader
The Character in the book was named after the Goddess Rhiannon, (and she had a horse named after the son)..


Second Story:

While Pwyll (her husband from the other story) is out riding, Rhiannon appears to him riding a white horse... He tries to catch up, but even though she seemingly does not gain speed, he is unable. He tries again.. and again.. This happens a few times.. she then allows his approach.. and tells him that she is promised in marriage to Gwawl Ap Clud, who she does not want to marry. She convinced him to go and ask a boon of Gwawl (for any boon asked during the "wedding party" would be granted).. He was to ask for her hand in marriage. but he was tricked into allowing the other promise to stand.. Through cunning and guile Rhiannon convinced him to come again, and they ran off.. followed by Gwawl, but, they tricked him into crawling in a bag,.. they then tried to have him slain by claiming he was a badger. ..

Answer 5

Listen to the lyrics written by Stevie Nicks for "Fleetwood Mac". She wrote a song that was a hit called "Rhiannon" and on "Fleetwood Mac Live" Stevie announces to the audience that it's about a "Welsh Witch"! I don't know about her being a Goddess? I do know that Stevie Nicks is a Wiccan.