Re-inactment of a Mabinogi legend. Bride riding a white horse as Rhiannon at Carew Castle, Carew, Pembrokeshire, UK
Rhiannon is a major figure in the Mabinogi, the medieval Welsh story. She appears in the First Branch of the Mabinogi, and again in the Third Branch. She is a strong-minded Otherworld woman who chooses Pwyll, prince of Dyfed (west Wales) as her consort, in preference to another man to whom she has already been betrothed. Rhiannon first appears at Gorsedd Arberth, an ancestral mound near one of the chief courts of Dyfed. Pwyll, the prince of Dyfed, has accepted the challenge of the mound's magical tradition to show a marvel or deal out blows. Rhiannon appears to him and his court as the promised marvel. She is a beautiful woman arrayed in gold silk brocade riding a shining white horse. Pwyll sends his best horsemen after her two days running but she always remains ahead of them, though her horse never does more than amble. On the third day he finally follows her himself and does no better until he finally asks her to stop for him. Rhiannon characteristically rebukes him for not considering this course before, then explains she has sought him out to marry him, in preference to her current betrothed, Gwawl ap Clud. Pwyll gladly agrees, but at their wedding feast at her father's court, an unknown man asks Pwyll to grant a request which he does without asking what it is. The man is Gwawl, and the requests Rhiannon. Rhiannon rebukes Pwyll a second time but provides the plan to salvage the situation. She holds a second wedding feast, where she deploys Pwyll's men outside. She asks Pwyll to enter the hall dressed as a beggar and humbly request Gwawl fill a small bag with food. She has enchanted the small bag so it cannot ever be filled. Gwawl is persuaded to step in it to control its magic, which means Pwyll can trap him in it. Pwyll's men rush in and surround the hall then beat and kick Gwawl as the Badger-in-the-Bag game. To save his life Gwawl is forced to relinquish his revenge and Rhiannon completely. Rhiannon marries Pwyll, then journeys to Dyfed as its Queen.
Size: 4200px × 3360px
Location: Carew, Pembrokeshire Wales UK
Photo credit: © Daniel Valla FRPS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes
Keywords: albino, arberth, bride, brocade, carew, castle, culture, enchanted, enchanting, enchantment, folks, horse, litterature, llewellyn, love, mabinogi, mabinogion, magic, magical, mill, mystery, myth, mythological, mythology, narberth, otherworld, pembrokeshire, pond, pwyll, rhiannon, rhyannon, scenic, story, surreal, tale, tales, tradition, welsh, white
