Olwen
Encyclopedia
In Welsh mythology
, Olwen is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden
and cousin of Goreu
. She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen
in the Mabinogion
.
Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch
(Sometimes spelled as Kilhwch ) comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks he must complete before he can win her hand. With the help of his cousin King Arthur
, Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.
The name "Olwen" reappears in the folktale Einion and Olwen, about a sheep herder who travels to the Otherworld
to marry Olwen. The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is certainly related to Culhwch and Olwen.
The meaning of the name Olwen is white footprint. According to legend, she was so gentle and fragile that white lilies would grow in her footprints.
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
, Olwen is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden
Ysbaddaden
; "Ysbaddaden, Chief of Giants," is the primary antagonist of the Welsh romance Culhwch ac Olwen. A vicious giant residing in a nigh on unreachabe castle, he is the father of Olwen and uncle of Goreu fab Custennin...
and cousin of Goreu
Goreu fab Custennin
Goreu fab Custennin is a hero of Welsh and early Arthurian mythology, the son of Custennin, and cousin to Arthur, Culhwch and Saint Illtud through their grandfather Amlawdd Wledig. He is a significant character in the Middle Welsh Arthurian tale Culhwch and Olwen, and also appears in a number of...
. She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen is a Welsh tale about a hero connected with Arthur and his warriors that survives in only two manuscripts: a complete version in the Red Book of Hergest, ca. 1400, and a fragmented version in the White Book of Rhydderch, ca. 1325. It is the longest of the surviving Welsh prose...
in the Mabinogion
Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is the title given to a collection of eleven prose stories collated from medieval Welsh manuscripts. The tales draw on pre-Christian Celtic mythology, international folktale motifs, and early medieval historical traditions...
.
Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch
Culhwch
Culhwch , in Welsh mythology, is the son of Cilydd son of Celyddon and Goleuddydd, a cousin of Arthur and the protagonist of the story Culhwch and Olwen...
(Sometimes spelled as Kilhwch ) comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks he must complete before he can win her hand. With the help of his cousin King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
, Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.
The name "Olwen" reappears in the folktale Einion and Olwen, about a sheep herder who travels to the Otherworld
Otherworld
Otherworld, or the Celtic Otherworld, is a concept in Celtic mythology that refers to the home of the deities or spirits, or a realm of the dead.Otherworld may also refer to:In film and television:...
to marry Olwen. The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is certainly related to Culhwch and Olwen.
The meaning of the name Olwen is white footprint. According to legend, she was so gentle and fragile that white lilies would grow in her footprints.
Notable persons with this name
- Olwen FouéréOlwen FouéréOlwen Fouéré, born in Ireland of Breton parents, is an Irish/French actress and theatre artist whose work occupies a central position in contemporary Irish theatre and crosses the boundaries of many art forms. She has performed with most major theatre companies in Ireland and the United Kingdom...
, Breton/Irish actress on stage and in film - Olwen HuftonOlwen HuftonDame Olwen H. Hufton, DBE, FBA, FRHistS is a historian of early modern Europe and a pioneer of social history and of women's history. Hufton is an expert on Early Modern, western European comparative socio-cultural history with special emphasis on gender, poverty, social relations, religion and work...
, British historian of early modern Europe, women's history and social history - Olwen WymarkOlwen WymarkOlwen Wymark is an American writer and playwright.-Early life:Olwen Margaret Buck was born on February 14, 1932 in Oakland, California her parents being Philip W. and Barbara Buck...
, American playwright and author