Awenydd
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During The Middle Ages in Wales, awenydd was a term for inspired bards. The name is derived from the word awen ("Inspiration [divine or poetic"]) and literally means "One possessed by the Awen".
Gerald of Wales refers to the awenyddion in his 12th Century book Descriptio Kambriae ("A Description of Wales") as a unique class in society. He said:
There are certain persons in Cambria, whom you will find nowhere else, called Awenyddion, or people inspired; when consulted upon any doubtful event, they roar out violently, are rendered beside themselves, and become, as it were, possessed by a spirit. They do not deliver the answer to what is required in a connected manner; but the person who skilfully observes them, will find, after many preambles, and many nugatory and incoherent, though ornamented speeches, the desired explanation conveyed in some turn of a word: they are then roused from their ecstasy, as from a deep sleep, and, as it were, by violence compelled to return to their proper senses. After having answered the questions, they do not recover till violently shaken by other people; nor can they remember the replies they have given. If consulted a second or third time upon the same point, they will make use of expressions totally different; perhaps they speak by the means of fanatic and ignorant spirits. These gifts are usually conferred upon them in dreams: some seem to have sweet milk or honey poured on their lips; others fancy that a written schedule is applied to their mouths and on awaking they publicly declare that they have received this gift.[1]
However, many of the Beirdd y Tywysogion ("Bards of the Princes") also called themselves awenydd, and the term may not have been limited to the soothsayers only. The poet Iorwerth Fychain describes himself as singing wildly "like an awenydd", for example.
Some argue that the Awenydd, as a class, are descendants of the Celtic vates, who are associated with prophecy and poetry. While Gerald puts emphasis on the "Incoherent" and "Rambling" nature of the Awenyddion, he remarks that there are prophecies and answers in their songs.
The prophetess Tangwystl (lived 11th Century) is referred to in the Hanes Gruffudd ap Cynan ("The History of Gruffudd ap Cynan"). She belonged to the family of Gruffudd ap Cynan and was famous for predicting his future, although there is no guarantee that she can be called an "awenydd" as such.
References[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
- Thomas Jones (cyf.), Gerallt Gymro (Caerdydd, 1938)
- Y Chwaer Bosco, 'Awen y Cynfeirdd a'r Gogynfeirdd', yn Morfydd E. Owen a Brynley F. Roberts (gol.), Beirdd a Thywysogion (Caerdydd, 1996).
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