Caer Sidi
Encyclopedia
Caer Sidi is the name of a legendary otherworld
fortress mentioned in two Middle Welsh mythological poems in the Book of Taliesin
.
One such is Song Before the Sons of Llyr (poem 14 as translated by William F. Skene, 1868):
The other is The Raid on the Otherworld (poem 30, ibid.):
The poems are attributed to the 6th century poet Taliesin
but are of later date. Some attempts have been made to give the fortress a physical location, e.g. as the island of Grassholm
off the coast of Pembrokeshire
, but Caer Sidi is more likely to belong to the class of otherworldly forts and islands so prevalent in Celtic mythology
.
The precise meaning of the name 'Sidi' in Caer Sidi is problematic (caer means "fort", "fortress", "stronghold"). One possible meaning of Caer Sidi is the 'turning fortress', but it is more likely to mean the 'Fortress of the Zodiac', as sidydd means "Zodiac" in modern Welsh.
A castle with a spiral construction (as suggested by some in connexion with the spiral mazes found at Glastonbury Tor
), or a 'revolving fortress' is unlikely.
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:...
fortress mentioned in two Middle Welsh mythological poems in the Book of Taliesin
Book of Taliesin
The Book of Taliesin is one of the most famous of Middle Welsh manuscripts, dating from the first half of the 14th century though many of the fifty-six poems it preserves are taken to originate in the 10th century. The manuscript, known as Peniarth MS 2 and kept at the National Library of Wales,...
.
One such is Song Before the Sons of Llyr (poem 14 as translated by William F. Skene, 1868):
- Complete is my chair in Caer Sidi,
- No one will be afflicted with disease or old age that may be in it.
- It is known to ManawydManawydanManawydan fab Llŷr is a figure of Welsh mythology, the son of Llŷr and the brother of Brân the Blessed and Brânwen. The first element in his name is cognate with the stem of the name of the Irish sea god Manannán mac Lir, and likely originated from the same Celtic deity as Manannán...
and Pryderi. - Three utterances, around the fire, will he sing before it,
- And around its borders are the streams of the ocean.
- And the fruitful fountain is above it,
- Is sweeter than white wine the liquor therein.
The other is The Raid on the Otherworld (poem 30, ibid.):
- I will praise the sovereign, supreme king of the land,
- Who hath extended his dominion over the shore of the world.
- Complete was the prison of Gweir in Caer Sidi,
- Through the spite of PwyllPwyllPwyll Pen Annwn is a prominent figure in Welsh mythology and literature, the lord of Dyfed, husband of Rhiannon and father of the hero Pryderi...
and PryderiPryderiPryderi fab Pwyll is a prominent figure in Welsh mythology, the son of Pwyll and Rhiannon, and king of Dyfed following his father's death. He is the only character to appear in all Four Branches of the Mabinogi, although the size of his role varies from tale to tale...
. - No one before him went into it.
- The heavy blue chain held the faithful youth,
- And before the spoils of AnnwvnAnnwnAnnwn or Annwfn was the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwyn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. It later became Christianised and identified with the land of souls that had departed...
woefully he sings, - And till doom shall continue a bard of prayer.
- Thrice enough to fill Prydwen, we went into it;
- Except seven, none returned from Caer Sidi.
The poems are attributed to the 6th century poet Taliesin
Taliesin
Taliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
but are of later date. Some attempts have been made to give the fortress a physical location, e.g. as the island of Grassholm
Grassholm
Grassholm is a small uninhabited island situated off the southwestern Pembrokeshire coast in Wales, lying west of Skomer. It is the westernmost point in Wales and is known for its huge colony of gannets...
off the coast of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, but Caer Sidi is more likely to belong to the class of otherworldly forts and islands so prevalent in Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
.
The precise meaning of the name 'Sidi' in Caer Sidi is problematic (caer means "fort", "fortress", "stronghold"). One possible meaning of Caer Sidi is the 'turning fortress', but it is more likely to mean the 'Fortress of the Zodiac', as sidydd means "Zodiac" in modern Welsh.
A castle with a spiral construction (as suggested by some in connexion with the spiral mazes found at Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St. Michael's Tower. The site is managed by the National Trust. It has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument ....
), or a 'revolving fortress' is unlikely.