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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

The Birth of Taliesin

Audio
1001 thestoryoftaliesin
Added on 08th July 2020

Oral tradition Welsh legend

UK and Ireland Animals Magic Myths and legends
1001 , Audio , Text

Shape shifting and an epic chase scene bring excitement to this Welsh legend.

Story

Ceridwen brews a potion for her son. After simmering for a year and a day, the first person who drinks it will gain all of the knowledge in the world. A young boy, Gwion Bach is given the task of stirring the potion, until it splashes into his finger and he becomes the first person to taste it…

Why we chose it

The story of Taliesin was chosen by Geraldine MacCaughrean as one of the stories in our World Stories project with St Ebbes school in 2015.

Where it came from

Taliesin was a bard (a poet) who is thought to have lived between the years 534 and 599 and who was the chief bard at the court of three kings of Britain. The story of his life was recorded and made into a legend by Elis Gruffydd in the 16th Century. Gruffydd based his account on Celtic folklore and existing oral stories.

Where it went next

Taliesin is sometimes linked with the story of King Arthur. In the television series Merlin Taliesin appears as a seer. He also appears in the final book of Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising series where he aids and guides the children.

Added on 08th July 2020

Oral tradition Welsh legend

UK and Ireland Animals Magic Myths and legends
1001 , Audio , Text