TALIESIN

flourished 6th century AD one of five poets renowned among the Welsh in the latter part of the 6th century, according to the Historia Brittonum attributed to Nennius (flourished c. 796). The Book of Taliesin, the oldest surviving copy of his works (written about 700 years after his time), contains a variety of poems, some on religious themes, some arcane religious verses that belong to Celtic mythological traditions and that are very difficult to decipher, and some that refer to known historical figures. Among the last, the poet praises Urien, king of the ancient Welsh territory of Rheged (the modern shires of Wigtown and Kirkcudbright in south Scotland), and laments the loss of Owain, son of Urien. A eulogy to Cynan Garwyn ap Brochfael, king of Powys, attributed to Taliesin, suggests that the poet may have been a native of Powys, Wales. A monument honouring him stands on the banks of Geirionydd Lake in Caernarvonshire.