First Branch of the Mabinogi

Two women in elegant vintage dresses sit on grass in a flower garden, evoking Rhiannon from Welsh mythology

Pwyll and Rhiannon: Welsh Mythology and Story Summary

Orin Vale

Pwyll and Rhiannon are central figures in the First Branch of the *Mabinogi*, where romance, kingship, hospitality, and supernatural testing shape one of the most important tales in Welsh mythology. Their story explores legitimate rule, honor, and the mystery of the Otherworld, while inviting readers to uncover how injustice and identity transform both characters and their legacy.

Silhouette of a winged horse statue against a dramatic cloudy sunset sky

Arawn: Welsh Mythology God of the Otherworld

Orin Vale

Arawn is a central figure in Welsh mythology and the ruler of Annwn, the Otherworld of medieval tradition, where he appears not as a simple death deity but as a noble king linked to sovereignty, honor, and transformation. His story, especially in the *Mabinogi*, reveals a complex boundary between the human and otherworldly realms, inviting readers to explore how Welsh literature reimagined power and the afterlife.