These inspire me, they're of a local place which was
one of Merlin's schools, above the river Wye. The place is called Moccas,
Moch Rhos which means Pig Moor because the Merlin-figure (Dyfrig) was
called, in a vision, to walk up the river until he came to a place where
he would find a white sow suckling her piglings and there to build his
school. He did. The oaks are enormous and magical, all antlered. The
place is an SSSI and not normally open to the public, I've got a pass
because I'm writing a novel set there, around the Merlin story. It's
a fabulous place, in the old meaning of the word, going through the
gate is like walking between the worlds.
It is pretty fab and very ancient, the Dyfrig/Merlin
story dates from the 5th century - Dyfrig died in 612 on Bardesy Island
- as Merlin is said to have done! The Merlin-likeness in the stories
is particularly marked in that he was a "fatherless-child" who
did miraculous things, as well as that (as Bishop of Llandaff) he crowned
Arthur. There's quite a tradition of this in this area.
1) This one is a bit "soggy" and romantic in tone, considering
that women held land and were rulers in their own right in those times
(pre-Norman and pre-Victorian), but I like the idea that his mother helped
him. Drowning and fire were "initiation tests" too which perhaps
we ought to remember before we go all modern over Efryddyl who was likely
a Ceridwen-goddess figure and a well-keeper-priestess.
Princess Efrddyl
5th Century
(Latin-Eberwella, English-Everwella)
Princess Efrddyl was the daughter of King Peibio Clafrog of Ergyng. She
was a beautiful young girl much given to the attentions of the young
men at court.
Having been neglected by her father while he rode out on his military
campaigns, she soon found herself seduced by some young buck and, unfortunately,
fell pregnant. Upon her father's return, the King was sent out of his
mind with fury and threw the poor girl into a sack which he cast into
the River Wye. Miraculously, Efrddyl floated and returned safely each
time to the riverbank. Peibio then tried to burn her on a funerary pyre
at Madley, in Herefordshire. However, his daughter defied the flames
and gave birth to a baby boy amongst the ashes. The child quickly melted
his grandfather's heart and the two were welcomed back to Court.
Efrddyl's son, St. Dyfrig, was later given the area round Madley from
which to preach Christianity to the people of Ergyng. It was named Ynys
Efrddyl after his mother. The lady appears to have helped her son in
his work and founded churches at Llanebrdil (Ergyng) and Llanerthyl (Gwent).
She probably lived out her life in seclusion at Llangynfyl (Ergyng) where
she had her well, the Ffynnon Emrdil.
2) This bit gives some interesting thoughts on the origins of the name,
especially considering Arthur comes from "Artos" which means "bear" ...
Moccas Park
Moccas is a small rural village (population about 70) in Herefordshire,
close to the Welsh border and the Black Mountains.
· The name Moccas is probably derived from the Welsh "Moch" (plural
of mochyn) meaning a pig and "rhos" meaning a moor, giving
Mochros.
· One of the Gods of Celtic mythology was Moccoss (the "Holy
Bear).
3) The following from The Liber landavensis. - ed. by the Rev. W. J.
Rees. The Welsh MSS. Society. Llandovery, W. Rees, 1840 - is a bit Victorianly
wordy and overly "christianised", but gives the story of the
Ceridwen (the White Sow) connection quite well. And I like that he says
it's the "British" language.
And during another space of time, he remained with his
numerous disciples for many years, directing their studies, in his native
district, namely,
Ynys Eurddil, having chosen a place convenient for wood and fish, in
a corner of that island, on the banks of the Wye, giving it the name
of Mochros, that is, Moch, hogs, rhos a place, Mochros in the British
language signifying the Place of Hogs. And rightly was it so called,
for, during the preceding night, an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream, and said, “See that thou, on the morrow, go all round
the place which thou hast proposed and chosen, and where thou wilt see
a white sow lying with her pigs, there lay a foundation, and build in
the name of the holy Trinity a habitation, and an Oratory.” The
man of God having awoke from his sleep, and being mindful as usual of
the angelic precept, immediately went round the place with his disciples;
and as the voice of the angel had promised to him, a white sow, with
her young pigs, got up before them; and there he immediately founded
and constructed an Oratory and a habitation, where for many years he
regularly lived, preaching, and giving instruction to the clergy and
people, his doctrine shining throughout all Britain, as a candle on a
candlestick, and the whole British nation preserved the true faith without
any stain of false doctrine.
From between the two lights,
Anny/Grymalkyn
April 2005
Photos © Anny Konig 2005
Writer's website: www.owlwoman.org
Shamanic website: www.peagreenboat.demon.co.uk
Gardening website: www.peagreenboat.co.uk
