Mabon ap Modron
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In Welsh mythology, Mabon ("divine son") was the son of Modron ("divine mother"). He is without question synonymous with the Ancient British god, Maponos (q.v.) and probably equivalent to the Irish god Aengus Mac Óg. He was a hunter god who was stolen from his mother three days after his birth. He then lived in Annwn until he was rescued by Culhwch. Because of his time in Annwn, Mabon stayed a young adult forever.
He later assisted Culhwch in his search for Olwen. Culhwch had been arranged to marry his own stepsister, but he refused. Angry, his stepmother cursed him to marry no one but Olwen. Olwen's father, Ysbaddaden, was a vicious giant who would die if he was separated from his daughter. After many trials and tribulations, Culwch succeeded and gained Ysbaddaden's powers and life.
[edit] Etymology
The name Mabon is derived from the Common Brythonic and Gaulish deity Maponos. Similarly, Modron is derived from Common Brythonic and Gaulish deity Matrona. The language changes creating the Middle Welsh form are:
- dropping of masculine singular -os and feminine singular -a endings
- p > b
- a > o
- t > d
These changes are discussed in Sims-Williams (2003).
The name Mabon has special connections to Hadrian's Wall where a cult of Apollo Maponos was practised by the Roman soldiers based there.
[edit] References
- Sims-Williams, Patrick (2003) The Celtic Inscriptions of Britain: phonology and chronology, c.400-1200 Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 1-4051-0903-3
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