Dôn

Dôn (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈdoːn]) was a Welsh mother goddess. She does not play a direct part in the action of the Mabinogi, though many characters in that cycle are related to her. She is the mother of Arianrhod, Gwydion, Gilfaethwy, Gofannon, Eufydd, Elestron and Amaethon. Patrick K. Ford asserts that she is the equivalent of the Irish Danu and of the Gaulish goddess "whose name is preserved in the river name Danube (Donau)".[1]

This theonym appears to be derived from Proto-Celtic *Dānu meaning "fluvial water".[2]

Contents

The House of Dôn

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dôn
 
 
 
 
 
 Math fab Mathonwy (Dôn's brother)
 
 Goewin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gwydion
 
 
 
 Gilfaethwy
 
 
 
 
 Arianrhod
 
 
 
 Gofannon
 
 
 
 Amaethon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dylan ail Don
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lleu
 
 Blodeuwedd
 

In astronomy

Llys Dôn (literally "The Court of Dôn") is the traditional Welsh name for the constellation Cassiopeia. At least two of Dôn's children also have astronomical associations: Caer Gwydion ("The fortress of Gwydion") is the traditional Welsh name for the Milky Way, and Caer Arianrhod ("The Fortress of Arianrhod") being the constellation of Corona Borealis.

See also

References

  1. ^ Patrick K. Ford (ed./trans.). 1977. The Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales. University of California Press, Berkeley. p.89
  2. ^ Proto-Celtic—English lexicon and English—Proto-Celtic lexicon. University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. (See also this page for background and disclaimers.) Cf. also the University of Leiden database.

External links

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Afaon fab Taliesin • Amaethon • Arawn • Arianrhod • Arthur • Afallach • Beli Mawr • Bleiddwn • Blodeuwedd • Bedwyr  • Bendigeidfran • Branwen • Cai  • Caradog ap Bran  • Caswallawn • Ceridwen • Cyledr Wyllt  • Cigfa • Creiddylad • Culhwch • Cyhyraeth • Dôn • Drudwas • Dylan ail Don • Dywel fab Erbin • Edern ap Nudd • Efnysien • Elen • Elffin ap Gwyddno • Eliwlod • Eufydd • Euroswydd • Geraint • Gilfaethwy • Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr • Goewin • Gofannon • Goreu fab Custennin • Gronw Pebr • Gwawl • Gwern • Gwrhyr  • Gwyddno Garanhir • Gwydion • Gwyn ap Nudd • Gwythyr • Gwalchmei • Hafgan • Hefeydd • Hueil mab Caw • Hychddwn • Hyddwn • Iddog ap Mynio • Idris  • Llefelys • Lleu • Llŷr • Lludd • Llwyd • Mabon • Madoc ap Uthyr • Macsen Wledig • Mallt-y-Nos • Manawydan • Math • Matholwch • Menw • Modron • Morfydd • Morfran • Nisien • Olwen • Penarddun • Penpingion • Peredur • Pryderi • Pwyll • Rhiannon • Sanddef • Seithenyn • Taliesin • Tegid Foel • Teyrnon • Ysbaddaden
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