Eagle of Gwern Abwy. [W] One of the oldest living creatures.

Easal. [I] King of the Golden Pillars who befriended the sons of Tuireann and gave them seven magic pigs that, when killed and eaten at the nightly feasts, were found alive the next day. Anyone eating of their flesh was never afflicted with disease.

Eber. [I] Though several people bear the name Eber, such as Eber Scot, son of Esru, son of Goidel, son of Scota, the more famous is Eber Finn. He was a son of Milesius who quarrelled with his brothers over the division of Ireland. He attacked his brother " Eremon but was slain by him.

Edeirnion. [W] North Wales.

Ederyrn. [W] Son of Nudd and brother of Gwyn. He appears in the Red Book stories' such as "Culhwch and Olwen," "Dream of Rhonabwy," and "Geraint, son of Erbin." He is a warrior of Arthur's and slays three giants. A catalogue of Welsh saints actually, lists him as a bard, and his name seems to have survived near Holyhead (Anglesey) at Bodedyrn.

Efnisien. [W] Half brother of Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan, the children of Llyr. Son of Eurosswyd and Penardun. He always creates hostility, while his brother Nisien is a peacemaker. Efnisien features in the tragic tale of Branwen's marriage to Matholwch of Ireland.

Efrawc. [W] Father of Peredur.

Eiddig. [W] Used as the name for any jealous husband in medieval Welsh love poetry.

Eidoel. [W] A secret prison in Glini.

Eire. [I] The goddess who gave her name to Ireland. She became the wife of Mac Greine, son of Ogma. When the Milesians landed in Ireland and killed their husbands, Eire and her sisters went to them and asked that their names be given to Ireland. If so, then the Milesians would be given the land. Donn, however, treated Eire and her sisters with little respect, provoking a war between the Milesians and the gods. Donn perished in this war. Amairgen, however, promised the goddess that Eire would be the country's principal name. Banba and Fotla have also been used by Irish poets over the centuries as synonyms for the country .Eire remains the modern Irish name for Ireland, and in its genitive form this becomes Eireann, Erin, Erinn, etc.

Eirinn. [I] Given as the mother of the triune goddess of sovranty Eire, Banba, and Fotla-by Delbaeth.

Eiscir Riada. [I] The traditional boundary line dividing Ireland into two halves, running along a broken ridge of low mounds from Dublin to Galway Bay. Eiscir = sand hill; riada = to travel by horse or chariot. From mythological times there are references to the two halves of Ireland, divided originally between Eremon and Eber Finn,

Eisirt. [I] The poet of Iubdan, king of the Faylinn, a diminutive people. It was Eisirt who persuaded Iubdan to go to Emain Macha, which resulted in the king being held prisoner there.

Eisteddfod. [W] "A session"-from eistedd; "to sit." A gathering involving contests in the arts and crafts, especially poetry and music. The first historical Eisteddfod is recorded in A.D. 1176, at Christmas, at Aberteifi (Cardigan), organised by Rhys, Justiciar of Deheubarth. It was proclaimed not only in Wales but in Ireland and Scotland. Such gatherings were held regularly in medieval Wales, and in 1568 Elizabeth I granted licences to the bards to distinguish them from vagabonds. In 1789 the Eisteddfod was revived on a regular basis, the prime mover being Thomas Jones of Cotwen. A new period of its life opened in 1880 when the National Eisteddfod Association came into existence. The Eisteddfod is now the major national cultural festival of Wales.

Elatha. [I] A Fomorii king who had an affair with Eri, wife of Cethor . She gave birth to a son, Bres, who was to become king of the De Danaan. Disposed by the De Danaan, Bres sought Elatha's aid, and thus began the second battle of Magh Tuireadh.

Elcmar. [I] Husband of Boann. The Dagda sent him on a journey so that he could sleep with Boann. The Dagda weaved an enchantment that nine months passed as one day for Elcmar, and thus he did not know that Boann had borne a son to the Dagda. The son was the love god Aonghus Og.

Elen. [W] Sometimes given as Helen. Daughter of Eudaf, from whom the kings of Cornwall claimed descent. Elen Lwddog (Elen of the Hosts) married Macsen Wledig and on his death devoted herself to Christian work, founding monasteries at Llanelen in Monmouth, at Llanrihidion in Llanelen, at Capel Elen, Penrhosllugwy, Anglesey, and many other places. Her children also distinguished themselves. Plebig became a disciple of Ninian and founded Llanbeblig, the first monastery in Wales; Owain ap Macsen founded a dynasty in south Wales; Demetus founded the dynasty of Dyfed; Leo founded the dynasty of Kent; Antonius went to the Isle ofMan; and Cystennin ap Macsen has his tomb at Segontium. Her daughter Sevra married Vortigern, and their son Brydw was blessed by St. Germanus of Auxeree during his visits to Britain. In some traditions Elen appears as the wife of Myrddin (Merlin).

Elffin. [W] Son of Gwyddno, an unlucky youth who was fishing with his father when they caught a leather bag. Inside was the baby Taliesin, whom they decided to raise. The first poem Taliesin com- posed was in praise of Elffin, who grew in riches and won favour with King Arthur. Elffin boasted that his wife was the most virtuous in the land and that his bard was more skillful than any of Arthur's poets. Angry, Arthur's servants had Elffin flung into prison. Rhun is then sent to seduce Elffin's wife and bring back proof of her folly. But Taliesin helps Elffin's wife trick Rhun and he mistakes her maid for her. Arthur was angry that the test had not worked. Then he challenged Taliesin to come before him. Taliesin pouted his lips and put a finger to his mouth saying "Blerwm blerwm," whereupon all that Arthur's bards could utter was these words. Then he sang, suggesting he was Merlin, and there is a similarity to the song of Amairgen, in which Taliesin claims to have been part of eternity, being with God "on the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell." Elffin is brought from prison, but his chains fall away at Taliesin's song.

Eli. [W] One of Arthur's two huntsmen, the other being Trachmyr.

Ellan Vannin. Isle of Man. See Mannin.

Elphin.[W] See Elffin. Emain Abhlach. [I] Emain of the Apple Trees, an island paradise ruled by Manannan Mac Lir.