Paris. [W] King Paris of France, "from whom Paris takes its name," appears in the story of Culhwch and Olwen as a friend of Arthur's who helps in the quest. The claim is not so far-out, for there was a Belgae tribe called the Parisi who settled, or had a branch who settled, north of the Humber {Yorkshire). The area has produced some of the most spectacular Celtic chariot burials {designated the "Arras culture" by archaeologists). [SeeThe Parisi, Herman Ramm, Duckworth, London, 1978.] The Parisi, or their Gaulish branch, gave their name to Paris.

Parthanan. [I] It is suspected that Parthanan may be a folk memory of Parthol6n. He is a mischievous spirit who, at the end of the harvest, would thresh any corn left standing.

Partholon. [I] Partholon was the leader of the third mythical invasion of Ireland. He murdered his father, Sera, and his mother, hoping to inherit their kingdom. When he failed he led his followers to Ireland and landed in Munster. Partholon discovered Ireland was inhabited by the Fomorii and their ruler Cichol Grinchenghos (the footless) and did battle with them. He went on a journey, leaving his wife, Dealgnaid, alone with his servant Togda. They had an affair in his absence. Discovering this on his return, he accepted the blame, saying it was his fault for leaving his wife alone. Varying accounts credit him with three sons and "a hireling" or with four sons. His eldest son appears as Eber, the same name as a son of Mil,the others being Rudraidhe and Laighlinne. The Parthol6nians are said to have introduced agriculture into Ireland, cleared the plains, and established hostels. They were killed by a plague.

Peibaw. [W] The brother of Nynniaw and a king of Britain. SeeNynniaw.

Penardun. [W] Daughter of the mother-goddess Don who weds Llyr.She is the mother of Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan, although in some traditions Iweriadd is given as mother of Bran and Branwen. She later weds Eurosswyd and has two sons, Nisien and Efnisien, the first a youth of gentle nature and lover of peace, the second who loved nothing so much as strife and conflict.

Pendaran Dyfed. [W] A swineherd, one of the three most renowned in Britain, and foster father of Pryderi.

Percival. His first appearance in literature is in Perceval, au le cante du Graal, written ca. A.D. 1175 by Chretien de Troyes. The Celtic model seems to be Peredur, and a medieval Welsh tale entitled "Peredur, son of Efrawg," included in the Mabinogi, is parallel to the tale. He becomes Parzifal in the German version of the story.From the time of Malory's Morte d'arthur he is Sir Percival, the virgin knight, whose quest for the Grail is the main thrust of all the stories about him.

Peredur. [W] The Celtic model for the later Percival and Parzifal. Hisfather was Efrawc and he was a seventh son. The syllable Peroccurs in all forms of this hero's name and, interestingly enough-because Peredur is the figure around whom the first Grail legends revolve- the word means a bowl or vessel in Brythonic Celtic. The earliest Peredur tale is simply one of vengeance for the slaying of a kinsman, although setting out for magical treasure is included. See Percival.

Perilous Plain, The. A plain of devouring wild beasts that Cuchulainn had to cross to reach the fortress of Scathach.

Picts. Sometimes given as the Pictii. In Irish saga they appear as the Tuatha Cruithne. They are also mentioned in Welsh saga asPriteni.The Picts were British Celts, a confederation of some of the northern tribes, such as the Caledonii and the Maecatae. The term "Pict" was first recorded in a Latin poem of A.D. 297, and it was simply a nickname given by the Roman soldiers garrisoned on Hadrian's Wall to the northern Celtic warriors, who painted or tattooed their bodies: pictii is the past participle of the Latin pingere, "to paint."There is a general misconception that the Picts were a new ethnic element in Britain. This would be the equivalent of seeing national groupings in the United States called "Yanks" or "Rebs," or, indeed,"Limeys" or "Pommies" in England. Professor Kenneth Jackson points out that there are no texts extant in a "Pictish language," but that both the Latin king-lists and place-names are unquestionably Celtic: moreover, they are P-Celtic (i.e., Brythonic). However, within a few centuries after the Roman period, a switch to Goidelic (Gaelic) language had been made. The king-lists of the Picts actually show both Goidelic and Brythonic forms, but Joseph Loth and Kuno Myerhave pointed to the predominance of Brythonic names. There is an intriguing reference to eighth century Pictish literacy in chronicles that cite quotations in veterimus Pictorium libris(in old books of the Picts). By this period the Picts would have been fully absorbed into a Gaelic culture. The Annals of Ulster record Picts living in the midlands of Ireland as late as A.D. 809.
A Pictish warrior named Cruithne is said to have settled in Alba with his seven children and divided the country between them: hence Tuatha Cruithne. Cat ruled Caithness, then came Ce (Marr and Buchan), Cirech (Angus and Mearns), Fiobh (Fife), Moireabh (Moray), Fotla (Ath-fh6tla = Atholl),and Fortriu (Stratheam).

Pigs. Pigs have a special place in Celtic myth and are magical animals with certain properties of enchantment. The pigskin of Tuis, which the sons of Tuireann were asked to bring back to Ireland, cured all wounds and sickness and, if dipped into a stream, would turn the water into wine for three days. The seven pigs of Easal of the Golden Pillars provided an inexhaustible feast-if eaten on one night, they would appear the next day ready to be slaughtered for another feast. Pigs were highly prized. Gwydion was successful in stealing Pryderi's pigs, but Arthur was unable to capture the swineof March ap Meirchion. A Gaulish god, whom the Romans equated with Mercury, had the epithet Moccus (pig).

Plant Rhys Ddwfn. [W] A land supposedly lying off the coast of Dyfed, probably corrupted from Pant yr Is-ddwfn or Plant Rhi Is-dwfn-"The Children of (the King of) the Netherworld." They were said to be an Otherworld people who had the power to make their country invisible except from one small patch of ground to be found in Dyfed.

Plur na mBan. [I] "The Flower of Women." Daughter of Oisin and the goddess Niamh, daughter of Manannan Mac Lir.

Polyandry/Polygamy. Plurality of marriages was permitted in ancient society and enshrined in the Brehon Laws and Laws of Hywel Dda. The practice continued well into the Christian era. Men and women enjoyed equal rights, and nowhere is this more carefully demonstrated than in the laws relating to marriage. Divorce could be had by mutual consent as well as for numerous "offences." Rights that were carefully listed in the laws gave protection to both sides.

Pooka. See Puca.

Powys. [W] The ancient kingdom of mid- Wales, which has now been re-established in the new county boundary system.

Pryderi. [W] Son of Pwyll and Rhiannon and the only person to figure in all the branches of the Mabinogi. When a babe, he is kidnapped by malignant forces, and those who were supposed to be looking after him, to protect themselves, accuse his mother of killing him. He is found by Teyrnon of Gwent Is-Coed who, with his wife, names him Gwri, "golden hair," and raises him. But they eventually find out his true identity and return him to Rhiannon and Pwyll. Rhiannon then names him Pryderi, "Care," for the care she has suffered during his absence. Pryderi is fostered by Teyrnon who, with his wife, befriends Pwyll and Rhiannon.
It is in the third branch that Pryderi is seen as lord of Dyfed,having succeeded his father. He now gives his mother Rhiannon in marriage to Manawydan. At Arbeth, they are feasting when there is a peal of thunder and a mist falls. When it rises, all human life has vanished, as have all the buildings, leaving the countryside desolate.Thus begins a series of adventures (see Manawydan fab Llyr).Rhiannon is abducted, and Pryderi, who is depicted as an impulsive character, is enticed into a magic fortress and made prisoner by the author of the magic curse, Llwyd. Pryderi and Rhiannon are rescued by Manawydan, who forces Llwyd to promise that no further spells shall ever again be cast on Dyfed. Llwyd, by the way, is the friend of Gwawl, the suitor for the hand of Rhiannon who had been bested by Pwyll, Pryderi's father.

Prydwen. [W] The name of Arthur's ship.

Puca. [I] Anglicised as Pooka. A mischievous spirit who led travellers astray or performed other devilment. It occurs in later legend and seems to have no basis in myth. It could well be an import through the Danish settlements in Ireland, taken from the Norse puki. It also went into Welsh as pwca and into English as Puck.

Pursuit. In Irish, toruidheacht. A class of tales that were popular with audiences. The most famous is Toruidheacht Dhiarmuda is Ghrtiinne(The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne).

pwyll. [W] Lord of Dyfed whose chief court is at Arberth. He has to repay Arawn, king of Annwn, for a discourtesy by taking his form for a year and meeting Arawn's enemy Hafgan in combat. During the year he is in Arawn's image he is invoked not to make love with Arawn's wife even though he shares her bed. Pwyll carries out his task, slaying Hafgan, and becomes head of Annwn. He wins the hand of Rhiannon, although she is taken by a rival suitor, Gwawl, by a trick. Using a similar trick, Pwyll gets her back. In the third year of marriage, Rhiannon bears his son Pryderi. The child is stolen and Rhiannon's maids cause her to be suspected of killing the child. Pwyll treats her badly but eventually the child is found.