Skip to content
Taliesin
EntityQ357835· pop 26· linked from 613 articles

Taliesin ( , ; 6th century AD) was an early Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three kings. Taliesin means "shining brow" in Welsh.

Person · Open Library

Works
10

Top works

  • Taliesin poems
  • Altwalisische Heldendichtung
  • Armes Prydein
  • Facsimile and text of the Book of Taliesin
  • Poems from the book of Taliesin

via Open Library + Wikidata

Music · MusicBrainz

Type
Group
Country
AU
Active from
1990

via MusicBrainz · CC0

Listeners · Last.fm

Listeners
1,706
Total plays
11,792

Tags

Progressive metalblack metalpsychedelictranceaustralia

There are multiple projects under the name Taliesin: 1) Taliesin is a prog metal band which formed in the mid 1990's in Canberra, Australia. The band humbly began when in mid 1995, when the two guitarists Richard Moseley and Rueben Durham met. The two shared an interest in progressive rock and metal (namely Dream Theater, Rush and Fates Warning) and began to play together shortly after meeting. Eventually, the two began songwriting, and the idea of a band came full circle, when the two began se

via Last.fm · Taliesin

Quotes

  • Which was first, is it darkness, is it light? Or Adam, when he existed, on what day was he created? Or under the earth’s surface, what the foundation? He who is a legionary will receive no instruction.
  • Let them make their war. Whence come night and day? Whence will the eagle become gray? Whence is it that night is dark? Whence is it that the linnet is green? The ebullition of the sea, How is it not seen?
  • There are three fountains In the mountain of roses, There is a Caer of defence Under the ocean’s wave. Illusive greeter, What is the porter’s name?
  • Who was confessor To the gracious Son of Mary? What was the most beneficial measure Which Adam accomplished?
  • Whence come night and flood? How they disappear? Whither flies night from day; And how is it not seen?
  • Excellent in every way around the glens The two skilful ones make inquiries

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Key facts

Person.image
File:The finding of Taliesin.jpg
Person.alt
An illustration of a baby being discovered by an adult female in a basket floating upon some open water. An adult male watches the discovery.
Person.caption
The finding of Taliesin by Elphin and Angharad, F. H. Townsend's illustration for Thomas Love Peacock's The Misfortunes of Elphin (1897)
Person.name
Taliesin
Person.other_names
Gwion Bach ap Gwreang
Person.years_active
6th century AD
Person.notable_works
Llyfr Taliesin

via Wikipedia infobox

~17 min read

Encyclopedic overview

8 sections
Contents
  • Biography
  • Legendary accounts of his life
  • Influence
  • Literature
  • Music
  • References
  • Sources
  • External links

Taliesin ( , ; 6th century AD) was an early Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts of at least three kings. Taliesin means "shining brow" in Welsh.

In 1960, Ifor Williams identified eleven of the medieval poems ascribed to Taliesin as possibly originating as early as the sixth century, and so possibly being composed by a historical Taliesin. The bulk of this work praises King Urien of Rheged and his son Owain mab Urien, although several of the poems indicate that Taliesin also served as court bard to King Brochfael Ysgithrog of Powys and his successor Cynan Garwyn, either before or during his time at Urien's court. Some of the events to which the poems refer, such as the Battle of Arfderydd (), are referred to in other sources.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Taliesin” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (4)