Anubis doesn’t have a monopoly on being the only God of the Dead, despite being perhaps the most famous. Around the world, in ancient texts, oral traditions and myths there are hundreds of beings associated with Death, all with various attributes and abilities. Hades in Greek/Roman mythology is responsible for guiding souls to the afterlife, Anubis, in the Egyptian religion, plays a role in the judgment of the deceased, Yama, in Hindu mythology, is responsible for judging the souls of the dead and determining their fate in the afterlife. That each culture has developed its own belief system around death shows how much emphasis human beings place on the rituals surrounding Death and our attempts to explain or understand what happens to us after life.
One deity I had never come across was Arawn. Arawn is the Celtic God of Death and ruler of the realm of Annwn. Arawn is not solely associated with evil; he is seen as a fair and just ruler who honours promises and punishes wrongdoing. In Celtic folklore, he is called the Provider, the Virtuous, and the Guardian of Lost Souls.
Binary Vs. Multiplanar
As a non-scholar, I find it interesting to compare various current belief systems alongside ancient mythology and traditions. Perhaps one of the things that jumps out at me is the difference between a binary Heaven/Hell and a belief system that encompasses a multi-planar lifecycle. The Abrahamic religions (Judaism/Islam/Christianity) all include a binary Heaven and Hell, thus rewarding or punishing humans for their actions during life on Earth. These three Abrahamic religions all draw on a common core of Zoroastrianism beliefs. They are also, curiously, monotheistic, in a world filled with thousands of old gods.
Zoroastrianism, also known as Zarathustra, Mazdaism, or Magianism, is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and was founded by the prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran). The exact dates of Zoroaster’s life and the origins of the religion are a subject of debate, but it is generally believed to have emerged during the 6th or 7th century BCE, although some theories suggest an earlier date.
In comparison to the Abrahamic religions, there are many more that include the concept of multiplanar life. Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sihkism, Shamanism, the religion of Ancient Egypt, Native Americans and also the Celts, all believe in various planes of existence that we pass between, or through. These also tend to be the religions that believe in multiple gods rather than a single god. Multi-planar belief systems involve multiple realms, each with its own characteristics, inhabitants, and purpose.
The Branches of Mabinogion
The Mabinogion is a collection of Welsh prose stories that form one of the most important and well-known works of early Welsh literature. The name “Mabinogion” is derived from the Welsh word “Mabinogi,” which means “a tale of youth” or “a tale for the young.” These stories contain imaginative storytelling and portray various mythological and supernatural elements, such as magical animals, shape-shifting, and otherworldly realms. Certainly something that would entertain children and families on the cold dark nights of a Welsh winter. You will also notice names, places, themes and narrative structures that are found to this day in modern Fantasy storytelling, be it The Wheel of Time, The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, to name but a few.
The Mabinogion consists of four branches or cycles of stories, each containing various individual tales:
- Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed (Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed): This is the first branch of the Mabinogion and tells the story of Pwyll, a prince of Dyfed, who switches places with Arawn, the Lord of the Otherworld (Annwn). Pwyll’s adventures, including his dealings with Arawn and the Hounds of Annwn, are central to this branch.
- Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr (Branwen ferch Llŷr): The second branch continues the story of Bran, a giant king, and his family. It focuses on Bran’s daughter, Branwen, and her marriage to the Irish king Matholwch. The tale explores themes of love, betrayal, and conflict between the British and the Irish.
- Manawydan, Son of Llŷr (Manawydan fab Llŷr): The third branch tells the story of Manawydan, Branwen’s brother, and his adventures after the events of the second branch. It deals with themes of enchantment and magic, as well as the restoration of Dyfed.
- Math, Son of Mathonwy (Math fab Mathonwy): The fourth and final branch of the Mabinogion focuses on the story of Gwydion, Math, and the children of Dôn. It includes the well-known tales of “The Fourth Branch” and “Lleu Llaw Gyffes,” as well as the transformation of Blodeuwedd.
The exact age of the Mabinogion is somewhat difficult to determine precisely, but it is generally believed to have been composed and recorded in manuscript form during the 12th and 13th centuries, although some of the stories within the Mabinogion are likely even older and may have been passed down through oral tradition for generations before being written down.
Status: It’s Complicated
Not limited to being the Lord of the Otherworld, Arawn is associated with many other aspects. His realm (Annwn) is depicted as a peaceful resting place for the dead where he is seen as a fair and just ruler, who honours promises but also punishes wrongdoing. His symbolic representation goes beyond death and decay and also includes aspects of war, revenge, terror, and hunting.
He is depicted with the Hounds of Annwn, faithful companions, known for their role in the Wild Hunt, where they chase and capture wandering spirits and malevolent entities. In Christianity, the Hounds of Annwn are sometimes demonized as Satan’s Hounds of Hell, but in Welsh mythology, they serve a different purpose.
Arawn is also associated with the seasons of autumn and winter, representing the seasons of death and decay. This is the time when he is most active and summons spirits to Annwn during The Wild Hunt. The changing of leaves and the preparation for winter are seen as symbols of change, death, slumber, and decay and you can imagine the ancient Celts associating this time of year with the Lord of the Otherworld.
He is described as a tall, dark and imposing figure, suitable indeed for Lord of the Otherworld, but he is not portrayed as Evil or Malevolent. Indeed he is mostly described as a fair and just ruler, who maintains order and provides for the inhabitants of his realm, overseeing the well-being and protection of those souls.
Conclusion
The multi-planar religions and texts have always held a fascination for me in a way that the monotheistic religions have not. They tell a complex and nuanced tale of life and death on Earth, each with its own interpretation of what happens between our realm and others. Arawn is just another tiny aspect of ancient knowledge passed down through generations, perhaps with older roots, perhaps just folklore spun to keep the ancient Celts occupied during the cold and dark depths of winter.