Ceridwen

   An early British fertility goddess mentioned in the Mabinogion. She was the possessor of a magic cauldron called Amen. She was the wife of Tegid and had three children, of which Creirwy was the most beautiful girl and Avagdu the ugliest boy. To compensate him for this she prepared a magic draught made from six plants and named ‘greal’— which has some affinity with the Grail— and which when drunk was to give inspiration and science. The process of making took a year and a day, and Gwion was ordered to stir it when three drops splashed from the cauldron named Amen on to his fingers, and on his sucking them to stop the pain he suddenly became possessed of all knowledge. The liquor resembled the Kvasir of the northern races.

   Ceridwen on discovering what had happened pursued Gwion. He changed into a hare and she became a greyhound; he became a fish, she became an otter; he became a bird, she became a hawk; he became a grain of corn, she became a hen, and ate him. Later she gave birth to a child who became Taliesin, the most famous of the Welsh bards. The myth resembles various initiation ceremonies, and may well relate to the rites connected with the appointment of a bard or Druids.