Re: Lludd and Lleuelys
Searles O'Dubhain
searles@summerlands.com
Wed Nov 24 17:46:23 1999
On alt.religion.druid, I received this reply and some additional information about the Coraniad:*p*Jim Chatterton <Jim@chatt37.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:81hak2$l8i$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...*br*> The "Coranians" are said by some to be the Coritanii, a tribe living in the*br*> area now roughly defined as Leicestershire, thought to be later immigrants*br*> to Britain, possibly Belgae, who were not at all on good terms with the*br*> neighbouring Cornovii, whose capital was at Wroxeter in Shropshire*br*> *br*> Lud's Church in Staffordshire is on the border of the ancient Cornovian and*br*> Brigantan terrirories. It is not a Church but an overgrown crevice reached*br*> by ancient steps. It was said to be a meeting place of the Lollards*br*> (followers on John Wycliffe) in the 14th Century, and at about that time*br*> featured (it is said) as the Green Chapel, home of Sir Bertilak, the Green*br*> Knight, who famously asked Gawain to remove his head and offered to return*br*> the favour. The author of this work, who also wrote the spiritual epics*br*> Patience and Pearl came from just this area.*br*> *br*> There are still pubs in the area called "The Green Man", and associated*br*> carvings feature in local churces. The Cornovians performed the Horn Dance,*br*> said by some to celebrate Cernunnos. This dance is still performed in the*br*> Cornovian forest of Needwood today. Cornovii means "The Horned Ones".*br*> *br*> Lud's Church is also near to the alleged "Belinus line" a line exactly*br*> dividing Britain in half from North to South when King Beli was said to have*br*> reformed the criminal apprehension laws of Dynwal Moelmud . Interesting that*br*> Llud and his brother performed a similar operation to work out where best to*br*> install the fighting dragons.*p*To this information, I'd like to also add the following reply from myself:*p*According to Ford, the Coraniaid are a people of great knowledge who can*br*hear every sound that is carried on the wind (like Math can do). They are*br*one of the three plagues of the kingdom of Lludd and their name might be*br*based on the Welsh word for "dwarf."  He also indicates that they are*br*associated loosely with the fairy folk.*p*Peter Berresford Ellis adds this:*p*"The Coraniaid tale bears a similarity to the despoiling of the Irish Tuatha*br*De/ Danann by the Fomorii. The Coraniaid seem to be connected with the*br*Corriganed, which have passed into Breton folklore as a group of invisible*br*fairies who inhabit Brittany and are more generally known as the corrigan or*br*korrigan.  Professor J. Loth equated the corrigan with the Welsh Tylwyth*br*Teg."*p*Lludd and Lleuelys circumvent the ability of the Coraniads to hear every*br*word that is carried on the wind by using a brass speaking tube through*br*which their words pass from one to another without ever going upon the*br*winds. Initially their speech through the tube was converted into adverse*br*and chaotic information by a demon within it.  Lleuelys was able to cleanse*br*the tube by pouring wine into it.  This use of a seemingly modern idea*br*parallels Brian's use of a "diving helmet" in the "Tale of the Sons of*br*Tuirenn" (an Irish tale that is tied to Cath Maige Tuired).*p*Maybe the Coraniad and the Fomorii represent original inhabitants of Ireland*br*and Britain?  If so, it might well be they who are the people who built*br*Stonehenge or Newgrange (as well as other megalithic structures).  The*br*Tuatha De/ and the other Celtic tribes who came to these lands would have*br*supplanted this earlier culture with their own. However these people*br*originated, they were clearly considered to be *others* by the people in the*br*Mabinogi.*p*Searles*p**p*
Lludd and Lleuelys
Searles
548
Tue Nov 23 15:26:00 1999