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Encyclopedia > Iolo Morgannwg

Iolo Morganwg (or Morgannwg in modern spelling) was the bardic name of Edward Williams (Llancarfan, Glamorgan, Wales 1747-1826). The name is Welsh for "Ned of Glamorgan".


Edward Williams spent his working life as a stonemason. It is as Iolo Morganwg that he is remembered, chiefly for his role in (re)creating modern bardic ritual and philosophy. He founded the first Gorsedd, Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain, at a ceremony in 1792 at Primrose Hill, London. He also authored fairly substantial works (most of which might uncharitably be considered forgeries) claiming that the druidic/bardic tradition had survived intact in Wales despite the Roman conquest, Christianity, the persecution of the bards under Elizabeth Tudor, and other adversities. Iolo's philosophy represented a fusion of Christian and Arthurian influences, a proto-romanticism comparable to that of William Blake, the revived antiquarian enthusiasm for all things Celtic, and such elements of bardic heritage as had genuinely survived among Welsh-language poets.


Iolo was the author of the "Druid's Prayer", which is still a staple in the ritual of both gorseddau and Neo-Druidism. His metaphysics outlined a theory of concentric 'rings of existence', proceeding outward from Annwn (the Otherworld) through Abred and Ceugant to Gwynfyd (purity or Heaven).


Among his writings was Cyfrinach Beirdd Ynys Prydain, or "The Mystery of the Bards of the Isle of Britain".


  Results from FactBites:
 
Bat Creek Inscription (2233 words)
Jones 2004) that Coelbren itself is the modern invention of Edward Williams (1747-1826), known also as Iolo Morgannwg.
If it could be shown to work even better as Coelbren, or any other alphabet, the Hebrew reading would have to be abandoned.
Furthermore, if the Bat Creek stone, which was professionally excavated and whose context been carbon-dated to ancient times, were clearly engraved in Coelbren letters, that would itself be sufficient to vindicate the authenticity of Coelbren and to exonerate Morgannwg.
IOLO - dolennau | links (701 words)
• The Iolo Morganwg competition: a poetry competition for comprehensive schools in a local paper for Taf Elái, Glamorgan (Tafod Elái)
• yn rhestru testunau gan Iolo sy'n cael eu defnyddio yn y Geiradur
• Unitarian society founded by Iolo in 1802 - with a picture of Iolo
  More results at FactBites »

 

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