Notes on the Tale of Taliesin
	The Cauldron of Ceridwen Ceridwen’s cauldron is the traditional source of inspiration, or ‘awen’ in the Welsh mythology. There are several poems in the Book of Taliesin which contain allusions to this, for example: Shall not my chair be defended from the cauldron of Ceridwen? May my tongue be free in the sanctuary of the praise of Gogyrwen. The praise of Gogyrwen is an oblation, which has satisfied Them, with milk, and dew, and acorns. - Book of Taliesin XIV	Contents The Cauldron of Ceridwen The Discovery of Taliesin Maelgwn's Fate Taliesin’s Grave
	The Discovery of Taliesin Note that Taliesin is discovered on May eve, which is the traditional time when the barriers between this world and the otherworld become thin.
	Maelgwyn’s Fate The reference in Taliesin’s poem to the fate of Maelgwn: And will tell your king what will befall him. A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd; His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold, And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd. Is an allusion to his death from the Yellow Plague which devastated Europe in the middle of the 6^th Century: “And Maelgwn Gwynnedd beheld the Yellow Plague through the keyhole in the church door and forthwith died.” - Myths and Legends of Wales by Tony Roberts
	Taliesin’s Grave According to tradition, Taliesin grew up in the area around Llangynfelyn, near the mouth of the Dyfi. In his old age, he returned to die here, and now lies buried in the hills above the village named after him, Tre-Taliesin. The grave (Bedd Taliesin) is still to be seen. According to a description by Samuel Meyrick in 1808, there is a popular superstition that should any one sleep in this bed for one night, he would the next day become either a poet, or an idiot. The Grave of Taliesin