Medieval Welsh 'Englynion Y Beddau'

Edition and translation of this important genre of Old Welsh poetry. <p/>The 'Stanzas of the Graves' or 'Graves of the Warriors of the Island of Britain' attributed to the legendary poet Taliesin describe ancient heroes' burial places. Like the 'Triads of the Island of Britain' they are an indispensable key to the narrative literature of medieval Wales. The heroes come from the whole of Britain including Mercia and present-day Scotland as well as many from Wales and a few from Ireland. Many characters known from the Mabinogion appear often with additional information as do some from romance and early Welsh saga such as Arthur Bedwyr Gawain Owain son of Urien Merlin and Vortigern. The seventh-century grave of Penda of Mercia beneath the river Winwæd in Yorkshire is the latest grave to be included. The poems testify to the interest aroused by megaliths tumuli and other apparently man-made monuments some of which can be identified with known prehistoric remains. <p/>This volume offers a full edition and translation of the poems mapped with reference to all the manuscripts starting with the Black Book of Carmarthen the oldest extant book of Welsh poetry. There is also a detailed commentary on their linguistic literary historical and archaeological aspects.