The oldest of the Welsh tales, those called “The Four Branches of the Mabinogi,”(216) are the richest in mythological elements, but these occur in more or less recognisable form throughout nearly all the mediaeval tales, and even, after many transmutations, in Malory. We can clearly discern certain mythological figures common to all Celtica. We meet, for instance, a personage called Nudd or Lludd, evidently a solar deity. A temple dating from Roman times, and dedicated to him under the name of Nodens, has been discovered at Lydney, by the Severn. On a bronze plaque found near the spot is a representation of the god. He is encircled by a halo and accompanied by flying spirits and by Tritons. We are reminded of the Danaan deities and their close connexion with the sea; and when we find that in Welsh legend an epithet is attached to Nudd, meaning “of the Silver Hand” (though no extant Welsh legend tells the meaning of the epithet), we have no difficulty in identifying this Nudd with Nuada of the Silver Hand, who led the Danaans in the battle of Moytura.(217) Under his name Lludd he is said to have had a temple on the site of St. Paul’s in London, the entrance to which, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, was called in the British tongue _Parth Lludd_, which the Saxons translated _Ludes Geat_, our present Ludgate. GODS OF THE HOUSE OF DŌN Manogan Māthonwy | | | | | +---------+------+ | | | Beli-------+------Dōn Māth (Death, | (Mother-goddess, (wealth, Irish Bilé) | Irish Dana) increase) | | | +----------------+------+--+--------+-------+--------+--------+------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Gwydion-----+----Arianrod | Amaethon | Nudd | Nynniaw (Science and | ("Silver- | (agriculture) | or Ludd | and Peibaw light; slayer | circle," Dawn- | | (Sky-god) | of Pryderi) | goddess) | | | | | | | | | | Gilvaethwy Govannan | Penardun | (smith-craft, | (_m_. Llyr) | Irish Goban) | +--------+---+---------+ | | | | Gwyn Nwyvre Llew Dylan (Warder of (atmosphere, Llaw (Sea-god) Hades, called