Myriah Williams
@myriahwilliams.bsky.social
Celticist and erstwhile cake baker
TIL that Theodore Roosevelt - while sitting president in 1907 - published an article on medieval Irish tales and called for the establishment of chairs in Celtic Studies in US universities.
(fun fact from Ian Stewart's excellent book The Celts: A Modern History)
(fun fact from Ian Stewart's excellent book The Celts: A Modern History)
November 25, 2025 at 3:00 AM
TIL that Theodore Roosevelt - while sitting president in 1907 - published an article on medieval Irish tales and called for the establishment of chairs in Celtic Studies in US universities.
(fun fact from Ian Stewart's excellent book The Celts: A Modern History)
(fun fact from Ian Stewart's excellent book The Celts: A Modern History)
Curiously, Hywel Fychan’s spelling of Uchtryt with an internal ’t’ differs both from the White Book and his own copy of the text in the Red Book. Though other instances of the name in the Red Book are spelled similarly, this seems to confirm that he didn't copy the name from either manuscript.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Curiously, Hywel Fychan’s spelling of Uchtryt with an internal ’t’ differs both from the White Book and his own copy of the text in the Red Book. Though other instances of the name in the Red Book are spelled similarly, this seems to confirm that he didn't copy the name from either manuscript.
The latter possibility seems more likely. Notably, Hywel Fychan added the name Uchtryt to the end of his entry in the White Book to show that this is who follows Gwefl in Arthur's court list. And it is indeed with Uchdryt that the White Book text picks back up after the remaining gap.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 AM
The latter possibility seems more likely. Notably, Hywel Fychan added the name Uchtryt to the end of his entry in the White Book to show that this is who follows Gwefl in Arthur's court list. And it is indeed with Uchdryt that the White Book text picks back up after the remaining gap.
Hywel Fychan therefore had access to the White Book, though he made no other contributions to it. Perhaps he too was a fan of Gwefl son of Gwastad?
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Hywel Fychan therefore had access to the White Book, though he made no other contributions to it. Perhaps he too was a fan of Gwefl son of Gwastad?
In the earlier White Book, an unusual gap spanning two columns was left in the tale of Culhwch & Olwen. There’s no obvious cause for this gap and comparison with the Red Book text suggests it's bigger than was necessary. Indeed, all that seems to be missing is Gwefl - and Hywel Fychan filled him in!
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
In the earlier White Book, an unusual gap spanning two columns was left in the tale of Culhwch & Olwen. There’s no obvious cause for this gap and comparison with the Red Book text suggests it's bigger than was necessary. Indeed, all that seems to be missing is Gwefl - and Hywel Fychan filled him in!
These two medieval Welsh anthologies contain many of the same texts, though the one was not the exemplar of the other. Yet Gwefl shows us that one Red Book scribe, Hywel Fychan, did at one point have access to White Book.
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
These two medieval Welsh anthologies contain many of the same texts, though the one was not the exemplar of the other. Yet Gwefl shows us that one Red Book scribe, Hywel Fychan, did at one point have access to White Book.
Gwefl son of Gwastad: when he was sad he would let his one lip droop down to his navel and the other would be a cowl on his head.
Gỽeuyl mab gỽestat. y dyd y bei drist y gollyngei y lleill weuyl idaỽ y waeret hyt y uogel. ar llall a uydei yn pennguch ar y penn.
Gỽeuyl mab gỽestat. y dyd y bei drist y gollyngei y lleill weuyl idaỽ y waeret hyt y uogel. ar llall a uydei yn pennguch ar y penn.
November 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Gwefl son of Gwastad: when he was sad he would let his one lip droop down to his navel and the other would be a cowl on his head.
Gỽeuyl mab gỽestat. y dyd y bei drist y gollyngei y lleill weuyl idaỽ y waeret hyt y uogel. ar llall a uydei yn pennguch ar y penn.
Gỽeuyl mab gỽestat. y dyd y bei drist y gollyngei y lleill weuyl idaỽ y waeret hyt y uogel. ar llall a uydei yn pennguch ar y penn.
October 31, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Turnips - roots of Halloween 🎃
October 30, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Turnips - roots of Halloween 🎃
When you’ve been staring at the same guy for 600 years and suddenly he sprouts a horn.
October 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
When you’ve been staring at the same guy for 600 years and suddenly he sprouts a horn.
the “dark” ages vs the “information age”
October 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
the “dark” ages vs the “information age”
A uo penn bit pont
“He who is a leader, let him be a bridge”
If you see this post a bridge
“He who is a leader, let him be a bridge”
If you see this post a bridge
September 26, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A uo penn bit pont
“He who is a leader, let him be a bridge”
If you see this post a bridge
“He who is a leader, let him be a bridge”
If you see this post a bridge
Fall Semester, 2025
September 23, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Fall Semester, 2025
Is a dragon plaguing your land? A fix from medieval Wales:
1. Dig a hole, fill it w/mead, & cover w/a sheet.
2. Wait for the dragon to tire itself out & turn into a pig.
3. Let the pig fall in the hole, get wrapped in the sheet & drink all the mead.
4. Capture the drunk pig in a chest & bury it.
1. Dig a hole, fill it w/mead, & cover w/a sheet.
2. Wait for the dragon to tire itself out & turn into a pig.
3. Let the pig fall in the hole, get wrapped in the sheet & drink all the mead.
4. Capture the drunk pig in a chest & bury it.
September 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Is a dragon plaguing your land? A fix from medieval Wales:
1. Dig a hole, fill it w/mead, & cover w/a sheet.
2. Wait for the dragon to tire itself out & turn into a pig.
3. Let the pig fall in the hole, get wrapped in the sheet & drink all the mead.
4. Capture the drunk pig in a chest & bury it.
1. Dig a hole, fill it w/mead, & cover w/a sheet.
2. Wait for the dragon to tire itself out & turn into a pig.
3. Let the pig fall in the hole, get wrapped in the sheet & drink all the mead.
4. Capture the drunk pig in a chest & bury it.
Nailed it! But as the only w in five quires from this scribe… was it a mistake?
July 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Nailed it! But as the only w in five quires from this scribe… was it a mistake?
In a poem composed not long after Columba’s death in 597, the saint is celebrated as “learning’s pillar in every stronghold” (II.5). His knowledge and skill as a teacher are points of praise that recur throughout the elegy:
“The teacher wove the word.
By his wisdom he made glosses clear.” (V.2-3)
“The teacher wove the word.
By his wisdom he made glosses clear.” (V.2-3)
July 15, 2025 at 12:28 AM
In a poem composed not long after Columba’s death in 597, the saint is celebrated as “learning’s pillar in every stronghold” (II.5). His knowledge and skill as a teacher are points of praise that recur throughout the elegy:
“The teacher wove the word.
By his wisdom he made glosses clear.” (V.2-3)
“The teacher wove the word.
By his wisdom he made glosses clear.” (V.2-3)
Ieuan ap Sulien, likening the learning of his father to golden treasure in 11th century Wales:
“And staying [in Ireland] contentedly for ten years he accumulated a store (of knowledge), immense in its precious weight. Then, storing this treasure in his shrewd mind he thereafter came home, …
“And staying [in Ireland] contentedly for ten years he accumulated a store (of knowledge), immense in its precious weight. Then, storing this treasure in his shrewd mind he thereafter came home, …
July 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Ieuan ap Sulien, likening the learning of his father to golden treasure in 11th century Wales:
“And staying [in Ireland] contentedly for ten years he accumulated a store (of knowledge), immense in its precious weight. Then, storing this treasure in his shrewd mind he thereafter came home, …
“And staying [in Ireland] contentedly for ten years he accumulated a store (of knowledge), immense in its precious weight. Then, storing this treasure in his shrewd mind he thereafter came home, …
This guy doesn’t get as much love as other images in the Black Book, but he is a mood.
July 4, 2025 at 12:12 AM
This guy doesn’t get as much love as other images in the Black Book, but he is a mood.
Guae tidi hewid
pir doduid im bid.
Onid imwaredit.
or druc digonit.
Woe to you also
that you have come into the world,
unless you do not deliver yourself
from the evil that you are doing.
“The Dispute between the Body and the Soul”, NLW Peniarth MS 1 (The Black Book of Carmarthen), c. 1250
pir doduid im bid.
Onid imwaredit.
or druc digonit.
Woe to you also
that you have come into the world,
unless you do not deliver yourself
from the evil that you are doing.
“The Dispute between the Body and the Soul”, NLW Peniarth MS 1 (The Black Book of Carmarthen), c. 1250
July 4, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Guae tidi hewid
pir doduid im bid.
Onid imwaredit.
or druc digonit.
Woe to you also
that you have come into the world,
unless you do not deliver yourself
from the evil that you are doing.
“The Dispute between the Body and the Soul”, NLW Peniarth MS 1 (The Black Book of Carmarthen), c. 1250
pir doduid im bid.
Onid imwaredit.
or druc digonit.
Woe to you also
that you have come into the world,
unless you do not deliver yourself
from the evil that you are doing.
“The Dispute between the Body and the Soul”, NLW Peniarth MS 1 (The Black Book of Carmarthen), c. 1250
… No, not like that!
June 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
… No, not like that!
To make a w, simply add a third stroke to a v. …
June 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
To make a w, simply add a third stroke to a v. …
… Or maybe they should be stacked?
June 29, 2025 at 3:49 AM
… Or maybe they should be stacked?
What if two v’s held hands? …
June 29, 2025 at 3:49 AM
What if two v’s held hands? …
It’s giving spider.
June 29, 2025 at 3:19 AM
It’s giving spider.