Mabinogion

The Mabinogion is a collection of medieval Welsh prose tales preserved in Middle Welsh. thought to originate in the oral storytelling tradition, the stories were compiled and written down in the 12th to 14th centuries. It is one of the principal sources for Welsh mythology and for the Welsh rendering of Arthurian legend.

The core of the collection comprises the Four Branches of the Mabinogi: Pwyll, Branwen, Manawydan, and Math. These narrative strands mix myth, kinship, and magic with reflections on power and fate. In addition to the branches, the volume includes other romances and legends connected to the broader Arthurian cycle and Celtic storytelling, such as Culhwch and Olwen and Peredur son of Efrawg, along with tales of enchantment and adventure.

The surviving manuscripts date to the 14th and 15th centuries, with the White Book of Rhydderch and the Red Book of Hergest among the most important sources. The best-known modern edition is Lady Charlotte Guest’s English translation of 1838, which helped popularize the work in the English-speaking world. The name Mabinogion derives from mabinogi, the Welsh term used for these tales.

Significance of the Mabinogion lies in its status as a foundational corpus of Welsh literature, illustrating early prose narrative in Britain and influencing later medieval storytelling as well as modern adaptations. It provides crucial linguistic, cultural, and mythological insights into medieval Wales and its connections to broader Arthurian and Celtic traditions.