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Archdruid
Archdruid () is the title used by the presiding official of the Gorsedd. The Archdruid presides over the most important ceremonies at the National Eisteddfod of Wales including the Crowning of the Bard, the award of the and the Chairing of the Bard. Although Iolo Morganwg was the first to preside over the Gorsedd when the National Eisteddfod came into being, his successor David Griffith, under the bardic name "Clwydfardd", was the first to be known by the official title "Archdruid". The Archdruid's regalia, devised by the early revivers of the eisteddfod during the early 19th century, includes a crown, a sceptre, and a breastplate in the form of a torc. These were redesigned in 1896 by Hubert von Herkomer, to be made of gold and decorated with oak leaves, symbolising the sacred groves associated with druidry. (The Welsh word for "oak" is "derw" from which "druid" is thought to be derived.) A special ring of office was also introduced. The current sceptre has been in use since ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gorsedd Cymru
Gorsedd Cymru (), or simply the Gorsedd or the Orsedd ( cy, yr Orsedd), is a society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians and others who have contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales. Its aim is to honour such individuals and help develop and promote their fields in addition to maintaining relationships with other Celtic nations and Y Wladfa. The Gorsedd is most prominent at the National Eisteddfod of Wales where it is responsible for the main ceremonies held. Name The word ''gorsedd'' (plural ''gorseddau'') means "throne" in Welsh. Equivalent terms exist in Cornish (''gorsedh'') and Breton (''goursez''). When the term is used without qualification, it generally refers to the national ''Gorsedd'' of Wales, namely ''Gorsedd Cymru''. Note that when referred to as simply "the Gorsedd" in Welsh, the initial g is dropped due to soft mutation, resulting in ''yr Orsedd''. Other ''gorseddau'' exist outside of Wales, such as the Cornish Gorsedh Kernow and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Griffith (Clwydfardd)
David Griffith (29 November 1800 – 30 October 1894), known by the bardic name of "Clwydfardd" (), was a Welsh poet and Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Early life David Griffith was born on 29 November 1800 in Denbigh, Denbighshire, the son of Richard Griffith a watchmaker in that town. Clwydfardd was brought up to work in the same trade. In 1826 he became a local preacher with the Wesleyan Methodists. Literary legacy Clwydfardd first came into prominence as a bard in 1824, when he won a silver medal at the Denbigh Eisteddfod for an ode on the Vale of Clwyd. In 1827 he won the prize at the Ruthin Eisteddfod for the best translation of Oliver Goldsmith's The Deserted Village. In August of the same year he won a prize for a poem on ''Difyrwch Helwriaeth'' (the Pleasures of Hunting). Clwydfardd's book "Cyfaill yr Ysgolar" (The Scholar's Friend) was published in 1839. It was a guide to the correct use of the Welsh language, and how to use an effective writing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Cadvan Davies
John Cadvan Davies (1846–1923) was a Wesleyan Methodist Minister and a Welsh poet, who served as Archdruid. He is better known in Wales by his bardic name, Cadfan (sometimes Cadvan). Life and career Cadvan was born on a small farm, Yr Allt, in the village of Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire (now Powys), on 1 October 1846, as the son of David and Jane Davies. He joined the Wesleyan ministry in 1871 and worked in most of the North Wales circuits and in Liverpool. He was President of the Assembly in 1910. He was among the editors of the Wesleyan hymn-book of 1900, which includes several of his hymns. Others can be found in the publication ''Llyfr Emynau y Methodistiaid Calfinaidd a Wesleaidd'' of 1927. "Heroic" verses of his earned him prizes – at a national eisteddfod In Welsh culture, an ''eisteddfod'' is an institution and festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music. The term ''eisteddfod'', which is formed from the Welsh morphemes: , meaning 'si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rowland Williams (Hwfa Môn)
Reverend Rowland Williams (March 1823 – 10 November 1905), commonly known by his bardic name "Hwfa Môn", was a Welsh clergyman and poet, who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1895 to 1905. Early life and education Rowland Williams was born at Pen y Graig in Trefdraeth, Anglesey, in 1823, the son of Robert Williams, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Gwen. When he was 5 years old he moved with his family to the village of Rhostrehwfa, near Llangefni. At the age of 14 Rowland was apprenticed to a carpenter in Llangefni; after learning his trade he worked as a carpenter in the Bangor area for a few years. In 1847 he was made a lay preacher in the Independent church in Llangefni and later the same year he entered Bala Theological College to train for the ministry, where he studied until 1851. Ministry He was ordained as a Congregationalist minister in Flint on 4 June 1851 and served as the joint minister for the congregations in Flint and Bagillt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albert Evans-Jones
Sir (Albert) Cynan Evans-Jones CBE (14 April 1895 – 26 January 1970), more commonly known within Wales by his bardic name of Cynan, was a Welsh war poet and dramatist. Early life Cynan was born in Pwllheli as Albert Evan Jones, the son of Richard Albert Jones and Hannah Jane (née Evans) his father was the proprietor of the Central Restaurant in Penlan Street, Pwllheli. He was educated at Pwllheli Grammar School and the University College of North Wales at Bangor, where he graduated in 1916. First World War On graduation Cynan joined the Welsh Student Company of the RAMC, serving in Salonika and France, initially as an ambulance man and then as the company's military chaplain. His wartime experience had a profound effect on his poetic works, to such an extent that Alan Llwyd claims that Cynan, not Hedd Wyn, is the premier Welsh war poet of the First World War. Hedd Wyn's poems relating to the war were written before he had enlisted and he was killed before he could recount hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Jenkins (Gwili)
John Jenkins (8 October 1872 – 16 May 1936) was a Wales, Welsh poet and theologian. Known by his bardic name of Gwili, he served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1932 to 1936. Early life and education Gwili was born at Hendy in Carmarthenshire, the fifth child of John Jenkins, a metal refiner, and his wife Elizabeth. His parents were fervent Baptists and he received much of his primary education in the Baptist Sunday School movement. He attended Hendy Primary School, where he served also as a pupil teacher in 1885–1890. In the late 19th and early 20th century in England and Wales, a promising 13-year-old could stay on at school as a probationer to help with teaching younger pupils. After two years, another three years would be spent learning the profession before taking a final exam, to be paid for at training college to become a qualified teacher, although Gwili did not become one. In 1891 Gwili became a pupil at the Athenaeum School in Llanelli, but ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robyn Léwis
Robyn Léwis (October 1929 – 12 August 2019) was a Welsh author, politician and former archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Biography Born Robyn Lewis, he studied at Pwllheli Grammar School and University College of Wales, Aberystwyth before becoming a solicitor and barrister. He became active in the Labour Party and stood, unsuccessfully, in Denbigh at the 1955 general election.''The Times Guide to the House of Commons 1970'', p.71 During the 1960s, Léwis left Labour and joined Plaid Cymru. He was elected to Lleyn Rural District Council, and stood for the party in Caernarfon at the 1970 general election, where he came second with more than 33% of the vote. He was subsequently elected as a Vice President of Plaid Cymru.Dr Robyn Lewis: I'm willing to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Owen Williams (Pedrog)
John Owen Williams (1853–1932) was a Welsh Congregational minister and poet who served as Archdruid. Pedrog was born in May 1853 in Madryn, near Pwllheli, the youngest son of Owen and Martha Williams, both of whom were in service locally. He had a tragic childhood. At the age of two he was sent to stay with his father’s sister Jane Owen, in Llanbedrog, when his elder brother contracted smallpox. A few years later his mother died in childbirth. His father then decided to go to sea as a ship’s steward but his first voyage seemingly ended in a Melbourne hospital where he died. Pedrog's memories of both his parents were few and hazy. While resident in Liverpool, Pedrog joined the Welsh Wesleyan church in Chester. From there he moved to a Congregationalist church in Liverpool, of which he later became minister of that church, and was ordained in May 1884. A prolific writer and Eisteddfod competitor, he won his first eisteddfod chair in 1887. Thereafter he won the Chair at the Nat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Howell Elvet Lewis
Howell Elvet Lewis (14 April 1860 – 10 December 1953), widely known by his bardic name Elfed, was a Welsh Congregational minister, hymn-writer, and devotional poet, who served as Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1924 to 1928. Elfed High School in Buckley, Flintshire, was named after him. Early life Elfed was born on 14 April 1860, the eldest son of twelve children of James and Anna Lewis, of Y Gangell, near Blaenycoed, Carmarthenshire. His father was a farm labourer and his mother was a local shopkeeper. He had a very limited early education, but through self-study and attendance at the local chapel schoolroom he managed to gain entry to Newcastle Emlyn Grammar School at the age of 14. Two years later he succeeded in an examination for admission to the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, where he trained for the ministry. Ministry Elfed was ordained in 1880 and was made pastor of St John's English Congregational Church in Buckley, Flintshire, where the l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chairing Of The Bard
The Chairing of the Bard () is one of the most important events in the Wales, Welsh eisteddfod tradition. The most famous chairing ceremony takes place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and is always on the Friday afternoon of Eisteddfod week. Winners are referred to as ''Prifardd, Y Prifardd'' (literally "The Chief Bard"). The custom of chairing the bard is, however, much older than the modern eisteddfod ceremony, and is known to have taken place as early as 1176. A new bardic chair is specially designed and made for each eisteddfod and is awarded to the winning entrant in the competition for the "awdl", poetry written in a strict metre form known as cynghanedd. It is possible for the chair to be withheld, if the standard of entries is not considered high enough by the judges. This was the case in 1889, when a chair made for a minor eisteddfod at Bagillt, in Flintshire, was not awarded. The chair in question made news in 2006, when it was returned to Wales after being a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Evan Rees (Dyfed)
Evan Rees (1 January 1850 – 19 March 1923), known by the bardic name Dyfed, was a Calvinistic Methodist minister, poet, and Archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Life Rees was born at Puncheston, Pembrokeshire, the son of James and Eunice Rees; they moved to Aberdare when he was a child and he began working in the local colliery at the age of only eight. Having moved to Cardiff, he became a Calvinistic Methodist minister at the age of 23 and gained his first National Eisteddfod victory in 1881. In 1893, Rees participated in the Eisteddfod that was held as part of the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, winning the Bardic Chair and a $500 prize for a 2,000 line ''awdl'' on the set subject ''Iesu o Nazareth'' ("Jesus of Nazareth"). Rees went on to become the Archdruid of the ''Gorsedd Cymru'' and to announce the posthumous victory of Hedd Wyn at the famous 1917 "Eisteddfod of the Black Chair" in Birkenhead.Alan Llwyd Alan Llwyd (born 1948), original nam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
War Poet
A war poet is a poet who participates in a war and writes about their experiences, or a non-combatant who writes poems about war. While the term is applied especially to those who served during the First World War, the term can be applied to a poet of any nationality writing about any war, including Homer's ''Iliad'', from around the 8th century BC as well as poetry of the American Civil War, the Spanish Civil War, the Crimean War and other wars. The Old Testament The Book of Psalms contains many works of Hebrew poetry about war, many of which are attributed to King David, the second monarch of the Kingdom of Israel, who is said to have reigned c. 1010–970 BC. The story of David's rise from shepherd to King also inspired the '' Davidiad'', which is a 1517 heroic epic poem in Renaissance Latin by lawyer, judge, and Renaissance humanist Marko Marulić, who spent his life in Split, Croatia, which was under the rule of the Republic of Venice. In addition to the small portion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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