Comparative mythology corpus

batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l7484-l7578

batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l7484-l7578

---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l7484-l7578
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
  label: PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC / GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN / THE DREAM OF RHONABWY
    / PWYLL PRINCE OF DYVED; lines 7484-7578
  start: '7484'
  end: '7578'
  translation: The Mabinogion
  notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
    human review required.
canonical_text:
  quote: ''
  summary: Gwydion perceives his brother's lovesickness for Goewin, proposes a stratagem,
    and goes with companions disguised as bards to Pryderi. He seeks pigs sent from
    Annwvyn by Arawn, but Pryderi is bound by a covenant not to part with them until
    they have doubled in number. Gwydion uses magic to create impressive horses, greyhounds,
    and shields as a temporary illusion, exchanges them for the pigs, and departs
    quickly as the illusion will last only until the same hour the next day. The route
    with the pigs is linked to several place-names.
  language: English
  quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
  text: Gwydion observes that his brother has lost his aspect and hue and asks what
    ails him.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:2
  text: The brother says Math son of Mathonwy can learn even whispered speech if the
    wind meets it.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:3
  text: Gwydion states that his brother loves Goewin.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:4
  text: Gwydion promises to contrive a way to seek the maiden, even by causing the
    rising of Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth if needed.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:5
  text: Gwydion tells Math that pigs, also called swine, have come to the South and
    are owned by Pryderi son of Pwyll.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:6
  text: The pigs are said to have been sent to Pryderi from Annwvyn by Arawn king
    of Annwvyn.
  category: relationship
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:7
  text: Gwydion proposes to go with twelve men in the guise of bards to seek the swine.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:8
  text: Gwydion and his companions come to Pryderi's palace at Rhuddlan Teivi, are
    received joyfully, and Gwydion is placed beside Pryderi.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:9
  text: Gwydion tells tales so well that he diverts and charms everyone in Pryderi's
    court.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:10
  text: Pryderi says he cannot grant the animals because of a covenant with his land
    that they shall not go from him until they have produced double their number in
    the land.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: obs:11
  text: Gwydion works a charm that makes twelve chargers, twelve black white-breasted
    greyhounds, gold-like collars and leashes, gold-like horse equipment, and gilded
    shields appear.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:12
  text: The shields are stated to have been formed from fungus.
  category: object
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:13
  text: Pryderi and his counsellors agree to give the swine to Gwydion in exchange
    for the horses, dogs, and shields.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:14
  text: Gwydion tells his companions to travel quickly because the illusion will last
    only from one hour to the same hour the next day.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:15
  text: The journey with the pigs is connected to places called Mochdrev and Mochnant.
  category: setting
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
  name_or_label: Gwydion
  description: Brother of the lovesick youth; identifies the youth's love for Goewin,
    devises the plan to obtain Pryderi's swine, travels disguised as a bard, charms
    Pryderi's court with tales, and works the magical illusion used in the exchange.
  role_refs:
  - role:1
  - role:2
  - role:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:3
  - ev:4
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: fig:2
  name_or_label: Gilvaethwy
  description: Named as accompanying Gwydion; in context of the passage, he is the
    brother whose condition Gwydion notices and whose love for Goewin is disclosed.
  role_refs:
  - role:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:3
- id: fig:3
  name_or_label: Math son of Mathonwy
  description: Lord with the property that whispered speech becomes known to him if
    the wind meets it; authorizes Gwydion's journey to seek the swine.
  role_refs:
  - role:5
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:3
- id: fig:4
  name_or_label: Goewin
  description: The maiden whom Gwydion says his brother loves.
  role_refs:
  - role:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: fig:5
  name_or_label: Pryderi son of Pwyll
  description: Owner of the pigs sent from Annwvyn; receives Gwydion at his palace
    and later exchanges the swine for Gwydion's magically produced horses, dogs, and
    shields.
  role_refs:
  - role:7
  - role:8
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  - ev:7
- id: fig:6
  name_or_label: Arawn king of Annwvyn
  description: The king of Annwvyn who sent the pigs to Pryderi.
  role_refs:
  - role:9
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: fig:7
  name_or_label: Gwydion's companions
  description: Ten other men accompany Gwydion and Gilvaethwy; the group travels in
    the guise of bards and later departs with the pigs.
  role_refs:
  - role:10
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
  label: planner of the swine-taking stratagem
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: Gwydion proposes the journey to seek the swine and later says he will cause
    them to be obtained.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:5
- id: role:2
  label: disguised bard and storyteller
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: Gwydion comes in the guise of a bard and charms Pryderi's court with tales.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: role:3
  label: worker of magical illusion
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: He works a charm causing horses, greyhounds, and gilded shields to appear,
    then warns that the illusion will not last.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: role:4
  label: lovesick brother
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: The youth has lost aspect and hue, and Gwydion states that he loves Goewin.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:5
  label: supernaturally informed ruler
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: Math is described as able to know whispered speech if the wind meets it.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:6
  label: desired maiden
  assigned_to:
  - fig:4
  basis: Gwydion identifies Goewin as the one loved by his brother and promises to
    seek the maiden.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: role:7
  label: keeper of Annwvyn swine
  assigned_to:
  - fig:5
  basis: Pryderi owns the pigs sent from Annwvyn and is bound by a covenant concerning
    them.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:5
- id: role:8
  label: exchange partner
  assigned_to:
  - fig:5
  basis: Pryderi and his counsellors agree to give the swine for Gwydion's horses,
    dogs, and shields.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: role:9
  label: otherworld sender of animals
  assigned_to:
  - fig:6
  basis: Arawn is said to have sent the pigs from Annwvyn to Pryderi.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: role:10
  label: disguised retinue
  assigned_to:
  - fig:7
  basis: The companions travel with Gwydion in the guise of bards and later hurry
    away with the pigs.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
  label: Annwvyn swine
  literal_form: Pigs or swine sent from Annwvyn by Arawn to Pryderi, coveted by Gwydion
    and taken away after an exchange.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:5
  - ev:7
- id: sym:2
  label: wind-borne whisper
  literal_form: Whispered speech that becomes known to Math if the wind meets it.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:3
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: sym:3
  label: magical horses
  literal_form: Twelve chargers with saddles, bridles, and gold-like fittings produced
    by Gwydion's charm.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: sym:4
  label: magical greyhounds
  literal_form: Twelve black greyhounds with white breasts and gold-like collars and
    leashes produced by Gwydion's charm.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: sym:5
  label: fungus shields
  literal_form: Twelve gilded shields, stated to have been formed from fungus.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: sym:6
  label: temporary illusion
  literal_form: The magically produced exchange goods whose appearance will last only
    until the same hour the next day.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: sym:7
  label: pig-place names
  literal_form: Places named Mochdrev and Mochnant, explained in relation to the journey
    with the pigs.
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  - fig:7
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
  label: Gwydion discovers the secret love
  summary: Gwydion notices his brother's altered appearance, the brother fears Math's
    ability to overhear secrets through the wind, and Gwydion states that the brother
    loves Goewin.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: scene:2
  label: Plan to seek the swine
  summary: Gwydion promises to help his brother and tells Math about new animals in
    the South, the swine sent from Annwvyn to Pryderi, then receives leave to go in
    bardic disguise.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  - fig:5
  - fig:6
  - fig:7
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  - ev:3
- id: scene:3
  label: Bardic arrival at Pryderi's court
  summary: Gwydion, Gilvaethwy, and their companions arrive at Pryderi's palace in
    the guise of bards; Gwydion entertains and charms the court with tales.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:5
  - fig:7
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: scene:4
  label: Covenant over the swine
  summary: Gwydion asks Pryderi for the animals from Annwvyn, and Pryderi explains
    the covenant preventing him from letting them go before they have doubled in number.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: scene:5
  label: Illusory exchange
  summary: Gwydion makes horses, greyhounds, and gilded shields by charm and offers
    them as an exchange; Pryderi and his counsellors accept, giving the swine to Gwydion.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  - sym:3
  - sym:4
  - sym:5
  - sym:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: scene:6
  label: Swift departure and pig toponyms
  summary: Gwydion's company departs quickly with the pigs because the illusion is
    temporary, and the passage connects several places on their route with names derived
    from the pigs.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:7
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  - sym:6
  - sym:7
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
  label: Secret desire revealed despite attempted concealment
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The brother tries not to disclose his trouble because Math can learn whispered
    speech through the wind, but Gwydion identifies that he loves Goewin.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  confidence: medium
  cautions: The passage gives a specific narrative cause and does not explicitly frame
    this as a broader motif.
- id: motif:2
  label: Coveted otherworld animals
  taxonomy_refs:
  - sacred_exchange
  basis: The pigs are sent from Annwvyn by Arawn to Pryderi and become the object
    of Gwydion's mission and exchange.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:5
  - ev:7
  confidence: medium
  cautions: The passage treats the animals as valuable and otherworldly, but does
    not explicitly call them sacred.
- id: motif:3
  label: Trickster obtains treasure by disguise and illusion
  taxonomy_refs:
  - sacred_theft
  - trickster_boundary
  basis: Gwydion travels in bardic disguise, charms Pryderi's court, creates illusory
    exchange goods, and departs with the swine before the illusion fails.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage presents an exchange rather than using the explicit language
    of theft, so the theft classification depends on interpreting the magical goods
    as deceptive.
- id: motif:4
  label: Covenant circumvented through exchange
  taxonomy_refs:
  - covenant
  - sacred_exchange
  basis: Pryderi's covenant prevents giving or selling the swine before they double,
    and Gwydion proposes an exchange as a way to release him from those words.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  - ev:7
  confidence: high
  cautions: The exact legal or ritual force of the covenant is not elaborated in this
    passage.
- id: motif:5
  label: Etiological place-names from a mythic journey
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: Several stops on the route with the pigs are said still to be called Mochdrev
    or Mochnant on account of that journey.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
  confidence: high
  cautions: The motif is local and toponymic; no supplied taxonomy family directly
    corresponds to it.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, opening dialogue
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion notices his brother's changed appearance; the brother
    refers to Math's ability to know whispers carried by wind; Gwydion states that
    the brother loves Goewin.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, Gwydion's promise
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion tells his brother not to sigh and promises to contrive
    a way to seek the maiden, even by raising Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth if necessary.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, audience with Math
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion tells Math of pigs in the South, says Pryderi owns them,
    says they were sent from Annwvyn by Arawn, and proposes to go with twelve in the
    guise of bards to seek them.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, arrival at Pryderi's court
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion, Gilvaethwy, and ten companions arrive at Pryderi's palace
    at Rhuddlan Teivi disguised as bards; Gwydion tells tales and charms the court.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, request for the Annwvyn animals
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion asks Pryderi for the animals from Annwvyn; Pryderi says
    a covenant with his land prevents their departure until they have produced double
    their number.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, Gwydion's charm
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion works a charm producing twelve chargers, twelve black
    white-breasted greyhounds with gold-like collars and leashes, gold-like horse
    equipment, and gilded shields formed from fungus.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, exchange and departure
  quote_or_summary: Pryderi and his counsellors agree to exchange the swine for Gwydion's
    horses, dogs, and shields; Gwydion leaves with the pigs and urges speed because
    the illusion lasts only until the same hour the next day.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
  type: summary
  locator: lines 7484-7578, route with the pigs
  quote_or_summary: Gwydion's company travels with the pigs through several districts,
    and the passage explains the names Mochdrev and Mochnant as deriving from this
    journey.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized from supplied passage.
confidence:
  extraction: high
  motif_candidates: medium
  comparison_claims: uncertain
  notes: The narrative actions, figures, and objects are explicit in the supplied
    passage. Motif labels are candidate classifications and should be reviewed, especially
    taxonomy assignments for sacred_exchange and sacred_theft.
reviewer_status:
  status: needs_review
  reviewer: ''
  reviewed_at: ''
  notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
  Used only supplied passage and metadata. No comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly compare this episode with another text or tradition.
  batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
  custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l7484-l7578
  passage_sha256=5075539b221cde327a88983f4e3b3d990e38161c98869400e9d6a87893e4d2ca