Editing Olwen

{{Short description|Giant's daughter in Welsh mythology}}
{{for|the tanker RFA ''Olwen''|RFA Olwen (A122)}}
In [[Welsh mythology]], '''Olwen''' (or '''Olwyn''') is the daughter of the giant [[Ysbaddaden]] and cousin of [[Goreu fab Custennin|Goreu]]. She is the heroine of the story ''[[Culhwch and Olwen]]'' in the [[Mabinogion]]. Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when [[Culhwch]] (sometimes spelled as Kilhwch) comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks which he must complete before he can win her hand. With the help of his cousin [[King Arthur]], Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.

==Description==
In the tale ''Culhwch and Olwen'' in the Mabinogion, she is described as a vision of beauty: wearing a flaming-red dress with a red-gold [[torc]] and many golden rings, she has "hair yellower than the [[Genisteae|broom]]", red (ruddy) cheeks, white skin and pale hands. She is also depicted as having the ability to spring white flowers from every step she takes.<ref>Bane, Theresa. ''Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology''. McFarland and Company. 2013. p. 260. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-7111-9}}</ref><ref name=Bruce1998p384>{{cite book |chapter=Olwen ('White Track') |page=384 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gaBAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA384 |editor1-last=Bruce |editor1-first=Christopher W. |title=The Arthurian Name Dictionary |date=1998 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-75538-5 }}</ref>

==Other tales==
The name "Olwen" reappears in the non-Arthurian [[Folklore|folktale]] ''Einion and Olwen'', about a [[shepherd|sheep herder]] who travels to the [[Otherworld]] to marry Olwen; they later have a son named [[Taliesin]].<ref name=Bruce1998p384/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ffcc/ffcc124.htm|title=The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries: Section I: The Living Fairy-Faith: Chapter II. Taking of Evidence: V. In Wales|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is related to ''Culhwch and Olwen''.

English author and publisher of the Mabinogion, [[Lady Charlotte Guest]] noted that Olwen became the object of later poetry by [[Dafydd ap Gwilym]] and Sion Brwynog. The latter begins a poem with the verse ''Olwen gulael lan galon'' ("Olwen of slender eyebrow, pure of heart").<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=aFUAAAAAcAAJ The Mabinogion, from the Llyfr Coch o Hergest and Other Ancient Welsh Manuscripts; with an English Translation and Notes by Lady Charlotte Guest]''. Part IV. Containing Kilhwch and OlwenPublication Recor. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans. 1849. p. 320.</ref>

==Etymology==
The meaning of the name Olwen is "white footprint"<ref>"Welsh ''ol'' "footprint, track" and ''gwen'' "white, fair, blessed"", cited from http://www.behindthename.com/name/olwen</ref> or "white track".<ref name=Bruce1998p384/> According to legend, she was so gentle and fragile that white [[Clover|trefoils]] would grow in her footprints. Some authorities consider her to have been originally a [[solar goddess]], based on the etymology of her name and light-related attributes.<ref>Simon Andrew Stirling, The Grail: Relic of an Ancient Religion, 2015</ref><ref>Monaghan, Patricia. ''The Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Folklore''. Facts on File. 2004. p. 369. {{ISBN|0-8160-4524-0}}</ref>

Professor [[John T. Koch]] states that "recent [[Welsh language|Welsh]]  generally employs ''olwyn'' rather than ''rhod'' for 'wheel'."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Koch |first1=John T. |title=Some Suggestions and Etymologies Reflecting upon the Mythology of the Four Branches |journal=Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium |date=1989 |volume=9 |pages=1–10 |jstor=20557203 }}</ref>

==Notable persons with this name==
*[[Olwen Brogan]], British archaeologist
*Lady [[Olwen Carey Evans]], DBE, daughter of British Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]]
*[[Olwen Fouéré]], Breton-Irish actress on stage and in film
*Dame [[Olwen Hufton]], British historian of early modern Europe, women's history and social history
*[[Olwen Wymark]], American playwright and author
* Olwen Davies, Headmistress of [[St Swithun's School, Winchester|St Swithun's School]] and  [[St Mary's Hall, Brighton|St. Mary's Hall]], and sister of the conductor [[Meredith Davies]]
* British singer, actress [[Petula Clark]] born Petula Sally Olwen Clark.
*Olwen Burton, American physicist, scientist and published author.

==See also==
* [[List of solar deities]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Celtic mythology (Welsh)}}
{{Arthurian Legend}}

[[Category:Arthurian characters]]
[[Category:Welsh mythology]]
[[Category:Welsh feminine given names]]
[[Category:Feminine given names]]