In Wales, white water waves are poetically called "the sheep of
the mermaid". That mermaid is the goddess Gwenhwyfar, the
first lady of the Welsh islands and seas. She is said to have
existed for as long as there was surf to pound against the rocky
shore.
Some identify Gwenhwyfar as the daughter of the first welsh
bard, the giant Ogyran. In Germany, she is called Cunneware ,
which means" female wisdom," and an early British history
recognize Gwenhwyfar as queen Guinevere, the celebrated
consort of king Arthur. Guinevere was the daughter of king
Leodegrance of the north. When she wed Arthur, Guinevere
brought with her and gave to her new husband a huge round
oak table capable of seating one hundred and fifty knights. This
round table was a wise gift, for while seated around all knights
were equal, since none could sit higher or lower than any
other. It promoted peace among the warring knights and
became an emblem of the golden age of Camelot, the castle
from which Arthur governed his realm. King Arthur and his
knights of the round table were famed for their brave deeds
and chivalrous acts.
In Welsh mythology; Arthur was born of the goddess when he
was cast ashore by the ninth wave of the sea. When it was time
for him to die, he was brought back into the sea by
Gwenhwyfar as she sang his death song. Welsh bars call such
songs "giving back to the sea mother", or marswygafen.
Since Gwenhwyfar symbolized the throne of Wales, no king
was able to rule without her by his side as once and future
queen. It is a little wonder that many would be kings attempted
to abduct her, since they foolishly thought that possessing the
queen would make them king. Other legends say that after
Arthur’s death, Gwenhwyfar retreated to her castle call joyous
guard, where earthly paradise still exists. There she rules over
her faithful subjects as queen of the may each spring.
Gwenhwyfar - the
White Fay or White
Ghost. The name may
derive from
"Gwenhwy-fawr" or
Gwenhwy the Great.
The name in Modern
English is spelled
Jennifer.
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