Уэльс мифологиясының батыры Лю Ллаў Гиффес

Warrior and magician of Welsh mythology
Lleu Llaw Gyffes (, sometimes spelled Llew Llaw Gyffes) is a hero of Welsh mythology. He appears most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, the tale of Math fab Mathonwy, which tells the tale of his birth, his marriage, his death, his resurrection and his accession to the throne of Gwynedd. He is a warrior and magician, invariably associated with his uncle Gwydion. He is widely understood to be the Welsh equivalent of the Irish Lugh and the Gaulish Lugus. It has been suggested that Lleu, like Pryderi, is related to the divine son figure of Mabon ap Modron.

The name Lleu is derived from Proto Celtic *Lugus, the exact meaning (and etymology) of which is still a matter of scholarly debate. Several writers and historians thought that the name Lugus is derived from the Proto Indo European (PIE) root *leuk , 'light', and thus he was considered a sun god. This etymology has been dismissed because PIE *k did not under any known circumstances become *g in Proto Celtic, but remained *k. The direct descendant of the Proto Indo European root *leuk ('white light') in Proto Celtic is *leuk as in the name of the Gaulish lightning god Loucetios. Proto Celtic *Lugus may be related to the root of the Proto Celtic *lug rā 'moon' (the origin of Welsh lloer, though Peter Schrijver suggests an alternative etymology for lloer, from Common Celtic *lus rā, where the root would be cognate with that of Latin luridus [earlier *lus idus] 'pale yellow'). Another possibility is PIE *leug meaning 'blackness, dimness, darkness' (thought by Pokorny to be the root of the ill attested Gaulish word lugos 'raven'), or *leug 'swamp, peat bog'. Proto Celtic *Lugus may equally be related to Proto Celtic *lug meaning 'oath, pledging, assurance' on the one hand and 'deceive' on the other (derived from PIE *leugh 'avowal, deception'). Juliette Wood interprets his name as deriving from Proto Celtic *lug , 'oath', which would support this identification of Mercury as a god of contracts. The name may also be related to 'lynx', perhaps indicating the existence of a Proto Celtic root that denoted an animal with shining eyes, from PIE *leuk 'to shine' (compare Greek lungx [λύγξ] 'lynx', perhaps from a zero grade form *luk with infixed nasal). Another possibility is that *Lugus is related to Latin lūgubris 'mournful, pertaining to mourning', from lūgēre 'to mourn' from a PIE base *leug 'to break' (cf. Greek lugros [λυγρός] 'mournful, sad', 'breaks, torments', 'to break the heart').

The story of Lleu and the tynghedau of Arianrhod and then of Lleu and Blodeuwedd form respectively the second and third part of the Mabinogi of Math fab Mathonwy.

Gilfaethwy, nephew to the Venedotian king, Math fab Mathonwy, falls in love with his uncle's virgin foot holder, Goewin. His brother Gwydion conspires to start a war between the north and the south, so as give the brothers the opportunity to rape Goewin while Math is distracted by the ensuing war. To this end, Gwydion steals a number of otherworldly pigs from the Demetian king, Pryderi, leading to an invasion of Gwynedd. Pryderi and his men march north and fight a battle between Maenor Bennardd and Maenor Coed Alun, but are forced to retreat. He is pursued to Nant Call, where more of his men are slaughtered, and then to Dol Benmaen, where he suffers a third defeat. To avoid further bloodshed, it is agreed that the outcome of the battle should be decided by single combat between Gwydion and Pryderi. The two contenders meet at a place called Y Velen Rhyd in Ardudwy, and "because of strength and valour and magic and enchantment", Gwydion triumphs and Pryderi is killed. The men of Dyfed retreat back to their own land, lamenting over the death of their lord. When Math hears of the assault on Goewin, he turns his nephews into a series of mated pairs of animals: Gwydion becomes a stag for a year, then a sow and finally a wolf. Gilfaethwy becomes a hind deer, a boar and a she wolf. Each year they produce an offspring which is sent to Math: Hyddwn, Hychddwn and Bleiddwn. After three years, Math releases his nephews from their punishment and begins the search for a new foot holder. Gwydion suggests his sister Arianrhod, who is magically tested for virginity by Math. During the test, she gives birth to a "sturdy boy with thick yellow hair" whom Math names Dylan and who takes on the nature of the seas until his death at his uncle Gofannon's hands. Ashamed, Arianrhod runs to the door, but on her way out something small drops from her, which Gwydion wraps up and places in a chest at the foot of his bed. Some time later, he hears screams from within the chest, and opens it to discover a second baby boy.

Blodeuwedd has an affair with Gronw Pebr, the lord of Penllyn, and the two conspire to murder Lleu. Blodeuwedd tricks Lleu into revealing how he may be killed, since he cannot be killed during the day or night, nor indoors or outdoors, neither riding nor walking, not clothed and not naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made. He reveals to her that he can only be killed at dusk, wrapped in a net with one foot on a cauldron and one on a goat and with a spear forged for a year during the hours when everyone is at mass. With this information she arranges his death. Struck by the spear thrown by Gronw's hand, Lleu transforms into an eagle and flies away. Gwydion tracks him down and finds him perched high on an oak. Through the singing of englynion, the englynion Gwydion, he lures him down from the oak tree and switches him back to his human form. Gwydion and Math nurse Lleu back to health before reclaiming his lands from Gronw and Blodeuwedd. In the face off between Lleu and Gronw, Gronw asks if he may place a large stone between himself and Lleu's spear. Lleu allows him to do so, then throws his spear, which pierces both the stone and Gronw, killing him. Gwydion corners Blodeuwedd and turns her into an owl. The tale ends with Lleu acceding to the throne of Gwynedd.