Читать книгу The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A–Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic - John Matthews - Страница 271

Bendigeidfran or Bran the Blessed was a giant, one of the sons of Llyr, god of the sea. His name means ‘Raven’. He lived in North Wales with his brothers and sister, Branwen, whom he allowed to be married to the abusive King of Ireland. When he heard of how she had been treated, he set out to rescue her, taking with him a great fleet. Bran’s body was so huge that he was able to use it as a bridge for his troops. During the grievous battle that ensued, Bran’s life-giving cauldron was used to help the dead soldiers come alive again, although the reborn warriors were without the power of speech. Bran succumbed to a poisoned spear during the battle. As he felt the poison stream through his body, he gave order that his head should be severed and brought to the White Mount in London, where it should be buried as a safeguard against invasion. His men did as he asked, but before they made the final journey with the head of their lord, they remained sequestered in an otherworldly hall for 87 years during which time the head of Bran maintained conversation with his followers. But after one of their number opened a forbidden door, the men, who had been out of time, felt the flow of time once again and they remembered all that had befallen them. They buried Bran’s head at the White Mount, which is the site of the Tower of London where ravens are still venerated as birds who maintain the sovereignty of Britain and keep it free of invasion. Bran’s guardianship of the land was questioned by the Dark Age battle-lord, Arthur, who believed that no man should keep the land safe save he alone, so he dug up the head. It is for this reason that we remember King Arthur as the one who guards the land and who will return to defend it and not Bran. Bran became part of the Grail legends as King Brons, one of the wounded Grail kings who is also known as the Fisher King.