early Welsh tradition, Cerridwen was the goddess of inspiration and the "mistress of the cauldron"—a dark prophetess associated with inspiration and poetry. She was considered both a mother and crone figure.The cauldron—hers of which could raise the dead—was an important aspect of Celtic life, serving as both a household hub and as a tool for divination and sacrificial rituals. This would explain the common connection between cauldrons and witchcraft. In addition to Cerridwen, the ancient Gauls linked cauldrons to the god Taranis, and one of Ireland's four revered magical artifacts was the Great Cauldron of Plenty—a cauldron which gave everlasting food and drink to those worthy of it.Cerridwen gave birth to two children: a beautiful daughter and a hideous son named Afagddu. To compensate for her son's ugliness, she used her cauldron to brew a potion. The first three drops would confer great wisdom, while the rest would be a deadly poison. As the time drew near to make use of it, a servant named Gwion Bach was stirring the pot when three drops fell upon his thumb. Without thinking, he put his thumb to his mouth in order to cool and clean it.Bach fled the instant that he realized his mistake, but he was pursued by an enraged Cerridwen. Using powers conveyed by the potion, the servant attempted to escape by changing into a variety of forms (each one symbolizing the changing seasons). Cerridwen thwarted his escape plans each time, until finally he changed into a grain of wheat and was eaten by the goddess (who had conveniently transformed into a black hen). However, this didn't kill Bach—amazingly, Cerridwen became pregnant with him and rebirthed him as the great bard, Taliesin.Cerridwen and Taliesin are linked to Arthurian legend, with the latter thought by some to be Merlin. Cerridwen, meanwhile, is linked to Bran the Warrior through the cauldron that she gifts to him. Some even think that her cauldron—symbolizing knowledge and rebirth—was the original Holy Grail.
