Nel (mythology)

Nel, in Welsh mythology, is a figure primarily known as the father of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, one of the central characters in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, Math fab Mathonwy. Nel's significance lies almost entirely within this familial connection, as he is not attributed with any independent deeds or stories beyond his role as Lleu's father.

According to the Mabinogi, Lleu is born illegitimately through magical means. His mother, Arianrhod, cursed by Math, is magically tricked into giving birth to Lleu, even though she vowed never to have a child. After Arianrhod gives birth, she refuses to name or arm him. Gwydion, Lleu’s maternal uncle and a powerful magician, takes responsibility for the boy and deceives Arianrhod into bestowing both a name and arms upon Lleu.

Nel’s precise role in the process of Lleu's conception is not explicitly detailed in the text, leaving some ambiguity and interpretation regarding the circumstances. The narrative focuses primarily on Arianrhod's rejection of her son and Gwydion's intervention. As a consequence, Nel remains a somewhat shadowy figure in the larger narrative of Welsh mythology, defined almost entirely by his paternity of the heroic Lleu Llaw Gyffes. He doesn't appear to have any specific associated characteristics, powers, or individual tales attributed to him in surviving Welsh texts beyond this connection.