Prydwen

Prydwen is the name of King Arthur's shield in Welsh mythology, appearing primarily in the poem Preiddeu Annwfn (The Spoils of Annwn) found in the Book of Taliesin. The poem recounts Arthur's expedition to Annwfn, the Welsh Otherworld, to retrieve a magical cauldron. Prydwen is listed among the accoutrements and weapons carried by Arthur and his warriors.

The exact meaning and significance of Prydwen are open to interpretation. While it is translated as "Fair Form" or "Fair Countenance," the shield's specific qualities or role in Arthur's raid on Annwfn are not explicitly detailed in the poem. The poem is fragmented and obscure, and the reference to Prydwen is brief.

Scholarship suggests that Prydwen, like other items mentioned in Preiddeu Annwfn, might represent more than just a physical shield. It could symbolize Arthur's kingship, his divine protection, or a more abstract concept related to his power and success in the Otherworld.

Beyond Preiddeu Annwfn, the name Prydwen is sometimes associated with other Arthurian objects or places in later Arthurian literature, though such connections are not consistently maintained across different versions of the legend. The earliest and most direct association remains with Arthur's shield in the Welsh poem.