Beli Mawr (Beli the Great) is a foundational figure in Welsh tradition, yet he is not the hero of any surviving narrative. His importance lies not in his actions, but in his bloodline. He is the great patriarch, the ultimate ancestor from whom many of the most significant royal and divine lineages of Wales claimed descent. To understand the figures of the Mabinogi, one must first understand the great father from whom many of them sprang.
Beli Mawr
The Great Ancestor
Arianrhod
Daughter
Lludd Llaw Eraint
Son
Caswallawn
Son
Click on a figure to learn about their connection to Beli Mawr.
The Shadow of a Sun God
While Beli Mawr's role in Welsh texts is primarily genealogical, his name and status strongly suggest he is a "euhemerized" version of an older, more powerful deity. Euhemerism is the process by which gods are reinterpreted over time as legendary human kings or ancestors. Scholars widely connect Beli to the continental Celtic sun and light god, Belenus (also Belenos), who was worshipped across Gaul, Britain, and other Celtic regions.
Belenus: The Shining One
The name Belenus is thought to mean "The Shining One." He was a major pan-Celtic deity associated with the sun, light, healing, and pastoralism. The festival of Beltane (May 1st), which marks the beginning of summer, is named for him and involved lighting great bonfires to represent the purifying power of the sun. As a major god of light and life, it is logical that he would be remembered in a Christianized Wales as the great "father" from whom all noble lines sprang.
Domains of Influence
This chart visualizes the core components of Beli Mawr's significance. He is not just one thing, but a composite figure whose importance is derived from his royal status, his divine origins, and his foundational role as the ancestor of the Welsh people.
Symbols of Sun and Sovereignty
Beli's associations are not drawn from a narrative, but from his etymological connection to the sun god Belenus and his role as a kingly ancestor. His symbols are those of light, power, lineage, and the cycles of the sun.
Further Reading
Information on Beli Mawr is found scattered throughout Welsh genealogies and in scholarly works on Celtic religion, rather than in a single story.
Bromwich, Rachel (2006). Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Triads of the Island of Britain.
This essential scholarly work contains numerous references to Beli Mawr and his children, setting them within the context of Welsh tradition and genealogy.
MacKillop, James (2004). A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology.
Provides concise entries on both Beli Mawr and Belenus, outlining the scholarly consensus on their connection.
Ross, Anne (1967). Pagan Celtic Britain.
A foundational text that explores the archaeological and literary evidence for Celtic deities in Britain, including the worship of sun gods like Belenus.