Llŷr is the great patriarch of the second divine family of Welsh mythology, the Plant Llŷr (The Children of Llŷr). Like Dôn, he is a progenitor figure who does not appear as an active character in the tales. His importance is defined by his children—Bran, Branwen, and Manawydan—whose epic and tragic story in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi is one of the cornerstones of Welsh literature. His name itself simply means "Sea" in Welsh, firmly establishing his domain.
Llŷr Llediaith
Father of the Sea
Bran the Blessed
Son
Branwen
Daughter
Manawydan
Son
Click on a figure to learn about their connection to Llŷr.
The Welsh Sea God
Llŷr is universally accepted by scholars as the Welsh equivalent of the Irish sea god, Lir. The famous Irish tale, *The Children of Lir*, tells a story of Lir's children being transformed into swans for 900 years. While the Welsh and Irish stories are very different, both families are defined by immense tragedy and sorrow. This suggests a common origin for a divine family whose fate was one of profound suffering.
Shakespeare's King Lear
Geoffrey of Monmouth included a legendary pre-Roman king named Leir in his *History of the Kings of Britain*. This character, whose story of being betrayed by his daughters has no basis in Welsh myth, was the direct source for William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, *King Lear*. While Shakespeare's Lear is not the Welsh Llŷr, the name's journey from a Celtic sea god to a legendary king and finally to a tragic literary hero is a fascinating example of mythological evolution.
Domains of Influence
Symbols of the Sea and Sorrow
Further Reading
MacKillop, James (2004). A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology.
Provides concise entries on Llŷr and his Irish counterpart Lir, explaining the scholarly connection.
Squire, Charles (2000). The Mythology of the British Islands.
Details the two great families of Welsh myth, the Children of Dôn and the Children of Llŷr.