The Language of Heaven
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets; and at my birth,
The frame and huge foundation of the earth
Shaked like a coward."
...
"These signs have marked me extraordinary,
And all the courses of my life do show,
I am not in the roll of common men."
--Owain Glyndwr, in Henry IV, Act iii, Scene 1, by William Shakespeare
In 1402 A.D., a comet appeared over Britain. At that time, the popular hero Owain Glyndwr had been rallying the people of Wales to reclaim lands occupied by the English. With the literary help of the bard Iolo Goch, the comet was seen as a sign of Owain's uprising, and a confirmation of prophecies that foretold the Welsh people's deliverance.
Owain Glyndwr's rebellion did not succeed, despite the omen. But it is a quintessential example of how the Welsh, like others from civilizations throughout the world, have traditionally looked to the skies for guidance or inspiration. The majestic celestial realm has influenced the traditions and language of nearly every culture. This article, written for the Suite101 Celestial Symphony event, will look at some of the ways in which the heavens have influenced Welsh culture and how, in turn, the Welsh are leaving their mark upon the skies.
A Stellar History. As shown by the reaction to the comet of 1402, celestial events of the past were often seen as supernatural omens. This was reinforced by literature and mythic traditions. Another example is found in lore from Geoffrey of Monmouth in the early 1100s. His account encompasses both Arthurian legend and the origins of the red dragon on the Welsh flag (an ancient, if symbolic, skyfarer!) Although the dragon standard has been used since at least the Romano-British time, its adoption as a symbol of Wales occurred later, and is buried a bit further in the mists of legend. According to Geoffrey, one night Uther Pendragon--father of King Arthur--dreamed of a dragon in a comet. As king, Uther flew two dragon banners. Geoffrey also told of two dragons fighting: the red, representing the Welsh or indigenous British, and the white, representing the English. The white dragon defeated the red, symbolic of English domination. However, the red dragon was later adopted by the Tudors, and it flies today on a green and white field as the flag of Wales. (For more about the Welsh flag, see Facts About Wales on Go Britannia! and Flags of the World.)
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