Bard facts for kids

A bard was a special kind of poet or singer in ancient Celtic Europe. These talented people were usually part of a nobleman's household. Their job was to tell stories and sing songs that praised their master, sharing tales of his bravery and good deeds.

It's not always clear how bards were different from druids, who were also important figures in Celtic society, often seen as priests or teachers. Sometimes, early Roman writers used the word "vates" to describe both bards and druids, which meant "prophet" or "soothsayer."

Famous Bards

Throughout history, several bards became very well known for their poetry and songs. Here are a few:

• Taliesin lived in the 7th century. He is famous for his poems, which were collected in a book called the Book of Taliesin.
• Aneirin was a Brythonic poet from the late 6th century. He wrote the Book of Aneirin, which is an important collection of early Welsh poetry.
• Dafydd ap Gwilym was a Welsh poet from the 14th century. Many people consider him to be the greatest Welsh poet of all time because of his beautiful and clever poems.
• Iolo Goch was another Welsh poet and bard from the 14th century. He is known for several works that have survived, especially a poem called 'The Labourer'.

Images for kids

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  The Bard (c. 1817), by John Martin

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  William Blake's hand painted engraving of his poem "The Voice of the Ancient Bard" in the Songs of Innocence and of Experience

See also

In Spanish: Bardo para niños