Bedd Taliesin facts for kids

Bedd Taliesin is an ancient burial mound in Ceredigion, Wales. Many people believe it is the grave of a famous Welsh poet named Taliesin. This special place is from the Bronze Age, a time long, long ago. It is also a protected historic monument.

What is Bedd Taliesin?

Bedd Taliesin is a type of ancient burial site called a round cairn. A cairn is a pile of stones built as a monument or a grave. This one has a circular shape. Inside the cairn, there is a stone box called a cist, which is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. The large stone that used to cover the cist, called a capstone, has fallen. However, the side stones of the cist are still mostly in their original spots.

Who was Taliesin?

The historical Taliesin was a real poet who lived in the 6th century. He is very important in Welsh history. People in medieval Wales thought he was the founder of the Welsh poetic tradition. His poems that we still have today praise the rulers of old Welsh kingdoms like Powys and Rheged. These kingdoms were in an area called the Hen Ogledd, which is now parts of northern England and southern Scotland.

The Legend of Bedd Taliesin

Even though the cairn is called Bedd Taliesin, there is no proof that the historical poet Taliesin was actually buried there. Over time, Taliesin became a legendary figure in Wales. He was linked to a character named Elffin ap Gwyddno. Elffin was the son of the king of a mythical land called Cantre'r Gwaelod. This land was said to be off the coast of Ceredigion. This connection to the local legend might be why the burial mound got its name.

In the past, people had a special belief about this place. An old writer named Edward Lhuyd wrote about it. Local people believed that if you spent a night on Taliesin's stone, you would wake up either as a poet or as a madman!