Prydain facts for kids
Prydain (pronounced PRUH-dine) is the modern Welsh name for Great Britain. It's a very old name with a rich history.
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Prydain in Medieval Times
Prydain was the name used in medieval Welsh times for the island of Britain. The Welsh people did not use the Latin name Albion.
Sometimes, Prydain specifically meant the parts of the island where Brittonic people lived. This was usually the areas south of Caledonia, which is now Scotland. This difference came from the time of Roman rule. The Romans divided the island into Roman Britain in the south and the land of the Caledonians in the north.
Prydain and Prydyn
The people living north of the Roman borders eventually became known as the Picts. The Welsh word for the land of the Picts was Prydyn. This was very similar to Prydain, which sometimes caused confusion in old texts.
The Island of Britain
In old Welsh writings, the phrase Ynys Prydein (or Ynys Brydein) was also used. Ynys means 'island' in modern Welsh. But in medieval Welsh, it could also mean 'land' or 'realm'. So, Ynys Prydein often referred to the Brittonic lands south of Caledonia, rather than just the whole island.
A famous collection of traditional stories is called Trioedd Ynys Prydein. This name means "Triads of the Island of Britain." It refers to these stories coming from the Brittonic territories.
Other Uses of Prydain
The word Prydain appears in many other medieval Welsh texts. One well-known example is a poem from the 10th century called Armes Prydein. This title means "The Prophecy of Britain," and the poem was about future events for the land.
See also
- History of Wales
- Lloegyr
- Britain (place name)
- Trioedd Ynys Prydein
