Bibliography

Russell, Paul, “From plates and rods to royal drink-stands in Branwen and medieval Welsh law”, North American Journal of Celtic Studies 1:1 (May, 2017): 1–26.

journal article

Citation details

Contributors

Russell (Paul)

Article

“From plates and rods to royal drink-stands in Branwen and medieval Welsh law”

Periodical

North American Journal of Celtic Studies 1:1 (2017)

Eska, Joseph F. (ed.), North American Journal of Celtic Studies 1:1–2 (May-November, 2017), Ohio State University Press.

Volume

1

Pages

1–26

BibTeX

Download (concise)

Description

Abstract (cited)

This paper takes as its starting point the well-known passage in Branwen about the compensation for Matholwch and its relationship to the Iorwerth redaction of medieval Welsh law. It argues, first, that the text of Branwen need not be emended by reference to the Iorwerth redaction. It then traces the textual development of the legal passage from a silver rod and gold plate in Iorwerth to an elaborate royal drink-stand in the other redactions. It follows Robin Chapman Stacey in suggesting that the Iorwerth redaction has maintained a simple version of this text to ensure the text is seen as unexceptional from a broader European perspective of kingship. Finally, it returns to a particular aspect of these descriptions, the Welsh and Latin terms used for fingers which present a confused and muddled picture.

Subjects and topics

Headings

medieval Welsh law Welsh literature

Sources

Texts

Language

Lexical itemSingle words, morphemes or phrases.

Welsh sarhaed

History, society and culture

Agents

MatholwchMatholwch

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.