Summary
The Cadfan Stone (Welsh: Carreg Cadfan)[1] is a 7th-9th century stone that has the earliest known Welsh language inscription, specifically in Old Welsh. The stone is located inside St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn, Gwynedd.
| Cadfan Stone | |
|---|---|
| Carreg Cadfan | |
 | |
| Material | Stone |
| Height | 2.3m originally (now 2.18m) |
| Width | 0.25m |
| Depth | 0.2m |
| Period/culture | 7th-9th centuries |
| Present location | St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn |
History edit
Recent scholarship dates the inscriptions to the 9th century.[2] They were previously considered to be older. Ifor Williams dated them to the 8th century,[3] and a late 7th century or early 8th century date was suggested by Kenneth H. Jackson.[4] A date between the 7th century and the 9th century is suggested by Coflein, the website of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.[5]
Despite its undoubted significance, the Cadfan Stone has been given relatively little attention from Welsh authors and poets. Exceptions include the poems 'Cofebion Tywyn' by Owain Owain[6] and 'Y boen' by Myrddin ap Dafydd.[7]
Originally the stone stood over 2.3 metres tall, but it now measures 2.18m tall by 0.25m and 0.2m.[8]
Interpretation edit
Below is the interpretation given in the most recent study of the stone (sides A, B, C and D) by Nancy Edwards.[9]
- A/D. Tengr(um)ui cimalted gu(reic) / Adgan // anterunc du But Marciau
'Tengrumui wedded wife of Adgan (lies) fairly near ( or very near) to Bud (and) Marciau (or But Marciau).'
- A. m(ortci)c ar tr(i)
'The mortal remains of the three'
- B/C. Cun ben Celen // tricet nitanam
'Cun woman (or wife of Celyn), a mortal wound remains.'
- C. mort/cic pe/tuar
'The mortal remains of four'
See also edit
References edit
- ^ The Antiquary. E. Stock. 1881. p. 221.
- ^ Edwards, Nancy. 2013. A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales. Vol. III: North Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, p. 430.
- ^ William, Ifor. 1972. The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, pp. 25-40. His opinion is reflected in John Davies, Menna Baines, Nigel Jenkins and Peredur Lynch (ed.), The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008).
- ^ Jackson, K. H. 1953. Language and History in Early Britain. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 189 and 386.
- ^ St Cadfan's Church, Tywyn Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Owain Owain, 'Cofebion Tywyn', Y Faner, 7 April 1972.
- ^ Myrddin ap Dafydd, Clawdd Cam (Llanrwst, 2003), p. 32.
- ^ Coflein Website
- ^ Edwards, Nancy. 2013. A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales. Vol. III: North Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, p. 430.