The Book of Taliesin

The Book of Taliesin is a Welsh manuscript containing poems attributed to Taliesin, a poet believed to have flourished in the 6th century AD. The oldest surviving copy of the book dates to about 700 years after his time.1

The poems within the Book of Taliesin cover a range of themes, including religious subjects, difficult-to-decipher arcane verses tied to Celtic mythology, and historical references. Twelve poems are identified as being by the 6th-century poet, praising figures like Urien, king of Rheged, and lamenting the loss of his son, Owain. One eulogy suggests Taliesin may have been from Powys, Wales. The mythical poet from the folktale "Hanes Taliesin" is a separate, later creation. The poems of Taliesin, alongside those of Aneirin, are foundational to Welsh literature, characterized by heroic themes, direct language, and vigorous expression.12