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Spiral Castle
Taliesin
Taran
Ystrad
Spiral Castle. The main fortress of Achren. Spiral Castle is called such because of the numberless passageways beneath it. The corridors run for miles, doubling back on themselves and running above and below each other. Some of the tunnels are weakened from passage of time, as Taran and Eilonwy find out. Near the end of one of the corridors sits the barrow of one of the kings that once ruled from Spiral Castle.
According to Robert Graves, Spiral Castle was another name for the castle of Gwydyon's sister, Aranrhod. The ancient Celts buried rulers in graves with intricate spirals carved into stone slabs, doors, or walls, indicating that spirals were connected with death [8]. This concept fits with Alexander's Spiral Castle, partly because Taran fears he will end his days there and because of the burial place of the king.
Taliesin. The Chief Bard of Prydain and the head of the Council of Bards. Fflewddur Fflam talks of Taliesin and his gift of the harp with strings that snap when Fflewddur alters the truth. He is the archetype of all bards of Prydain; he knows all lore and songs that bards should know.
Taliesin of the mythology was the most well known of the bards of Wales. His name means "shining brow." Taliesin's original name was actually Gwion. Ceridwen, a witch, was preparing a potion that would give her hideous son, Afaggdu, knowledge of everything. However, Gwion came up to the pot to watch the brew, and three drops splashed onto his hand. When he licked the drops off, Gwion received all the knowledge, and the rest of the potion lost its magic. Angry, Ceridwen tried to kill Gwion; they both changed shapes several times, Gwion to get away, and Ceridwen to slay him. When Gwion changed to a grain of wheat, Ceridwen turned into a hen and ate him. Changing back to a human, she was pregnant, and she gave birth to Gwion. She thought he was too cute to kill, so she threw him in a bag into the sea. Elphin, nephew of Maelgwyn lord of Dyfed, found him and named him Taliesin. The knowledge he gained from the potion must have helped him in becoming the greatest bard [2]. This story of the brew, however, became in Prydain the tale of how Dallben got his knowledge and wisdom (told in The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain). Still, Alexander's Taliesin has an air of knowledge and wisdom, which probably came from descriptions of the mythological Taliesin.
Taliesin (or Talyessin) became the Chief Bard of Wales, and he was mentioned by Culhwch when he asked for Arthur's help in his quest to earn the hand of Olwen in marriage. Taliesin was also one of the seven who escaped from Ireland with Bran the Blessed's head and carried it to White Hill in London. [7].
Taran. Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben. Taran is a young man who dreams of being a warrior and doing heroic deeds. Dallben tries to teach him wisdom, but it isn't until Taran must venture out on his own in order to find Hen Wen and meets Prince Gwydion that he learns the truth about being a warrior. He learns during his quest that more is required than swordplay and the riding of horses; he also needs good judgment, patience, and endurance. He learns to rely on the strengths of his companions to fulfill his mission.
In The Mabinogion, there is no major character named Taran, but this may have allowed Alexander as much freedom with the character as he wanted. Taran is given as the father of Glinyeu, one of few who survived a battle in Ireland and took Bran the Blessed's severed head back to Britain. Glinyeu was also taken prisoner by Gwynn son of Nudd when Gwythyr son of Greidyawl raised an army to fight him. (Glinyeu was released when Arthur persuaded Gwynn to let all the prisoners go.)
Ystrad. One of the major rivers in Prydain. Taran and his companions attempt to follow Ystrad's river valley to get to Caer Dathyl, which sits at the head of the valley in the Eagle Mountains. Unfortunately, the Horned King and his armies take the same route because of their numbers, and Taran's group is forced to go another way.
The name for this river comes directly from Wales of The Mabinogion; Ystrad Tywi was a major river that ran southwestward, while Ystrad Yw ran southeastward. Pryderi son of Pwyll conquered the three cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi, meaning they probably occupied the land around and bordering the river. Llwydawg the Killer, one of the violent offspring of Twrch Trwyth the giant boar, was killed at Ystrad Yw by "the men of Brittany" after slaying two of Arthur's uncles and Peissawg the Tall King of Brittany.
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