Notes on AERON'S FLAME
The Lady Of The Lake; AERONWEN.
My favorite depiction!
British Battle maiden by the artist Chris Sloane. His work is Amazing!
Who is Aeron and why have I chosen her as the personal depiction of both the Lady of the Lake and Guinevere?
Aeron is based upon the Brythonic Celtic battle goddess Aeronwen. An altar was discovered in the river Dee dating to the Romano Celtic era. The tradition of human sacrifice to Aeron was carried out into the Roman and earliest Christian era.
Aerffen, Aeron, Aeronwen, Aeronwen are the names known.
I theorize that Erin-Eriu, whom Ireland is named after May be related.
These names have been translated as bright flash of the striking sword, sacred carnage, and bright river of slaughter.
Aeronwen was the goddess of battle, chooser of victory, and fate.
To this day there are many rivers throughout Great Britain , Northern France and Brittany that still carry her name.
Such as the Aire, and most notably the Aeron in western Cymry. The town of AberAeron is at the mouth of the Aeronowy river. The poet Dylan Thomas was a frequent visitor there which led me to incorporate the poetic aspect in my Interpretation alongside the battle goddess aspects.
At the head of the Aeronowy river is Llyn Eiddwen , a mountain lake. There are multiple iron age sites near by. Among them Arth.
Thus my association of Aeron, with a lake, the lady of the lake and Arthur.
I chose the white Raven for two reasons, first, the associations with the Morrigna.
Second, Aeron is sometimes translated partially as “bright” she is also associated with river rapids, the white foam of rushing waters. Thus, a white Raven.
As for Guinevere;
Guinevere, In Gaelic, Fionnabhar, Welsh Gwynyffyr, French Genevieve, English Jennifer. The name in Welsh means white phantom. A possible reference to the chooser of the slain on battlefields.
In many Celtic tribes, the King was ritually wed to the Goddess. Macha in Ulster, Maeve in Connaught, The Morrigna with Cormac etc. Which I surmise is the connection to Arthur and the white phantom queen.
It is from Maeve that I drew inspiration for connecting Aeron with Intoxication.
I applied this with Arthur and Guinevere. Thus, I combined Aeron with Guinevere.
Regarding the sword of Kings Excalibur and the Lady of the lake.
There are ample examples of weapon deposits found in lakes, rivers, bogs and wells throughout all of the regions of the Celts.
Swords, spears, axes and shields would be cast into these sacred places.
It was for me a natural progression to associate Excalibur, the lady of the lake and Arthur in that context.
