Tom Bombadil and gods of our world’s mythologies - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Priya · 12-06-2025, 11:24 PM

The god Lleu

Along with Esus and Lugh – also contrived, I believe, as possessing fragmentary links in antiquity to Bombadil was Lleu a Welsh Celtic demigod of The Mabinogion. Lleu’s title was similar to Lugh’s – yet slightly different. He was known as Lleu Llaw Gyffes: ‘Bright One of the steady hand’. A semblance of such dexterity was likely mirrored through Tom and his careful transportation of Goldberry’s water-lilies:

“In his hands he carried on a large leaf as on a tray a small pile of white water-lilies.”
 – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

We then see the leaf and lilies skillfully balanced using one hand:

“ ‘Whoa! Whoa! steady there!’ cried the old man, holding up one hand, …”.
 – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

Even after his leap, in outrage at the willow’s entrapment of the two younger hobbits, no lilies were lost:

“ ‘What?’ shouted Tom Bombadil, leaping up in the air.”
 – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

It isn’t till after his aerial display of gymnastics that we see him:

“Setting down his lilies carefully on the grass, …”.
 – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

And then*in a final flourish, after picking them back up, flaunted again is supremely confident one-handed stability as Tom:

“… with a beckoning wave of his hand went hopping and dancing along the path …”.
 – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest

Hmm … Bombadil certainly possessed a ‘steady hand’ – no arguing that!

Now Lleu in legend was married to the beautiful goddess Blodeuwedd* whose name means ‘flower face’**. Supposedly she was made by a great magician from the essence of flowers alone solely to be Lleu’s bride. Again we see a floral resonance given Goldberry’s close relationship with water-lilies and how European lore has mythologized them metamorphosing into female nymphs. It’s also curious how the etymological family name (Nymphæaceæ) to which both English varieties (white and yellow) belong – has Greek roots which roughly translate to: ‘be a bride’!

… to be continued

* Blodeuwedd has another meaning in Welsh, namely: ‘Owl’. Traditionally the owl is shunned by all other birds – destined to spend day and night alone, or with a mate. Juxtaposed is Goldberry’s explicit lack of companions in the mythology after marriage to Tom – particularly those of humanoid form. She, in a way, appears to be alone.

** Interestingly in Irish legend, Cuchulainn (Lugh’s avatar) loved Blathnat, which means ‘little flower’. A flower theme connection thus appears in both Welsh and Irish Celtic legends.

12-06-2025, 11:24 PM	#2
Priya Animated Skeleton Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 47	The god Lleu Along with Esus and Lugh – also contrived, I believe, as possessing fragmentary links in antiquity to Bombadil was Lleu a Welsh Celtic demigod of The Mabinogion. Lleu’s title was similar to Lugh’s – yet slightly different. He was known as Lleu Llaw Gyffes: ‘Bright One of the steady hand’. A semblance of such dexterity was likely mirrored through Tom and his careful transportation of Goldberry’s water-lilies: “In his hands he carried on a large leaf as on a tray a small pile of white water-lilies.”  – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest We then see the leaf and lilies skillfully balanced using one hand: “ ‘Whoa! Whoa! steady there!’ cried the old man, holding up one hand, …”.  – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest Even after his leap, in outrage at the willow’s entrapment of the two younger hobbits, no lilies were lost: “ ‘What?’ shouted Tom Bombadil, leaping up in the air.”  – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest It isn’t till after his aerial display of gymnastics that we see him: “Setting down his lilies carefully on the grass, …”.  – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest And thenin a final flourish, after picking them back up, flaunted again is supremely confident one-handed stability as Tom: “… with a beckoning wave of his hand went hopping and dancing along the path …”.  – The Fellowship of the Ring, The Old Forest* Hmm … Bombadil certainly possessed a ‘steady hand’ – no arguing that! Now Lleu in legend was married to the beautiful goddess Blodeuwedd* whose name means ‘flower face’*. Supposedly she was made by a great magician from the essence of flowers alone solely to be Lleu’s bride. Again we see a floral resonance given Goldberry’s close relationship with water-lilies and how European lore has mythologized them metamorphosing into female nymphs. It’s also curious how the etymological family name (Nymphæaceæ) to which both English varieties (white and yellow) belong – has Greek roots which roughly translate to: ‘be a bride’! … to be continued Blodeuwedd has another meaning in Welsh, namely: ‘Owl’. Traditionally the owl is shunned by all other birds – destined to spend day and night alone, or with a mate. Juxtaposed is Goldberry’s explicit lack of companions in the mythology after marriage to Tom – particularly those of humanoid form. She, in a way, appears to be alone. ** Interestingly in Irish legend, Cuchulainn (Lugh’s avatar) loved Blathnat, which means ‘little flower’. A flower theme connection thus appears in both Welsh and Irish Celtic legends.