Was Myrddin really a pasted-together legendary figure created mainly by Geoffrey of Monmouth from the older tales of Ireland's Suibhne Geilt and the Scottish Lailoken? It is difficult to prove that the few shreds of poetry attributed to Myrddin are actually the work of any particular bard. Piecing together a chronology, it seems unlikely that Myrddin Wyllt truly existed in any other form except myth.

Most scholars divide Myrddin into two phases: the pre-Galfridian, where he is the wild man/prophet supposedly of the late 6th century; and Geoffrey of Monmouth's Myrddin/Merlin who is connected with the Arthurian legends, which has nothing to do with the elusive poet-bard we are seeking.

In my previous post, I wrote about the mention of Myrddin in the Black Book of Carmarthen. These writings appeared after both the ninth century Irish myth of Suibhne and the Scots Lailoken from the same period, which tell of a poet/prophet going mad after a battle in which he witnesses the death of his lord. The Black Book echoes this tale with uncanny parallels. It has been suggested by more than a few medieval history experts that the Welsh Myrddin surfaced and circulated around the same time that the other two stories, along with other northern saga material, were imported into the Carmarthen area. Coincidentally (or probably not) Carmarthen in Welsh is Caer-fyrddin which has vaguely been connected with the so-called Merlin's Castle or Caer-myrddin. Is it possible that the character's name was originally made to fit into some flimsy connection with Carmarthen, possibly by none other than Geoffrey of Monmouth himself?

Apparently Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first to distinguish between two different Myrddins - Merlin Ambrosius/Myrddin Emrys and the "madman" Myrddin Wyllt/Merlin Celidonius - which casts even more suspicion upon old Geoff.

You will find a link to a translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Vita Merlini - Life of Merlin" in the links section of "Who Were the Celtic Bards?" Your comments, as always, are welcome. More to come soon!