Math

Math, in the Welsh collection of stories known as the Mabinogion, king of Gwynedd in the North. He is also the brother of Dôn, who is probably the Welsh counterpart of the Irish goddess Danu. Whenever at peace, it was necessary for Math to have his feet upon a virgin’s lap. The virgin who held Math’s feet was raped by one of his nephews, Gilfaethwy, and both he and his brother Gwydion were punished for the act by Math. Later, Math’s niece Arianrhod (sister of Gilfaethwy and Gwydion) tried for the position of footholder, but during the test of her virginity she gave birth to two children, one of whom was Lleu.

Together with Gwydion, Math helped Lleu in many ways, creating an artificial wife, Blodeuedd, for him and helping him to avenge her eventual unfaithfulness. Together with Gwydion, Math was responsible for the introduction of pigs—supposedly from the otherworld into North Wales—an aspect which points to a role as a fertility figure.