Merlin wasn't a wizard but a poet and a prophet with an interest in the natural world, studies into the earliest poems about him show.
The Myrddin Poetry Project is a joint project between Cardiff University, the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies and Swansea University. Over the past three years, academics have been editing and translating more than 100 poems about the legendary figure, some dating as far back as the 10th century.
The poems, which have been brought together, compared and organised from more than 500 medieval Welsh manuscripts, are available in Welsh and English via the website: www.merlinpoetry.wales
Dr David Callander, based at Cardiff University's School of Welsh, said: "Myrddin is an internationally recognised literary figure, whose influence can be seen across everything from films and TV shows to books and computer games. Yet despite this, some of the earliest poems about him have remained a mystery until now.
"Our research exploring the character's origins reveals that unlike the popular idea of Merlin being a wizard, the earliest writing about him actually depicts him as a poet and a prophet telling of the future of the Island of Britain.
"One could even argue that Merlin's fixation on nature and how humans can affect the world around them makes him one of the earliest environmentalists to be found – one poem sees him talk to apple trees and his sympathy is often more with the natural world than with the human. We also learn more about the importance of his sister, Gwenddydd, with newly discovered lines of poetry showing her in conversation with Merlin."
He added: "The legend of Myrddin is a massive part of Welsh and British culture. But there is still so much more to be discovered. Being able to read and take insights from literature that was written hundreds of years ago gives us the chance to connect more deeply with our heritage, as well as showing the world a rich literary history that we can be proud of."
The legend of Myrddin is a massive part of Welsh and British culture. But there is still so much more to be discovered. Being able to read and take insights from literature that was written hundreds of years ago gives us the chance to connect more deeply with our heritage, as well as showing the world a rich literary history that we can be proud of.
In total, academics edited 102 poems - which adds up to 4,450 lines across 519 manuscripts. This includes seven major early poems in medieval manuscripts, as well as 95 later poems surviving from the early modern period.
The research team has explored the relationship between the Welsh Merlin poems and broader Arthurian tradition, popularised throughout Europe by Geoffrey of Monmouth (d. 1154/5), who was the first to bring the figures of Arthur and Merlin together.
Alexander Roberts, Research Data and Digital Humanities Manager at Swansea University said: "It was a distinct pleasure for the Digital Humanities team at Swansea University to collaborate with colleagues at Cardiff University and the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in the development and hosting of this open access digital scholarly edition. From its very inception, the project embraced an open access ethos, integrating it into the project from the start.
"Swansea University is excited to have realised the vision of developing not only a contemporary bilingual digital edition of Welsh Merlin Poetry but also a well-documented platform that will enable other textual scholars, both within the university and internationally, to present similar content. Instructions, sources, and code will soon be made available on the Swansea University open research data community, ensuring accessibility and reusability for all."
Professor Ann Parry Owen from the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies said: "It's been an absolute privilege for us to collaborate with colleagues at the School of Welsh at Cardiff University and Digital Humanities at Swansea University on this important project, exploring together this fascinating body of poetry ascribed to Myrddin, and designing and implementing an exciting and ground-breaking online digital edition."
The project received £716,000 in funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
