Llyn y Fan Fach

Have you ever wondered how herbs and plants can heal people? Have you ever wondered what is lying beneath a lake?

In the late twelfth century, a widow lived at Blaensawdde, near Llanddeusant, Carmarthenshire. Her only son looked after the livestock near the small lake called LIyn-y-Fan Fach, in the shadow of the Black Mountain.

The farmer offered her three types of bread. On the first day he offered her hard bread but she refused it and dived back down to the bottom of the lake. On the second day he offered her dough but she also refused this. He decided to offer her lightly baked bread on the third day. She accepted this bread and also agreed to marry him.

She then disappeared back into the lake and returned with her father and identical sister. The father devised a plan to see whether the farmer really wanted to marry his daughter. He asked the farmer to find any differences between his two daughters. Although they looked exactly the same, the farmer recognized his beautiful girl from the way she tied her sandals.

They were very happy farming at their farm Esgair Llaethdy and they had three beautiful sons.

However, the farmer forgot about the condition of his marriage and struck his wife three times! Unfortunately he struck his wife when she laughed during a funeral, once when she cried at a wedding and then he accidently touched her with the metal part of the bridle as she helped him to harness a horse.

One day she re-emerged near Dôl Howel, at the Mountain Gate, still called ‘Llidiart y Meddygon’, the Physicians’ gate, and told Rhiwallon, the eldest son, that he must become a man of medicine and be "a benefactor to mankind by giving relief from pain and misery through healing all manner of diseases’.

She told him that his purpose on earth was to heal the sick and ease their suffering. She took them to a place called the Physician’s Dingle (Pant y Meddygon), where she showed them the where the plants and herbs grew, and taught them the art of healing.

Llyn y Fan Fach can be seen today in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The plough marks made by the oxen when the Lady of the Lake disappeared for the last time can be seen beside the lake.

When you read legends it is very difficult to believe everything. Why not try to find out how much of the legend is true? For example, can you find different accounts of whether Esgair Llaethdy was a farm or a small-holding? Are there any links between the Physicians of Myddfai and the National Botanic Garden of Wales? Bronze Age people often lived on or beside lakes and were noted for their healing powers and understanding of herbal remedies. Are there any links between the Celtic Bronze Age people and the origin of legend?