# Barddas
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox book
|name = Barddas
|title_orig =
|translator =
|image = Barddastitle.jpg
|caption =
|author = [Iolo Morganwg](/source/Iolo_Morganwg) (edited by [John Williams](/source/John_Williams_(Ab_Ithel)))
|illustrator =
|cover_artist =
|country = United Kingdom
|language = English
|series =
|subject = Welsh [Bard](/source/Bard)ic and [Druid](/source/Druid)ic beliefs
|genre =
|publisher = D. J. Roderic, London, Longman & Co., [Welsh Manuscripts Society](/source/Welsh_Manuscripts_Society)
|pub_date = 1862 (Volume 1), 1874 (Volume 2)
|media_type = print ([hardback](/source/hardback))
|pages = 425pp (first edition)
|isbn = 978-1-605-06171-9
|dewey=
|congress=
|oclc=
}}
thumb|Barddas - Title page
'''''Barddas''''' is a book of material compiled and written by the Welsh writer [Iolo Morganwg](/source/Iolo_Morganwg). Dressed as an authentic compilation of ancient Welsh [bard](/source/bard)ic and [druid](/source/druid)ic theology and lore. It was posthumously published by [John Williams](/source/John_Williams_(Ab_Ithel)) for the [Welsh Manuscripts Society](/source/Welsh_Manuscripts_Society) in two volumes, in 1862 and 1874.[{{Cite book |author=Marion Löffler |title=The literary and historical legacy of Iolo Morganwg, 1826-1926 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TIBnAAAAMAAJ |access-date=23 October 2012 |year=2007 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=978-0-7083-2113-3}}][{{Cite book |author=Thomas Spencer Baynes |title=The Encyclopædia Britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, and general literature |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_HKgMAAAAYAAJ |access-date=23 October 2012 |year=1833 |publisher=C. Scribner's sons |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_HKgMAAAAYAAJ/page/n332 319]–}}][{{Cite book |author=Adamant Media |title=Barddas; Or, a Collection of Original Documents, Illustrative of the Theology, Wisdom, and Usages of the Bardo-Druidic System of the Isle of Britain: With Translations and Notes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6JExbSAt7YC |access-date=23 October 2012 |date=June 2001 |publisher=Elibron.com |isbn=978-1-4021-6663-1}}]
==Publication==
After [Iolo Morganwg](/source/Iolo_Morganwg)'s death in 1826, his son [Taliesin Williams](/source/Taliesin_Williams) set about collecting and publishing his unpublished manuscripts. This resulted in three volumes, including ''The Iolo Papers'' in 1848, published a year after Taliesin Williams' unexpected death. Subsequently, Iolo's papers were purchased by [Benjamin](/source/Benjamin_Hall%2C_1st_Baron_Llanover) and [Augusta Hall](/source/Augusta_Hall%2C_Baroness_Llanover), who made them accessible to other scholars. [John Williams](/source/John_Williams_(Ab_Ithel)), alias "Ab Ithel", was among the first to take up the offer; he edited the two volumes now known as ''Barddas'' for the [Welsh Manuscripts Society](/source/Welsh_Manuscripts_Society), which appeared in 1862 and 1874.[Matthews, pp. xv–xvi.]
==Contents==
Williams claimed the ''Barddas'' material was based on authentic ancient manuscripts originally compiled by the 16th-century antiquarian [Llywelyn Siôn](/source/Llywelyn_Si%C3%B4n).
Volume I divides into three sections. The first, "Symbols", chiefly discusses "[coelbren](/source/coelbren_(alphabet))", a supposed Bardic [alphabet](/source/alphabet) devised by Iolo. The second, "Theology", is the most significant. It discusses Iolo's elaborate philosophy and cosmology, which he claimed was the actual belief system of the ancient bards. This section includes a "[catechism](/source/catechism)" in the form of a question-and-answer session on the cycle of [re-incarnation](/source/re-incarnation). It discusses the "circles of being" from [Annwn](/source/Annwn) (lowest state, [Hades](/source/Hades) or Fairyland) through circles of Abred (probation state), Gwynfyd (perfect [liberty](/source/liberty)) and Ceugant (infinity).[{{Cite book |author=T. W. Rolleston |title=Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AKmnxWMnGQC&pg=PA227 |access-date=24 October 2012 |date=30 January 2010 |publisher=Digireads.com Publishing |isbn=978-1-4209-3507-3 |pages=227–}}] It also has a number of "Triads" apparently derived from authentic [Welsh Triads](/source/Welsh_Triads); according to the scholar [Rachel Bromwich](/source/Rachel_Bromwich), this suggests Iolo had access to versions of the triads long before they were widely known or collected.[Matthews, p. xvi.] The third section, "Wisdom", contains esoteric lore that may date from the 16th–17th centuries, though not from ancient druidic tradition as Iolo claims. Volume II was left unfinished at Williams' death; it is largely a guidebook for bards and [gorsedd](/source/gorsedd)s.