Taliesin was a
bard rather than a Druid priest, although to the
Celts music had magical powers and the distinction was blurred. As with many of the characters from the waning years of
Celtic Britain the truth behind Taliesin, "The Greatest Bard" is mixed in with myth and legend.
According to the tales, Taliesin was born out of Ceridwen after she caught and swallowed Gwion when he was hiding as a grain of corn. The newborn infant was cast adrift in a coracle but found by Prince Elphin who raised the child.
A spellbinding singer and storyteller from an early age, Taliesin's power lay in his ability to use his voice and song to charm others.
He is often associated with the King Arthur mythos and some believe that Merlin may be a combination of Druid priests and Taliesin, although in modern tales the two are separate characters.