Cadair Idris and Cadair Arthur both involve more than a mere name. Idris
and Arthur must have been invested with heroic qualifications to have
been placed in such “seats.”
II. Names of lesser features, as “Bryn y Saeth,” Hill of the Dart; “Llyn
Llyngclys,” Lake of the Engulphed Court; “Ceven y Bedd,” the Ridge of the
Grave; “Rhyd y Saeson,” the Saxons’ Ford.
III. Names of mixed natural and artificial objects, as “Coeten Arthur,”
Arthur’s Coit; “Cerrig y Drudion,” the Crag of the Heroes; which involve
actions. And such as embody proper names only, as “Cerrig Howell,” the
Crag of Howell; “Caer Arianrod,” the Camp of Arianrod; “Bron Goronwy,”
the Breast (of the Hill) of Goronwy; “Castell mab Wynion,” the Castle of
the son of Wynion; “Nant Gwrtheyrn,” the Rill of Vortigern.
The selection of names would demand much care and discretion. The
translations should be indisputable, and, where known, the connexion of a
name with a legend should be noted. Such a name as “Mochdrev,”
Swine-town, would be valueless unless accompanied by a legend.
It is always valuable to find a place or work called after an individual,
because it may help to support some tradition of his existence or his
actions. But it is requisite that care be taken not to push the
etymological dissection too far. Thus, “Caer Arianrod” should be taken
simply as the “Camp of Arianrod,” and not rendered the “Camp of the
silver circle,” because the latter, though it might possibly have
something to do with the reason for which the name was borne by Arianrod
herself, had clearly no reference to its application to her camp.