Dôn (Welsh pronunciation:[ˈdoːn]) is an ancestor figure inWelsh legend and literature. She is typically given as the mother of a group known as the "Children of Dôn", includingGwydion,Arianrhod, andGilfaethwy, among many others. However, antiquarians of theearly modern era generally considered Dôn a male figure.^[2]

In addition,Bonedd yr Arwyr (the Gentry of the Heroes) gives an extended list of children, including Aidden, Cynan, Digant, Elawg, Elestron, Eunydd, Hedd, Hunawg, and Idwal.^[3]

Llys Dôn (literally "The Court of Dôn") is the traditionalWelsh name for the constellationCassiopeia. At least two of Dôn's children also have astronomical associations: Caer Gwydion ("The Castle ofGwydion") is the traditional Welsh name for theMilky Way, and Caer Arianrhod ("The Castle ofArianrhod") being the constellation ofCorona Borealis.^[4]

Dôn has different etymological origins than the Irish Danu; while the latter is perhaps a water goddess (cf. the Danube river and the Vedic Danu), Dôn more likely comes from ghdhonos, meaning "the earth." In this sense, she can be seen as the Welsh version of "dheghom" fromProto-Indo-European mythology, the primordial Earth Goddess from which all other gods originate. It has been suggested that, as a result, the Children of Dôn would be cognate to the Greek Titans.^[5]

• The House ofLlŷr
• Tuatha Dé Danann
• Danu (Irish goddess)
• Donn

• d'Este, Sorita; Rankine, David (2007).The Isles of the Many Gods: An A-Z of the Pagan Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Britain worshipped during the First Millennium through to the Middle Ages. Avalonia.

• The New Companion to the Literature of Wales, Meic Stephens.

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