The Roman Map of Britain Levobrinta Caer Gai, Gwynedd

Lauobrinta (R&C 80) next

    The Lliw of Merionethshire flows into the Dee above Bala Lake. The name is identical with the Devonshire Lews, see ERN 253. The name is W lliw 'color'. Williams 37 compares -brinta to O.Ir. brenn- 'to gush forth', and considers -brinta a river name. (The Italian river name Brenta is explained as 'fountain'.) I take Levo-brinta to be 'Lliw-efflux' which adequately marks the position of Caer Gai SH8731 where the Lliw joins the Dee.

    During the summer of 2001 at Chester-on-Dee archaeologists unearthed the central plank of a Roman barrel lid branded LEV.

Breeze, A. 'Is Ravenna's Lavobrinta the river Severn?' in Mees, B. et al. 2002. Cyfraniadau Byrion/Short Contributions : Studia Celtica 36: 139-155