Wednesday, 18 December 2013

"Dynion Arthur yn Ceisio Dal Twrch Trwyth - Arthur's men try to catch the Twrch Trwyth"


The tale of Culhwch and Olwen.

When Culhwch's mother dies after childbirth, his father, King Cilydd son of Celyddon remarries. Culhwch's stepmother tries to arrange for him to marry her daughter. When Culhwch says no, she is so offended she curses him so that he cannot marry any woman unless he finds and marries Olwen, the beautiful daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden Pencawr. Culhwch becomes intrigued by the woman he is destined to marry. He asks his cousin Arthur to help him find Olwen. 

When they eventually find her, she falls in love with Culhwch. However, they can only marry if her father agrees. Unfortunately Ysbaddaden is destined to die upon the event of his daughter's marriage so he sets Culhwch and his men many impossible and dangerous tasks for his daughters hand. 

One of the greatest quests is to catch the Twrch Trwyth and retrieve the comb and shears he has between his ears. He is a fierce, wild and large boar - it is a near impossible task for Culhwch, Arthur and his men.

"...And they grabbed him first by his feet, and soused him in the Hafren until it flooded over him. Mabon son of Modron spurred his horse and snatched he shears from him. Before they could remove the comb he found his feet, and firm ground, and from that moment he found dry land neither hound nor man nor steed could keep up with him until he reached Cornwall." 

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