Arawn
Arawn is the Welsh king of Annwn, the radiant otherworld of the Mabinogion, ally and year-long form-twin of Pwyll of Dyfed, master of the shining white, red-eared otherworld hounds.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Welsh folklore
- Region
- Wales (place of origin)
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Utility powers
- Shapeshifting
why
The amends he sets become the frame of the whole tale: the two exchange shapes and kingdoms for a year, and at the year's end Pwyll, wearing Arawn's form, must meet Havgan — Arawn's rival among the kings of Annwn — and fell him with a single blow, striking no second.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Earth carries
4 citations
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.
- Threshold carries both readings
4 citations
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.
- Wise Old Man carries
4 citations
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.
- Death meets
4 citations
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.
- Hero meets
4 citations
- translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, The Mabinogion, p. 167.
- Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopedia of Fairies, s.v. "Arawn."
- Patricia Monaghan, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, p. 22.
- Wirt Sikes, British Goblins.