Annwn

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Annwn , also Annwfn ( Cymrian , [ anʊn ] or [ anʊvn ]) or Annwfyn , Annwvyn , is a kingdom in Welsh mythology . It is interpreted as part of the Celtic underworld .

etymology

It is unclear what the exact translation of Annwn is. It is assumed that Annwn is made up of the word parts An (“very” or “not” or also “inside”) and dwfn (“world” or “deep”). This allows for a wide range of possible interpretations, ranging from "shallows" to "underworld" to "inner world". Parallels are drawn to the Irish Andomhain , which is also a description for an otherworldly place.

mythology

Annwn is mentioned in Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed ("Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed "), a branch of the Mabinogion , when Pwyll enraged Arawn , the ruler of Annwns, on the hunt : Pwyll chased away Arawns hunting dogs that killed a deer in a forest of Dyfed . In retaliation, Pwyll Arawns must take a year and a day's place in taking his form. During this time he rules in his place of Annwn and at the end of this time he has to face the lower-ranking King Hafgan , whom he finally kills.

The central setting is Annwfn in the Arthurian poem Preiddeu Annwfn (“The Robbery of Annwfn”), which is contained in Llyfr Taliesin (“The Book of Taliesins ”).

interpretation

Annwn is seen as a - sometimes invisible - parallel world to the real world. This assumption is supported by the fact that a ruler from Annwn goes hunting in a forest that is said to be in Dyfed. Another clue can be found in the description of the Cŵn Annwn (Cymrian "Jagdhunde Annwns"): The dogs are white-fur animals with red ears.

According to the legend, Pwyll faced an empire that was plentiful and whose inhabitants would be happier than any other kingdom known to him. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the view of the Celts on the otherworld, in which people lived as in the real world, but far more content and happier than there. This story also shows that it is entirely possible for mortals to get to the otherworld and return safely.

literature

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bernhard Maier: Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 , p. 21.
  2. ↑ Miranda J. Green: Celtic Myths . Reclam-Verlag , Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-15-010396-7 , p. 138 f.
  3. ^ Sylvia and Paul Botheroyd: Lexicon of Celtic Mythology . Diederichs Verlag, Munich 1992, ISBN 3-424-01077-4

Web links

Wiktionary: Annwn  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations