Glewlwyd

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Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr [ 'gleuluid ga'vailvaur ], also Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr ("the bold gray with the strong grip"), is the name of a gatekeeper in Welsh mythology .

mythology

Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr is mentioned in three stories from Welsh sagas as the gatekeeper at the court of King Arthur . Two of these are from the "three romances" ( Y Tair Rhamant ) of Welsh literature, namely Gereint fab Erbin ("Gereint, the son of the heiress") and Iarlles y Ffynnawn ("The mistress of the spring").

And even if it was said that there was a porter at Arthur's court, there was none. On the other hand, Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr of the rank of porter was there to receive the strangers and those who had traveled a long way, and to pay them first honor and to make them known the manners and customs of the court: to make it known to everyone who had a right to enter the hall or to go to the apartment, and to anyone who was entitled to an inn. ( Iarlles y Ffynnawn )

In the third story, Mal y kavas Kulhwch Olwen ("How Kulhwch Olwen won"), there is a dispute between Glewlwyd and Kulhwch when he does not want to let him into the throne room.

"Except for a prince from a legitimate kingdom or a craftsman who brings his work, no one is admitted."

With a magical abuse ( Irish : Glám dícenn ) Kulhwch manages to force entry. In this legend and also in Gereint fab Erbin it is reported that Glewlwyd only exercises the office himself on special feast days, but is represented by his subordinates on normal days.

“I am Arthur's doorkeeper on the first of January. However, for the rest of the year my deputies are none other than Huandaw and Gogigwr and Laesgymyn and Penpingyon, who walks on his head to protect his feet, neither heavenward nor earthward, but rolling like a stone across the floor of the palace. "

In the oldest of the stories, Pa ŵr yw'r porthor? (“Who is the gatekeeper?”), Glewlwyd asks King Arthur himself to introduce himself and his companions before he lets them in. Here, however, he is the guardian of another fortress - a giant - as can be seen from the contents.

“Who is the porter?” - “Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr. Who asks? ”-“ Arthur and the beautiful Kei . ”-“ Who's with you? ”-“ The best men in the world. ”-“ You won't come [me] into my house! If you don't show me! "

In the Trioedd Ynys Prydein ("The Triads of the Isle of Britain") he is referred to as one of the "unbearable knights at the court of Arthur", because he could not be refused because of his ferocity and strength.

These “doorkeeper talks” ( Birkhan ) are recurring set pieces of Celtic heroic poetry. Lugh , too , can only gain access to the Túatha Dé Danann and the royal dignity in this way .

See also

literature

Web links

  • Celtic Culture: A-Celti (= John T. Koch [Ed.]: Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia . Volume 1 ). ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara 2006, ISBN 1-85109-440-7 , pp. 820 (English, limited preview in Google Book search).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the Emperor Arthur. Part 1, p. 247, notes 4 and 5.
  2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the emperor Arthur. Part 1, p. 65.
  3. ↑ a b Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the Emperor Arthur. Part 2, p. 37 f.
  4. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the emperor Arthur. Part 2, p. 104.
  5. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Pp. 502, 891.