Goreu

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Goreu fab Custennin [ 'gorei vaːb ki'stennin ] ("Goreu, Custennin's son"), also Gorau , is in the Welsh legend Mal y kavas Kulhwch Olwen ("How Kulhwch Olwen has won"), or Kulhwch ac Olwen ("Kulhwch and Olwen ”) the son of the giant shepherd Custenhin . His uncles are the giant Ysbaddaden and, in one version of the story, King Arthur .

mythology

Since Ysbaddaden has already killed all 23 Goreus brothers, his mother keeps this her last child hidden in a chest. The blond boy is only allowed to leave this box next to the stove if his mother is sure that no one can see him. That's why Custenhin is ready to support King Arthur and the young Kulhwch in soliciting Olwen , Ysbaddaden's daughter, although he knows that this will end with the death of his brother. After the latter has given the suitors a series of almost unsolvable tasks, Goreu joins Arthur's men and proves himself in the conquest of the giant Wrnach's castle - one of the tasks set by Ysbaddaden Kulhwch.

Then the companions of the son of Custenhin spoke like this: “He is the best man.” From then on he was called Goreu ›Bester‹, son of Custenhin.

After completing all tasks, the heroes return to Ysbaddadens Castle and Goreu avenges the death of his brothers by beheading his uncle. He claims the giant's castle and receives it as victory loot.

And then Goreu, the son of Custenhin, grabbed his hair and dragged him to the dung-heap; he cut off his head and put it on a stake in the forecourt. And he took possession of the castle and the kingdom of the giant.

literature

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. P. 286.
  2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the emperor Arthur. Part 2, p. 68.
  3. ↑ Wrnach's sword was actually supposed to be used for beheading, but the narrator has forgotten this
  4. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celtic stories from the emperor Arthur. Part 2, p. 91.