Hafgan

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Hafgan [ 'havgan ], also Havgan , is a character from Welsh mythology.

mythology

In the story Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed ("Pwyll, Prince of Dyved"), the first of the four branches of the Mabinogi , he appears as a king of the Welsh Otherworld Annwn . He is not described in detail except that he wears armor. His adversary Arawn doesn't know exactly about him either. Both princes are enemies and fight annually at a ford. Arawn defeats Hafgan every time with the first blow, after which Hafgan pleads for the death blow, but it revives him. When Pwyll exchanges shapes with Arawn and represents him for a year as Prince of the Otherworld, he succeeds in killing Hafgan by refusing to give him the second redeeming blow despite Hafgan's pleading.

“Sir,” said Hafgan, “what right did you have to kill me? I didn't want anything from you. I also don't know any reason why you should kill me. But by God, "he said," after you have started to take my life, put an end to it. "

As a result, Pwyll wins rule over Hafgan's empire for Arawn. In the legend the remnant of a seasonal myth is assumed.

Hafgan is also seen in connection with the Túatha Dé Danann , who represents the original order against the new, personified by Arawn and Pwyll. An equivalent to Hafgan can be found in the Egyptian god Apophis , who also has to be defeated every night so that the world can renew itself.

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bernhard Maier: The legend book of the Welsh Celts . P. 13 f; It is apparently assumed by the narrator that Hafgan was the only one who saw through the change of shape. Ibid. P. 123, note 13,31.
  2. ↑ a b Ingeborg Clarus: Celtic myths. Man and his otherworld. P. 255.
  3. ↑ Robert von Ranke-Graves: The White Goddess. Language of Myth. Rowohlt's Encyclopedia, Volume 55416, Paperback 1999, ISBN 9783499554162 , p. 54.