Celtic Gods: The Cymric Anti-hero, Gwrgi Garwlwyd (Rough-grey Man-dog)

Gwrgi Garwlwyd
The Cymric Anti-hero Gwrgi: Rough-grey Man-dog

Gwrgi Garwlwyd is a Cymric (Welsh) anti-hero known from the Welsh Triads where he is portrayed as a foe o the Welsh and might represent a myth about a werewolf.



Synonyms:
Cym: Rough-grey Man-dog

Gwrgi Garwlwyd is known from a single triad, triad 32 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydain. This triad gives Diffydell mab Dysgyfdawd as the slayer of Gwrgi Garwlwyd. This was one of the 'Three Fortunate Assassinations' because Gwrgi used to make a corpse of one of the Cymry every day and two each Saturday so as not to kill on a Sunday.

The name Gwrgi literally means 'Man-dog' and his epithet Garwlwyd means 'Rough-grey'. It is tempting to speculate that a rough-grey pelted man-dog might be a werewolf. A supposition that is supported by Rachel Bromwich in the Trioedd Ynys Prydain who equates Gwrgi with the Ulster hero, CúChulainn's opponent Germán Garbglass both he and Gwrgi seem to be semi-mythological figures and the Irish term garb glasrúad is one emplayed for werewolves.



If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.



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