Afagddu
Encyclopedia
Morfran is a figure in Welsh mythology
. Usually portrayed as a warrior under King Arthur
, he is noted for the darkness of his skin and his hideousness. He appears in the narratives about the bard Taliesin
and in the Welsh Triads
, where he is often contrasted with the handsome Sanddef "Angel-Face".
(Hanes Taliesin), where he is depicted as the son of Ceridwen
and Tegid Foel
, and is given an extremely beautiful sister named Creirwy. In later versions of this tale his characteristic ugliness is transferred to a brother, Afagddu (Middle Welsh: Avagddu; from y fagddu, "utter darkness"), though Ifor Williams
suggested this name arose as a nickname for the famously gruesome Morfran. In the story Ceridwen tries to help her son make his way in the world by creating a potion whose first three drops would bestow the drinker with knowledge of the future. Unfortunately, she gives Gwion Bach (the bard Taliesin) the job of stirring the brew; he splashes three drops on his fingers and licks them, whereupon he gains the knowledge, and Morfran/Afagddu remains ugly and despised. The story has a parallel in the Irish
tale The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn
, in which the young hero Fionn mac Cumhaill
receives prophetic wisdom intended for his master Finn Eces
by consuming the Salmon of Wisdom
.
Morfran eil Tegid (Morfran son of Tegid) appears in several of the Welsh Triads
. In Triad 24 he is recognized as one of the "Three Slaughter-Blocks of the Island of Britain", while Triad 41 celebrates his horse Guelwgan Gohoewgein (Silver-White, Proud and Fair) as one of the "Three Lover's Horses of the Island of Britain". In other triads he is associated with Sanddef, whose beauty is as notable as Morfran's ugliness. In a triad preserved in the prose tale Culhwch and Olwen
, they are named as two of the three men who survived the Battle of Camlann
, in Morfran's case because his ugliness led everyone to believe he was "a devil helping, for there was hair on his face like the hair of a stag." This triad was adapted in the 15th-century triad collection known as "The Twenty-four Knights of Arthur's Court"; Morfran and Sanddef are two of the "Three Irresistible Knights", as their peculiarities made it "repugnant to anyone to refuse them anything."
Morfran is further mentioned in the 12th-century prose tale The Dream of Rhonabwy
. Rachel Bromwich
notes that a 12th-century poem by Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr
contains a reference to an otherwise forgotten early poet named Morfran, and suggests a connection with the Morfran of The Tale of Taliesin who was the intended recipient of the cauldron of poetic inspiration. Scholar Thomas Green further suggests a connection with the character called "Osfran's Son", who is buried at Camlann according to the Englynion y Beddau
(Stanzas of the Graves).
Welsh mythology
Welsh mythology, the remnants of the mythology of the pre-Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts such as the Red Book of Hergest, the White Book of Rhydderch, the Book of Aneirin and the Book of Taliesin....
. Usually portrayed as a warrior under King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
, he is noted for the darkness of his skin and his hideousness. He appears in the narratives about the bard Taliesin
Taliesin
Taliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
and in the Welsh Triads
Welsh Triads
The Welsh Triads are a group of related texts in medieval manuscripts which preserve fragments of Welsh folklore, mythology and traditional history in groups of three. The triad is a rhetorical form whereby objects are grouped together in threes, with a heading indicating the point of likeness...
, where he is often contrasted with the handsome Sanddef "Angel-Face".
Appearances
He appears in the Tale of TaliesinTaliesin
Taliesin was an early British poet of the post-Roman period whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the Book of Taliesin...
(Hanes Taliesin), where he is depicted as the son of Ceridwen
Ceridwen
In Welsh medieval legend, Ceridwen , also spelled Cerridwen, was an enchantress, mother of Morfran and a beautiful daughter Creirwy. Her husband was Tegid Foel, and they lived near Bala Lake in north Wales...
and Tegid Foel
Tegid Foel
Tegid Foel is the husband of Ceridwen in Welsh mythology. His name rendered into English would be "Tacitus the Bald". In folklore, Tegid Foel is associated with Llyn Tegid in Gwynedd and may have been the tutelary deity of that lake....
, and is given an extremely beautiful sister named Creirwy. In later versions of this tale his characteristic ugliness is transferred to a brother, Afagddu (Middle Welsh: Avagddu; from y fagddu, "utter darkness"), though Ifor Williams
Ifor Williams
Sir Ifor Williams was a Welsh scholar who laid the foundations for the academic study of Old Welsh, particularly early Welsh poetry....
suggested this name arose as a nickname for the famously gruesome Morfran. In the story Ceridwen tries to help her son make his way in the world by creating a potion whose first three drops would bestow the drinker with knowledge of the future. Unfortunately, she gives Gwion Bach (the bard Taliesin) the job of stirring the brew; he splashes three drops on his fingers and licks them, whereupon he gains the knowledge, and Morfran/Afagddu remains ugly and despised. The story has a parallel in the Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
tale The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn
The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn
The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn is a medieval Irish narrative belonging to the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. As its title implies, it recounts the boyhood exploits of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the cycle's central figure...
, in which the young hero Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhaill
Fionn mac Cumhaill , known in English as Finn McCool, was a mythical hunter-warrior of Irish mythology, occurring also in the mythologies of Scotland and the Isle of Man...
receives prophetic wisdom intended for his master Finn Eces
Finn Eces
Finn Eces is a legendary Irish poet and sage, according to the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. He is the teacher of Fionn mac Cumhaill, according to the tale The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn. For years he tries to catch the Salmon of Wisdom, a fish that will grant all the world's knowledge to whoever...
by consuming the Salmon of Wisdom
Salmon of Wisdom
The Salmon of Knowledge is a creature figuring in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. This salmon was sometimes called Fintan, or Finntan, in ancient times and is sometimes confused with Fintan mac Bóchra who was also known as, "The Wise" and once transformed into a salmon...
.
Morfran eil Tegid (Morfran son of Tegid) appears in several of the Welsh Triads
Welsh Triads
The Welsh Triads are a group of related texts in medieval manuscripts which preserve fragments of Welsh folklore, mythology and traditional history in groups of three. The triad is a rhetorical form whereby objects are grouped together in threes, with a heading indicating the point of likeness...
. In Triad 24 he is recognized as one of the "Three Slaughter-Blocks of the Island of Britain", while Triad 41 celebrates his horse Guelwgan Gohoewgein (Silver-White, Proud and Fair) as one of the "Three Lover's Horses of the Island of Britain". In other triads he is associated with Sanddef, whose beauty is as notable as Morfran's ugliness. In a triad preserved in the prose tale Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen
Culhwch and Olwen is a Welsh tale about a hero connected with Arthur and his warriors that survives in only two manuscripts: a complete version in the Red Book of Hergest, ca. 1400, and a fragmented version in the White Book of Rhydderch, ca. 1325. It is the longest of the surviving Welsh prose...
, they are named as two of the three men who survived the Battle of Camlann
Battle of Camlann
The Battle of Camlann is best known as the final battle of King Arthur, where he either died in battle, or was fatally wounded fighting his enemy Mordred.-Historicity:...
, in Morfran's case because his ugliness led everyone to believe he was "a devil helping, for there was hair on his face like the hair of a stag." This triad was adapted in the 15th-century triad collection known as "The Twenty-four Knights of Arthur's Court"; Morfran and Sanddef are two of the "Three Irresistible Knights", as their peculiarities made it "repugnant to anyone to refuse them anything."
Morfran is further mentioned in the 12th-century prose tale The Dream of Rhonabwy
The Dream of Rhonabwy
The Dream of Rhonabwy is a Middle Welsh prose tale. Set during the reign of Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys , it is dated to the late 12th or 13th century. It survives in only one manuscript, the Red Book of Hergest, and has been associated with the Mabinogion since its publication by Lady...
. Rachel Bromwich
Rachel Bromwich
Rachel Bromwich was a British scholar. Her focus was on medieval Welsh literature, and was Emeritus Reader in Celtic Languages and Literature at the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Cambridge until her death...
notes that a 12th-century poem by Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr
Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr
Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr , in English also known as Kendall, was the court poet of Madog ap Maredudd, Owain Gwynedd , and Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd, and one of the most prominent Welsh poets of the 12th century.Cynddelw began his career as court poet to Madog ap Maredudd, Prince of Powys...
contains a reference to an otherwise forgotten early poet named Morfran, and suggests a connection with the Morfran of The Tale of Taliesin who was the intended recipient of the cauldron of poetic inspiration. Scholar Thomas Green further suggests a connection with the character called "Osfran's Son", who is buried at Camlann according to the Englynion y Beddau
Englynion y Beddau
The Englynion y Beddau is a Middle Welsh verse catalogue listing the resting places of legendary heroes. It consists of a series of englynion, or short stanzas in quantitative meter, and survives in a number of manuscripts...
(Stanzas of the Graves).