Penpingion
Encyclopedia
Penpingion is one of the gatekeepers at Arthur's
court in early Arthurian traditions in which he is subservient to Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr
. He appears in two tales: How Culhwch won Olwen
and Gerain son of Erbin
, and is described as having supernatural abilities: he "goes about on his head to save his feet, neither looking to heaven nor to the ground, but like a rolling stone on a court floor".
He takes part in the hunt for the Twrch Trwyth
and is killed in the attempt.
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...
court in early Arthurian traditions in which he is subservient to Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr
Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr
; "Brave Grey Mighty Grasp," is a hero, warrior and porter in tradition and Arthurian mythology, in which he appears as a knight in Arthur's retinue and chief gatekeeper of his court...
. He appears in two tales: How Culhwch won 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...
and Gerain son of Erbin
Three Welsh Romances
The Three Welsh Romances are three Middle Welsh tales associated with the Mabinogion. They are versions of Arthurian tales that also appear in the work of Chrétien de Troyes. Critics have debated whether the Welsh Romances are based on Chrétien's poems or if they derive from a shared original...
, and is described as having supernatural abilities: he "goes about on his head to save his feet, neither looking to heaven nor to the ground, but like a rolling stone on a court floor".
He takes part in the hunt for the Twrch Trwyth
Twrch Trwyth
Twrch Trwyth is an enchanted wild boar in the Arthurian legend. The hunt for Twrch Trwyth by King Arthur was the subject of a popular stock narrative in medieval Welsh literature...
and is killed in the attempt.