Comments on: A howl across the dark moor http://waleshome.org/2009/12/a-howl-across-the-dark-moor/ Independent analysis from and about Wales Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Al http://waleshome.org/2009/12/a-howl-across-the-dark-moor/comment-page-1/#comment-3946 Al Sat, 26 Dec 2009 08:45:22 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=6000#comment-3946 Not sure Annwn is hell though. If the Christian clerics who recorded (and imo rewrote) the Mabinogi had intended it to be hell, they would have painted it as such. No, Annwn is more like the courtly medieval idea of heaven, all feasting and dancing and going out hunting with leet supernatural dogs. So the idea that Annwn is hell, or Nudd's dogs are the "hounds of hell" wasn't a Christian discreditation. Or at least not originally. In Breton is there an idiom of "to die", "mont da Annaon" - "to go to Annwn". And no, they're not talking about hell either - interesting that Annwn is still regarded as a paradise in Breton, but in Wales is regarded as hell. What happened here? The Mabinogion paints it as a paradise, Welsh and Breton held it as a paradise (the pagan otherworld always is, no hellfire for us thank you very much) - but to the Victorians Annwn is hell, and the Cwn Annwn the dogs of hell. Where did that idea come from? the English? Cromwell? Victorian stiffery? Reclaim your dogs! If you hear the distant baying of the Cwn Annwn on a foggy night, see it as a good omen - anyone crossing themselves and running to the nearest Church is a bit bonkers. Not sure Annwn is hell though. If the Christian clerics who recorded (and imo rewrote) the Mabinogi had intended it to be hell, they would have painted it as such. No, Annwn is more like the courtly medieval idea of heaven, all feasting and dancing and going out hunting with leet supernatural dogs. So the idea that Annwn is hell, or Nudd’s dogs are the “hounds of hell” wasn’t a Christian discreditation. Or at least not originally.

In Breton is there an idiom of “to die”, “mont da Annaon” – “to go to Annwn”. And no, they’re not talking about hell either – interesting that Annwn is still regarded as a paradise in Breton, but in Wales is regarded as hell. What happened here? The Mabinogion paints it as a paradise, Welsh and Breton held it as a paradise (the pagan otherworld always is, no hellfire for us thank you very much) – but to the Victorians Annwn is hell, and the Cwn Annwn the dogs of hell. Where did that idea come from? the English? Cromwell? Victorian stiffery?

Reclaim your dogs! If you hear the distant baying of the Cwn Annwn on a foggy night, see it as a good omen – anyone crossing themselves and running to the nearest Church is a bit bonkers.

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