The gwyllgi (; compound noun of either ''gwyllt'' "wild" or ''gwyll'' "twilight" + ''ci'' "dog") is a mythical
dog
The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...
from
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
that appears as a frightful
apparition of a
mastiff
A mastiff is a large and powerful type of dog. Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short coat, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short ( brachycephalic) and the ears dr ...
or
Black Wolf
A black wolf is a melanistic colour variant of the gray wolf (''Canis lupus''). Black specimens were recorded among red wolves (''Canis rufus''), though the colour morph in this species is probably now extinct. Genetic research from the Sta ...
(similar to a
Dire wolf
The dire wolf (''Aenocyon dirus'' ) is an extinct canine. It is one of the most famous prehistoric carnivores in North America, along with its extinct competitor ''Smilodon''. The dire wolf lived in the Americas and eastern Asia during the Late ...
) with baleful breath and blazing red eyes. It is the Welsh incarnation of the
black dog figure of
English folklore
English folklore consists of the myths and legends of England, including the English region's mythical creatures, traditional recipes, urban legends, proverbs, superstitions, and folktales. Its cultural history is rooted in Celtic, Christia ...
.
Alternate names
The ''Gwyllgi'' are also called ''Cwn Annwfn'' or ''Cwn
Annwn
Annwn, Annwfn, or Annwfyn (in Middle Welsh, ''Annwvn'', ''Annwyn'', ''Annwyfn'', ''Annwvyn'', or ''Annwfyn'') is the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn (or, in Arthurian literature, by Gwyn ap Nudd), it was essentially a world of de ...
'' (meaning "dogs of the otherworld") and Cwn Cyrff ("corpse dog").
Reported sightings
There have been many sighting of this beast in the north east of Wales. Specifically, the Nant y Garth pass located near
Llandegla
Llandegla or Llandegla-yn-Iâl is a village and community in the county of Denbighshire in Wales. In the 2011 census, the community had a population of 567.
Name
The village's name is Welsh for the "Parish of Saint Tecla", which honours th ...
in
Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
. It has even been spotted as far away as
Marchwiel
Marchwiel ( cy, Marchwiail) is a village and community in Wrexham County Borough, Wales.
It is about 2 miles south-east of Wrexham city on the A525 road towards Bangor-on-Dee. The community has an area of 1,488 hectares and a population of 1,4 ...
in
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
and as to this day there are still many sightings of this fearsome creature.
Popular culture
In ''Blood of the Earth'', by
Faith Hunter
Gwendolyn Faith Hunter is an American author and blogger, writing in the fantasy and thriller genres. She writes as Faith Hunter in the fantasy genre, and as Gwen Hunter in the thriller genre. , many members of the local cult-like church have been turned into gwyllgi and capture the main character, Nell.
In ''The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy'' series by
Hailey Edwards, a gwyllgi named Hood is one of the watchmen who guards the Faraday, a high-end condominium where Linus lives. His friend, Lethe, becomes close friends with the main character. Her brother is the Beta of the pack in Atlanta.
See also
*
Black dog (ghost)
The black dog is a supernatural, spectral, or demonic entity originating from English folklore that has also been seen throughout Europe and the Americas. It is usually unnaturally large with glowing red or yellow eyes, is often connected with ...
*
Black Shuck
In English folklore, Black Shuck, Old Shuck, Old Shock or simply Shuck is the name given to a ghostly black dog which is said to roam the coastline and countryside of East Anglia, one of many such black dogs recorded in folklore across the Br ...
*
Cŵn Annwn
In Welsh mythology and folklore, Cŵn Annwn (, "hounds of Annwn"; singular Ci Annwn () were the spectral hounds of Annwn, the otherworld of Welsh myth. They were associated with a form of the Wild Hunt, presided over by either Arawn, king of Annwn ...
*
Gytrash
The Gytrash , a legendary Black dog (folklore), black dog known in Northern England, was said to haunt lonely roads awaiting travelers.
Appearing in the shape of horses, mules, Crane (bird), cranes or dogs, the Gytrash haunt solitary ways and le ...
References
External links
Dogs of Darkness BBC Wales
{{Celtic mythology (Welsh)
Mythological dogs
Welsh mythology
Welsh legendary creatures