is a
water horse
A water horse (or "waterhorse" in some folklore) is a mythical creature, such as the , , the and kelpie.
Name origin
The term "water horse" was originally a name given to the kelpie, a creature similar to the hippocamp, which has the head, ...
in
Welsh folklore Welsh folklore is the collective term for the folklore of the Welsh people. It encompasses topics related to Welsh mythology, but also include the nation's folk tales, customs, and oral tradition.
Welsh folklore is related to Irish folklore and Sc ...
, a counterpart of the Scottish
kelpie
A kelpie, or water kelpie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Each-Uisge''), is a shape-shifting spirit inhabiting lochs in Scottish folklore. It is usually described as a black horse-like creature, able to adopt human form. Some accounts state that the kelpi ...
.
In her 1973 book ''Folk-lore and Folk-tales of Wales'', Marie Trevelyan says that the was believed to
shapeshift
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, sorcery, spells or having inherited the ...
and even fly, although this varies depending on region. For example, in
North Wales
North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...
he is represented as being rather formidable with fiery eyes and a dark foreboding presence, whereas in
South Wales he is seen more positively as, at worst a cheeky pest to travellers and, at best, as Trevelyan puts it, "luminous, fascinating and sometimes a winged steed".
The is said to inhabit mountain pools and waterfalls. Even though it appears solid, it can evaporate into the mist. In one form of the legend the , as a horse, leaps out of the water to trample and kill lone travellers.
Another form of the legend reports that the entices the unwary traveller to ride him. Flying into the air, the evaporates, dropping the unfortunate rider to his death.
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
*
*
*
Welsh legendary creatures
Horses in mythology
Shapeshifting
Water spirits
{{legendary-creature-stub