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 gray wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it was selectively bred from a population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers. ...
from
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
that appears as a frightful
apparition of a
mastiff
A mastiff is a large and powerful Dog type, type of dog. Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short Coat (dog), coat, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short (brachycephal ...
or
black wolf 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 region's Legendary creature, mythical creatures, traditional recipes, urban legends, proverbs, superstitions, Folk dance, dance, balladry, and Folklore, folktales tha ...
.
Alternate names
The ''Gwyllgi'' are also called ''Cwn Annwfn'' or ''Cwn
Annwn
Annwn, Annwfn, or Annwfyn (; ''Annwvn'', ''Annwyn'', ''Annwyfn'', ''Annwvyn'', or ''Annwfyn'') is the Otherworld in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn (or, in Arthurian literature, by Gwyn ap Nudd), it is a world of delights and eternal youth wh ...
'' (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 hon ...
in
Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. It borders the Irish Sea to the north, Flintshire to the east, Wrexham to the southeast, Powys to the south, and Gwynedd and Conwy to the west. Rhyl is the largest town, and Ruthi ...
. It has even been spotted as far away as
Marchwiel
Marchwiel (; standardised: ) 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 ...
in
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in the North East Wales, north-east of Wales. It lies between the Cambrian Mountains, Welsh mountains and the lower River Dee, Wales, Dee Valley, near the England–Wales border, borde ...
and as to this day there are still many sightings of this fearsome creature.
Popular culture
In ''Blood of the Earth'', by
Faith Hunter, many members of the local cult-like church have been turned into gwyllgi and capture the main character, Nell.
In the Well of Shadows series by
SL Harby, gwyllgi play a prominent part in the story of the Songspear, Aristoi.
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 hellhound originating from English folklore, and also present in folklore throughout Europe and the Americas. It is usually unnaturally large with glowing red or yellow eyes, is often connec ...
*
Black Shuck
In English folklore, Black Shuck, Old Shuck, Old Shock or simply Shuck is the name given to a ghostly Black dog (ghost), black dog which is said to roam the coastline and countryside of East Anglia, one of many such black dogs recorded in folklore ...
*
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 ...
*
Gytrash
References
External links
Dogs of Darkness BBC Wales
Well of Shadows Series by SL Harby
{{Celtic mythology (Welsh)
Black dogs (folklore)
Welsh mythology
Welsh legendary creatures