Annwn facts for kids

Annwn (pronounced AN-oon) is a magical place in Welsh mythology. It's like an "Otherworld" or a different dimension. In these old stories, Annwn was a land of happiness and never-ending youth. People there didn't get sick, and there was always plenty of food.

It was often seen as a kind of paradise or heaven in early Christian beliefs.

What Does the Name Annwn Mean?

Long ago, people thought the name "Annwn" meant "very deep." But some experts now believe it comes from an older word, *ande-dubnos. This word meant "underworld" in an ancient language called Gallo-Brittonic. It literally translates to "under the deep."

Where Was Annwn Located?

In both Welsh and Irish mythology, people believed the Otherworld could be found in a few places. Sometimes, it was an island far away. Other times, it was thought to be hidden deep beneath the earth.

In one famous Welsh story, the First Branch of the Mabinogi, Annwn seems to be a secret land within Dyfed in Wales. But in another old poem about King Arthur, Preiddeu Annwfn, it sounds more like an island.

Annwn in Old Welsh Stories

Annwn shows up a lot in the Four Branches of the Mabinogi. These are four connected mythological tales from a long time ago.

Pwyll and Arawn

In the first story, Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Prince Pwyll accidentally upsets Arawn. Arawn is the ruler of Annwn. Pwyll lets his hunting dogs chase a stag that Arawn's special dogs had already caught. To make up for it, Pwyll and Arawn swap places for a year. Pwyll goes to Annwn and helps Arawn defeat his enemy, Hafgan. Meanwhile, Arawn rules in Pwyll's place in Dyfed.

During his time in Annwn, Pwyll is very respectful. He doesn't sleep with Arawn's wife. This earns him Arawn's lasting friendship. When Pwyll returns, he gets a new name: Penn Annwn, which means "Head (or Ruler) of Annwn." Later, in the fourth story, Arawn sends a gift of magical pigs from Annwn to Pwyll's son, Pryderi. This gift eventually leads to a war between two kingdoms.

The Battle of the Trees

Another old poem, Cad Goddeu (which means "The Battle of the Trees"), tells of a fight. It's between the kingdom of Gwynedd and the forces of Annwn, led by Arawn again. The creatures from Annwn in this poem are described as strange and scary. They include a huge beast with many heads and a giant toad.

The hero Gwydion, a powerful magician, defeats Arawn's army. First, he uses his magic to make the trees stand up and fight. Then, he figures out the secret name of the enemy hero, Bran. Knowing the name helps him win the battle.

Arthur's Journey to Annwn

The poem Preiddeu Annwfn (meaning "The Spoils of Annwn") is found in the Book of Taliesin. It describes a journey led by King Arthur to different kingdoms within Annwn. Arthur might have gone there to rescue a prisoner named Gweir. Or maybe he wanted to get the magical cauldron of the Head of Annwn.

The person telling the story might be the famous poet Taliesin. He says he traveled with Arthur and three boatloads of men into Annwn. But only seven of them ever came back. Annwn is called by different names in the poem, like "Mound Fortress" and "Glass Fortress." Inside the Mound Fort, Gweir is held prisoner in chains. The poem also describes the special cauldron of Annwn's Chief. It's decorated with pearls and won't cook food for a coward. The poem doesn't clearly say what happened to the men who didn't return.

Gwyn ap Nudd and the Wild Hunt

Over time, the role of Annwn's king changed. It was given to Gwyn ap Nudd. He was a hunter and a guide for souls to the Otherworld. Some believe he was the Welsh spirit of winter. An old Christian story says that Saint Collen used holy water to make Gwyn and his magical court leave Glastonbury Tor.

In the story Culhwch and Olwen, it's said that God gave Gwyn ap Nudd control over demons. This was to stop them from destroying the world. Gwyn is famous for leading his spectral hunts, called the Cŵn Annwn ("Hounds of Annwn"). They are said to hunt for mortal souls.

Annwn in Modern Stories and Culture

Annwn continues to inspire many modern stories, games, and music.

• The famous author J. R. R. Tolkien used a similar word, "annún," in his "Middle-Earth" stories. In his Elvish language, it meant "west" or "sunset." It often referred to a blessed land across the sea.
• The Anglo-Welsh writer David Jones Annwn adopted the name Annwn in 1975.
• In 2004, the online game Runescape added a region called Tirannwn. This name means "Land of Annwn" in Welsh.
• The 2005 film The Dark uses the legend of Annwn in its story.
• Annwn is also the name of a German medieval folk music group.
• In the October Daye urban fantasy book series by Seanan McGuire, Annwn is one of the deep realms of Faerie.
• The Swiss folk metal band Eluveitie features the ancient Gaulish term Antumnos in their 2014 album Origins.
• In the 2015 British film Arthur and Merlin, Arthur gets a magical sword named Annwn from the Otherworld.
• British author Niel Bushnell's novels Sorrowline and Timesmith feature an island called Annwn.
• In the online game Vindictus, Annwyn is an otherworldly place. The game is loosely based on Celtic mythology.
• Annwyn, Beneath the Waves is the second album by the American gothic rock band Faith and the Muse.
• Children's author Lloyd Alexander used the name "Annuvin" in his Chronicles of Prydain series. In these books, Annuvin is the evil domain of Arawn.
• American composer Mick Barr released albums titled Annwn (2008) and Annwn 2 (2012).
• Australian artist Estelle Asmodelle created paintings called "Journey in Annwn" and "The Otherworld of Annwn."
• On the British rock band The Mechanisms' 2014 album, "Annwn" is the name of the lower levels of a space station.
• One area in the video game La-Mulana 2 is named Annwfn.
• Annwn: The Otherworld is a stealth/strategy video game based on Welsh myths.
• In 2021, a book by Ross Lowe, Step Forward Harry Salt, heavily features Annwn and King Gwynn.

See Also

• Avalon
• Caer Sidi
• Tír na nÓg