Pennod 13 – Ennill Olwen

Winning Olwen

We finishing discussing the tale ‘Culhwch and Olwen’ in this episode, starting with the six heroes whom Arthur choses to help Culhwch find the daughter of Ysbaddaden Chief of Giants. (And thus, along with the would-be bridegroom himself, here’s a medieval Welsh version of the ‘Seven Samauri’ or ‘The Magnificent Seven’!) Olwen appears finally – and we get a striking and memorable description of her – and then the seven must face the Chief of Giants himself. And they have to fulfil a great number of various tasks – each one an adventure in itself – before Culhwch can marry Olwen, and he’ll have to turn to Arthur and his heroes for more help in order to accomplish it all. So numerous adventures are to be had here, but also grotesque humour and deep meditations on the relationship between people and the world of nature.