Also called Pwyll Pen Annwfn, Pwyll, Head of Annwn.
Their story
Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, set his dogs on a stag already brought down by the hounds of Arawn, king of Annwn. To make amends he took Arawn's shape and ruled Annwn for a year, sleeping chastely beside Arawn's wife, and killed Arawn's enemy Hafgan with a single blow. Afterwards he was called Head of Annwn. He later won Rhiannon, though a careless promise nearly lost her, and with her help he tricked his rival Gwawl into a bottomless bag.
Best times to give to them
- Calan Mai
- Calan Gaeaf
- when keeping a difficult promise
What they like being given
- bread and ale or juice
- a kept promise
- a meal shared with a friend
How to honour them
- Keep your word, even when no one would know if you broke it.
- Apologise properly when you have wronged someone, as Pwyll did to Arawn.
- Think before you speak: his name means wisdom or good sense.
How they can help you
- honour and trust
- friendship
- learning from mistakes
- marriage
Symbols
- the white hounds
- the magic bag
- the mound of Arberth
He is a mortal prince in the First Branch; devotion to him as a god is modern.
Sources
- Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed (the First Branch of the Mabinogi)
More Celtic gods
- The Dagda The good god, father of all
- Lugh Master of all the arts
- Cernunnos The antlered one of the wild
- Manannán mac Lir Lord of the sea and the Otherworld
- Aengus The young god of love
- Nuada The king with the silver hand
- Dian Cécht Physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Goibniu Smith of the gods and brewer of the feast