The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition
Twrch Trwyth
Arthur explains that Twrch Trwyth was once a king transformed into a swine for his sins. He remains a formidable opponent accompanied by seven young pigs. The quest seeks a comb, razor and scissors between his ears. After the objects are taken through a long pursuit, he is driven into the sea and his later destination remains unknown.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryArthur explains that Twrch Trwyth was once a king transformed into a swine for his sins. He remains a formidable opponent accompanied by seven young pigs.
Further detail
LiteraryThe quest seeks a comb, razor and scissors between his ears. After the objects are taken through a long pursuit, he is driven into the sea and his later destination remains unknown.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the narrative in Charlotte Guest’s 1877 collection, including its particular spellings and arrangement of tales. Characters, enchantments and explanations of place names are presented as features of these stories; the translation alone does not establish their historical reality or a single original religious meaning.
Original passages
Source 1
The Mabinogion
a king, and that God had transformed him into a swine for his sins. Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt leithoedd, to endeavour to speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumedOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 278
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0278
- Original scan leaf
- 279
- Recorded leaf number
- 279
- Current Reader position
- 270
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
The Mabinogion
Arthur comes but to fight for the comb, and the razor, and the scissors, which are between the two ears of TwrchOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Mabinogion, Guest’s 1877 edition; active reader leaf 279
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0240-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0240-E001-P0279
- Original scan leaf
- 280
- Recorded leaf number
- 280
- Current Reader position
- 271
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Arthur in the Mabinogion
The courtly ruler whose household gathers the companions and quests of Guest’s Welsh romances.
Same subject and traditionBendigeid Vran
The giant king who becomes a bridge for his army and leaves a protective head behind.
Same subject and traditionThe Salmon of Llyn Llyw
The ancient fish that carries Arthur’s searchers to Mabon’s prison.
Same subject and traditionThe Two Dragons of Lludd’s Tale
The combatants whose recurring conflict is explained as the cause of Britain’s fearful shriek.