Dwyfan and Dwyfach: Cymric pseudo-deities (Sacred One)

Synonyms:
Cym: Sacred One

Cymric pseudo-deities only known from the version of the Trioedd Ynys Prydain 'improved' by Iolo Morgannwg. Edward Williams [1747-1826], more commonly known by his baridc name of Iolo Morgannwg was a stonemason by trade though he is probably better known as the gratest fantasist in Cymric history. He created the modern institution of the Gorsedd of Bards first held on Primrose Hill in London, 1792. He was an industrious academic and both collected and copied numerous ancient Cymric documents many of which have been verified as authentic. Unfortunatel he could not resist 'improving' other documents. He left a cottage full of documents and the question of their veracity has plagued academics ever since. It is known, however, that a full third of the Trioedd Ynys Prydain (the Welsh Triads) found in Iolo's own hand were of his own invention. The tale of Dwyfan and Dwyfach, along with other heroes such as Hu Gadarn fall into this category.

According to the Iolo triads Dwyfan and Dwyfach were the heroes of a lost Cymric flood myth. Two triads (iii)13 and (iii)97 comprise the entire 'myth' of these pseudo-deities. In the first of these mentions the bursting of the banks of Llyn Llion, a cataclysm caused by the thrashing of the body of the Addanc or Afanc all were drowned save for Dwyfan and Dwyfach who escaped the rising watern in a mastless ship and it was from them that the island of Britain was peopled. Triad (iii)97 names their vessel as Nefyd Naw Neifion (The work of Neptune) and fills-in the gap of the first triad, saying that two of each creature not just humans were carried on the boat.

In some respect, this is a beautiful myth, even if it isn't authentic. However, it should be noted that the tale is rooted in place. For this is a myth of Llyn Tegid, Bala where at least one of its water sources was called the Dwyfach and another might have been termed the Dwyfan whilst on exiting the resultant river is called the Dyfrdwy which can be thought of as meaning either 'the confluence of waters' or can be ascribed as being derived from Dyfr-dwyf 'sacred waters'. Thus if Iolo Morgannwg created the myths of Dwyfan and Dwyfach they may have been based on existing genii loci.

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