Celtic Gods: The Cymric hero, Gogfran Gawr (Little Crow, the Giant)

Gogfran Gawr
A Cymric Arthurian Hero, also known as Ocuran, Ocvran: Little Crow, the Giant

Gogfran Gawr is a Cymric hero known from the the Welsh triads and the work of the early bards where he is named as the father of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere). He seems to be a member of the British race of giants (to whom Arthur may also belong).



Synonyms: Goibniu, Gobanos, Gobannus, Cobannus
Cym: Little Crow, the Giant

Gogfran Gawr is known primarily from the works of the early bards, the gogynfeirdd and tirads 53 (Peniarth 252 version) and 56 of the Trioedd Ynys Prydein as the father of Gwenhwyfar.

Gogfran's name may be a jest in that *gog- is the stem of the Cymric verb 'to belittle' and brân is 'crow' whereas cawr means giant. Thus Gogfran Gawr can be interpreted as 'Little Crow the Giant'. His name alone indicates that he is a giant and thus a member of the giant race, the Plant Llŷr; which explains the folkloric tradition that his daughter, Gwenhwyfar, was also a giantess.



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