Kaw

Family: Arthur's Court · Role: father of Gwarthegyd · First appears: THE DREAM OF RHONABWY 1

Kaw, of Arthur’s forces, is identified in chapter 1 as the father of Gwarthegyd, who sits beside Arthur at the ford. Chapter 3 also names Gildas and Gwarthegyd as his sons, while chapter 3 of Kilhwch and Olwen or the Twrch Trwyth lists Dirmyg, Justic, Etmic, Anghawd, Ovan, Kelin, Connyn, Mabsant, Gwyngad, Llwybyr, Coth, Meilic, Kynwas, Ardwyad, Ergyryad, Neb, Gilda, Calcas, and Hueil as his sons.

In chapter 9, after Arthur kills Orddu, Kaw preserves the witch’s blood. By chapter 10, Kaw is associated with Yspaddaden Penkawr as both an other and an enemy, and he shaves Yspaddaden Penkawr’s beard, skin, and flesh down to the bone from ear to ear.

Relationship record

Life events

• Arthur kills the witch Orddu, and Kaw preserves her blood.(KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 9)
  • With: Arthur Orddu
  • “And then Arthur rushed to the door of the cave, and at the door, he struck at the witch, with Carnwennan his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that she fell in two parts. And Kaw, of North Britain, took the blood of the witch and kept it.”

THE DREAM OF RHONABWY 1

• child: Gwarthegyd “And there they beheld Arthur sitting on a flat island below the ford, having Bedwini the Bishop on one side of him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on the other.”

THE DREAM OF RHONABWY 3

• child: Gwarthegyd “Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw”
• child: Gildas “Gildas the son of Kaw”
• parent: Gwarthegyd “Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw”
• parent: Gildas “Gildas the son of Kaw”

KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 3

• child: Dirmyg “Dirmyg the son of Kaw”
• child: Justic “Justic the son of Kaw”
• child: Etmic “Etmic the son of Kaw”
• child: Anghawd “Anghawd the son of Kaw”
• child: Ovan “Ovan the son of Kaw”
• child: Kelin “Kelin the son of Kaw”
• child: Connyn “Connyn the son of Kaw”
• child: Mabsant “Mabsant the son of Kaw”
• child: Gwyngad “Gwyngad the son of Kaw”
• child: Llwybyr “Llwybyr the son of Kaw”
• child: Coth “Coth the son of Kaw”
• child: Meilic “Meilic the son of Kaw”
• child: Kynwas “Kynwas the son of Kaw”
• child: Ardwyad “Ardwyad the son of Kaw”
• child: Ergyryad “Ergyryad the son of Kaw”
• child: Neb “Neb the son of Kaw”
• child: Gilda “Gilda the son of Kaw”
• child: Calcas “Calcas the son of Kaw”
• child: Hueil “Hueil the son of Kaw”
• parent: Dirmyg “Dirmyg the son of Kaw”
• parent: Justic “Justic the son of Kaw”
• parent: Etmic “Etmic the son of Kaw”
• parent: Anghawd “Anghawd the son of Kaw”
• parent: Ovan “Ovan the son of Kaw”
• parent: Kelin “Kelin the son of Kaw”
• parent: Connyn “Connyn the son of Kaw”
• parent: Mabsant “Mabsant the son of Kaw”
• parent: Gwyngad “Gwyngad the son of Kaw”
• parent: Llwybyr “Llwybyr the son of Kaw”
• parent: Coth “Coth the son of Kaw”
• parent: Meilic “Meilic the son of Kaw”
• parent: Kynwas “Kynwas the son of Kaw”
• parent: Ardwyad “Ardwyad the son of Kaw”
• parent: Ergyryad “Ergyryad the son of Kaw”
• parent: Neb “Neb the son of Kaw”
• parent: Gilda “Gilda the son of Kaw”
• parent: Calcas “Calcas the son of Kaw”
• parent: Hueil “Hueil the son of Kaw”

KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 9

• child: Gwarthegyd “Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw”

KILHWCH AND OLWEN OR THE TWRCH TRWYTH 10

• with Yspaddaden Penkawr (Kaw performs this act on Yspaddaden Penkawr.) “And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin and flesh, clean off to the very bone from ear to ear.”
• enemies with Yspaddaden Penkawr “And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his beard, skin and flesh, clean off to the very bone from ear to ear.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Mabinogion. Made with Rho MD.