Ysbaddaden Penkawr
IS-ba-THA-den PEN-kaur

Welsh: lit. "Hawthorn the Giant Chief"

Father of Olwen and reluctant father-in-law of Culhwch in the Mabinogion's "Culhwch ac Olwen." He had a poison eye like the Irish Balor, and gave Culhwch an exhaustive series of tasks to perform in order to marry Olwen--so exhaustive, that Culhwch had to call on his uncle, King Arthur and his knights.

Ysbaddaden was killed by Culhwch's cousin Goreu ap Custennin, whose father was deposed by Ysbaddaden.


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Mary Jones © 2003