#Spooktober 11: the Afanc

The Afanc is one of the most notorious creatures in Welsh mythology, a water-dwelling monster that resides in lakes and rivers. Its physical appearance varies across different tales, with descriptions ranging from a giant beaver or crocodile-like beast to a monstrous, demonic entity with no definite shape. Some versions of the legend depict the Afanc as a large hybrid, with the body of a crocodile, the tail of a beaver, and the strength of a bear.

In all its forms, the Afanc is portrayed as a powerful and dangerous being, capable of wreaking havoc on those who dare to enter its watery domain. The Afanc’s lair is typically located in deep, dark waters, far removed from human civilization.

In many Welsh tales, the Afanc is depicted as an invincible force that cannot be killed by ordinary means. Instead, it had to be trapped, tamed, or relocated to prevent it from causing further destruction. However, even capturing the Afanc was an incredibly difficult task, often requiring the intervention of powerful druids, wise women, or supernatural forces.

One of the most famous legends involving the Afanc tells the story of how the creature was tamed and moved from Llyn y Geirionydd, where it would cause devastating floods by thrashing about in the water. The local villagers, desperate to rid themselves of the monster, sought the help of a powerful maiden (a fairy or enchantress) who managed to lull the Afanc to sleep with a song. Once the creature was asleep, the villagers bound it in chains and used a team of oxen to drag it out of the lake. They then transported the Afanc to a remote lake—Llyn Ffynnon Las—where it could no longer pose a threat.

Another famous version of the legend comes from the area around Betws-y-Coed in North Wales. In this tale, the Afanc lived in the River Conwy and would attack anyone who tried to cross the water, until a group of local heroes, including King Arthur in some versions, decided to trap it. The Afanc was subdued and carried up the steep slopes of Snowdon, where they threw it into Llyn Glaslyn, a deep mountain lake where the Afanc was said to be imprisoned for eternity.

In some other versions of the story, the Afanc is a sentient, human-like being, capable of speech and cunning. It is sometimes described as a lonely creature, driven to violence by its isolation and the neglect of those who live near its domain. This more nuanced portrayal of the Afanc presents it as both a monster and a tragic figure, misunderstood and feared by the people who sought to destroy it. Some stories also suggest that the Afanc’s violent nature was the result of a curse. In one legend, for instance, the Afanc was once a man who was transformed into a monster as punishment for a terrible crime. Condemned to live in the water, the creature’s anger grew over the centuries, leading it to attack anyone who ventured near its lair.

One notable depiction of the Afanc can be found in the town of Betws-y-Coed, where a sculpture of the creature is displayed near the River Conwy.

Further Readings:

• Davies, Sioned. The Mabinogion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
• Briggs, Katharine. The Folklore of the British Isles. London: Routledge, 1970.
• Rhys, John. Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1901.
• Simpson, Jacqueline, and Steve Roud. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• Gantz, Jeffrey. The Mabinogion: Translated with an Introduction. New York: Penguin Classics, 1976.