R HITA GAWR Aled Thompson
There’s an old Welsh legend about a Giant that once ruled over Snowdonia. His name was Rhita. Back in Rhita’s age, there were several Kings that ruled over small Kingdoms, and Rhita wanted to prove he was mightier and more terrible than all the other Kings of Britain.
Rhita began looking at nearby kingdoms to prove his might and noticed two Kingdoms that were in the midst of a battle right at the foot of his domain. He knew that both Kingdoms would be weakened and vulnurable from their own battles to pose much of a threat.
1.
Rhita summoned an army of dark, twisted creatures that called the cold mountains their home. With an army of the vilest, cruelest creatures of Britain.
2.
The two Kings were named Nynio and Peibio. Both neighbouring Kings of Gwynedd. They were too consumed by their own internal conflict to notice Rhita approaching with an army. The two Kings were quickly overwhelmed by the Giant’s army, their own forces too weakened to resist the unexpected ambush. Nynio and Peibio both fell in battle.
3.
With both Kings slain, Rhita shaved off their beards, a symbol of their strength and masculinity, and began weaving them into a cloak as a trophy. Hearing of the two King’s death at the hands of a cruel giant, an alliance was formed between the Kings of Britain to bring an end to Rhita.
4.
The Kings boldly met Rhita on the battlefield where a long, bloody battle began.
One by one, each King fell to Rhita’s army until the alliance was entirely defeated.
5.
Rhita set about having all the defeated King’s beards shaved and woven into his cloak which began to grow. More Kings travelled from foreign lands to challenge the mighty Giant, but each in turn fell in battle, meanwhile Rhita’s cloak grew heavy with all the beards of vanquished Kings. Soon all the Kings of Britain were dead and defeated. All but one...
6.
King Arthur was a powerful and legendary King of Britain. He had a glorious golden beard and wielded the magical sword Caledfwlch, a name that translates to ‘hard lightning’.
Rhita sent Arthur a message. Rhita demanded that Arthur should shave his beard for his cloak or else he will do it himself.
Outraged by the Giant’s arrogance, Arthur assembled his army to march on Snowdonia. He raised his magical sword and vowed to put an end to Rhita’s reign once and for all.
7.
Rhita and Arthur met at the highest peak of Snowdonia. Both indending to be the last remaining King of Britain.
Both Kings fought with all their might and strength, both dealt devastating blows to the other in a final duel to the death.
8.
Rhita moved slowly and heavily under the weight of his cloak, giving Arthur the advantage of speed. He climbed up Rhita’s back and raised his magic sword above his head and brought it down with all his might on Rhita’s head.
The blow split Rhita’s skull in two, killing him instantly.
9.
Arthur ordered his men to pile stones on the Giant’s body, to create a burial mound.
The mountains that Rhita once ruled over was named ‘Gwyddfa Rhita’, meaning Rhita’s burial mound. To this day, the Welsh name for Snowdon is still Wyddfa, named for the Giant that is said to be buried at its peak.
10.
When I was a child, I was read the story of Rhita at school and I remember having to draw the scenes out myself. Having lived near Snowdonia, I have always been familiar with the setting of Rhita’s legend. Every time I looked up at the mountains, I was reminded of the legend of Rhita. I remember imagining of the remnants of Rhita’s cloak poking out from between the scattered rocks at Snowdon’s peak. I decided I wanted to illustrate and share this story which had intrigued me as a child, so I set about reimagining the tale in my own image, using my own knowledge of the landscape to shape the imagery, while giving it a personal twist, and sharing a small part of Welsh Legends with a wider audience.