After being cursed by his
stepmother so that he marry no one but
Olwen, daughter of the giant
Ysbaddaden,
Culhwch ap Cilydd seeks assistance from his cousin Arthur to win her hand in marriage. Arthur agrees to help him, sending six of his many warriors to assist him on his
quest, with Menw as the sixth. Each warrior has his own unique skill; Menw is a skilled magician, able to place he and his companions under an illusion of invisibility so as to protect them in savage lands. entering Arthur's Court in the Welsh tale
Culhwch and Olwen, 1881 Prior to the
Hunting of Twrch Trwyth, Menw is sent in the form of a
bird to spy on
Twrch Trwyth and his piglets, eventually catching up with him at
Osgair Oerfel in Ireland. Menw attempts to retrieve one of the boar's trinkets but is poisoned in the process and was thereafter never completely without injury. He also plays a part in the hunt proper, chasing the boar into the
Severn alongside
Mabon ap Modron and
Goreu fab Custennin. Later Menw appears in the tale
Breuddwyd Rhonabwy as one of Arthur's chief councillors, and is also mentioned in a poem by fourteenth century bard
Dafydd ap Gwilym: :Three warriors – it brings me riches – :knew well enchantments before this: :battle-experienced, the first upholds his name – :the gentlest of the three was Menw :the second's name (good day for understanding): :is Eiddilig the Dwarf, a wily Irishman :third was, beside the seas of
Mon, :
Math, lord of splendid kind, and :Arfon's king. ==References==