Giants in the Mabinogion In the Second Branch of the Mabinogi,
Branwen ferch Llyr, Britain is ruled by the giant
Bran the Blessed, who has never been able to fit inside any dwelling. Also in the Second Branch, the
Pair Dadeni (Cauldron of Rebirth) is brought to Wales from Ireland by the giant Llassar Llaes Gyfnewid and his wife,
Cymidei Cymeinfoll. In
Culhwch and Olwen, giants feature as antagonists throughout.
Ysbaddaden, chief of giants, is the father of
Olwen, a beautiful maiden sought by
Culhwch fab Cilydd, a cousin of
King Arthur's. He is slain at the tale's close by his nephew Goreu fab Custennin, According to the story, Arthur commands that a cairn be built over his body which forms Gwyddfa Rhudda (Rhita's Cairn). Over the intervening centuries the name of Rhudda was forgotten and Gwyddfa Rhudda became known as
Yr Wyddfa.
The Capture of Maelor Gawr Maelor Gawr, the giant of Castell Maelor (now the village of
Penparcau), was captured in Cyfeilog, about twelve miles from his own castle and was sentenced to death. His enemies allowed him his final request to blow on his horn three times before his death. The first time he blew, his hair and beard fell out, and on the second blast of his horn, so great was the strength and force of the sounding that all his finger and toe-nails fell off completely. On the third blast of his horn the intensity of the force of the sound caused the horn to be broken into small pieces. Maelor's son, Cornippin, who was hunting with his horse and his hound, heard the sound of his father's hand and lamented over his suffering. He made to rescue his father and in riding with such haste and swiftness, he tore the head of his hound off its body. He spurred his horse onwards, leaped in one great bound over the Ystwyth river and attacked his father's captors. In the ensuing battle, Cornippin was slain.
Cribwr Gawr Cribwr the Giant lived in Castell Cefn Cribwr in
Morgannwg. His three sisters were all killed by Arthur through "treachery". Arthur succeeded in slaying the giantesses by nicknaming himself as "Hot Pottage" to the first sister, and "Warm Porridge" to the second sister and as "a morsel of bread" to the third, and when the first sister called for help against Hot Pottage Cribwr answered: Wench, let him cool; and in the same manner he answered the second sister, when she sought assistance against Warm Porridge. And the third sister called out that the Morsel of Bread was choking her; and to this he answered, Wench, take a smaller piece. And when Cribwr reproached Arthur for killing his sisters Arthur replied:
Cribwr take thy combs And cease with currish anger If I get a real chance—surely What they have had, thou shalt have too. ==Other notable giants==