Chapter 13 Page 18
posted 4th Dec 2018, 6:25 PM
4th Dec 2018, 6:25 PM
Saeriellyn
Book fans, you can all pretend you didn't already know Medwyn's big secret. Interestingly, the idea that there is a flood myth in Welsh mythology is from an erroneous, inaccurate source, but Alexander did not know that. I find it a meaningful and lovely addition nevertheless.
Also, ugh, coloring. My new Cintiq has a very different handle on how my brushes work. Forgive the oddness of it until I get a new grip of this system.
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4th Dec 2018, 7:06 PM
The Doodler
He reminds me just a little of the immortal flood survivor from Gilgamesh, too.
Amazing touch that even a fish would come to him.
5th Dec 2018, 3:17 AM
CM (Guest)
6th Dec 2018, 1:19 AM
Skyboy91
Yeah the stroking the jaws of the fish is one of the lines from the book that you can't forget.
10th Dec 2018, 6:47 PM
Miss K
I've lived nearly my whole life believing that Lloyd Alexander knew what he was talking about with there being a Welsh Noah — and now you tell me he was wrong? After all those dinner party conversations where my audience's eyes glazed over while I waxed on about the universality of the Flood Myth, you tell me I was WRONG? (Hint: I'm NOT young so this has been QUITE a while of belief.) Well. In spite of that unpleasant revelation (source, please, if you get the chance!), as always your work is a welcome amazement. Thank you.
12th Dec 2018, 12:23 AM
Saeriellyn
lol yes, I was a little miffed about that myself. The revelation came from the book Celtic Myth in Contemporary Children's Fantasy by Dr. Dimitra Fimi, a UK professor (and, incidentally, a follower of this comic!). To quote her lengthy passage on the subject:
"The mythological motif presented here parallels the biblical story of Noah’s Ark. Stories of a monumental flood, and of the humans and animals who survived it to repopulate the earth, abound in many cultures. Lady Guest records the Welsh version of a flood myth when she quotes another Triad:
"The three great exploits of the Island of Britain: The ship of Nevydd Nav Neivion, which carried in it a male and female of all things living, when the Lake of floods burst forth. And the horned oxen of Hu the Mighty, which drew the Avanc of the Lake to land, so that the Lake burst forth no more. And the stones of Gwyddon Ganhebon, on which were read all the arts and sciences of the world.85"
Unfortunately, this is an entirely invented Triad, forged by Iolo Morganwg, one of the remaining 42 in the Myvyrian Third Series.86"
(In other words, Iolo Morganwyg made up a bunch of stuff that he claimed was recorded ancient myth, forged the documentation, and did it so well that even Lady Guest thought it was legit enough to include in her translation of the Mabinogion. Apparently Iolo's forgeries were not proven so until much later.)
13th Dec 2018, 2:38 PM
Miss K
Hmp! Well at least I can take the claim of "monumental floods abounding in many cultures" phrasing to back up THAT part of my dull dull thesis, if not in Welsh myths. Thanks so much for posting! Now, back to work, you. ;)
18th Apr 2020, 10:37 AM
Leader Dessler
The story is odd indeed. Looking for the original spelling "Nefyd Naf Neifion", you find that it is applied in some versions to the ark while in others it is a character (Nefyn, daughter of Nefyd Naf Neifion). But the whole matter blows up into your face when John Rhys informs you that Neifion is simply Neptune in Welsh orthography, i. e. Naf Neifion = Lord Neptune.
Very sorry, Mr. Alexander.
22nd Feb 2021, 8:53 AM
Kfrizzed (Guest)
Yay! Stroking the salmon’s jaw. I’m with Skyboy that you just don’t forget that line. So happy you drew it.
Oddly enough there are real instances of fish wanting to be stroked...I witnessed one myself in Bermuda on a underwater bell-diving tour. The tour operator used the same site so frequently that the fish in the area knew him and would come up to him and let themselves be handled. It was very cool and a bit weird too.
22nd Feb 2021, 1:31 PM
Saeriellyn
oh wow what a neat thing to see.
It's one of my headcanon details that Taran knows how to tickle trout, which is an old rural Brit skill, hehe.
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