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Afanc
A legendary Welsh monster which was overcome by Peredur (Perceval) who had been given a stone by the Empress of Constantinople which rendered him invisible to it (#346). Arthur himself killed an afanc at Llyn Barfog.
Another tale tells how Hu Gadarn may have been invented by Iolo Morgannwg (1747 -1826), who claimed that Hu Gadarn had led the Britons to Britain from Sri Lanka. As to the nature of the afanc, it seem s to have had manipulative skills, as the one encountered by Peredur could throw spears. In modern Welsh Afanc means a beaver; the mystical creature certainly had watery connections. The cognate Irish word Abhac (dwarf) is derived from Ab, modern Abha, a river; J.Vendryes claims it originally signified a spirit inhabiting waters.
A primeval monster which dwelt in the Llyn yr Afanc on the River Conwy in North Wales. It was sometimes thought to be in the shape of a beaver and dragged people into the depths of the lake. Finally it was lured to sleep in a maiden's bosom.
