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The Probert Encyclopaedia of Celtic Mythology

GAWAIN

In Celtic mythology, Gawain was the son of King Lot of Orkney or the sun-god Lug.
Gawain was one of Arthur's most loyal and noble followers. One New Year's Eve a green giant rode into the hall at Camelot and challenged the bravest warrior there to cut off his head, and then one year later, to visit the giant's castle to have his own head chopped off. Gawain accepted the challenge and decapitated the giant, who picked up his head and galloped away. One year later Gawain went in search off the giant and came to the castle of Lord Bertilak and was entertained there for three days and three nights. Each night Bertilak's wife came to Gawain and tried to seduce him, and each time Gawain resisted her. On the fourth day, alone in the castle grounds Gawain came upon the giant and bent down to have his head cut off. Three times the giant swung the axe, and each time he stopped short, before disappearing and Bertilak stood in his place. Bertilak told Gawain that the entire thing had been a test set by Morgan le Fay to find the bravest of Arthur' s followers, and that each swing of the axe was for a night when he had resisted the attentions of Bertilak's wife. Had he given in to temptation he would have died.
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