The Legend of the City of Ys

The Legend of the City of Ys
ISBN-10
0870232649
ISBN-13
9780870232640
Category
History / Middle East / Iraq
Pages
88
Language
English
Published
1979
Publisher
University of Massachusetts Press
Authors
Charles Guyot, Géo-Charles

Description

The Legend of the City of Ys is the first English translation of Charles Guyot's 1926 French version of this captivating tale from Breton folklore. The legend has its roots in the oral traditions of the Celtic peoples - possibly dating to Neolithic times - and is rich in Breton mythology and lore. During years of retelling, the story underwent many changes: new characters appeared, others faded into the background; plot lines were added and dropped, or were given greater or lesser significance. The story presented here is a synthesis of the numerous oral and written versions of the tale which have emerged over the centuries. This version of the work focuses on the female character, Dahut, ruler of the city of Ys and beloved daughter of King Gradlon. In defiance of the Christian moralizing of Saint Guernole, Dahut persists in delighting her people with nightly revelries and wild displays of pagan ritual, despite repeated warnings of divine wrath. Unaware that the handsome stranger she loves is the devil, Dahut gives him the keys to the dike that protects Ys from the sea. In the midst of a violent storm, the stranger vanishes and the doors to the dike open. The city is engulfed by the sea. Gradlon tries to rescue Dahut, but under their combined weights his magical horse begins to sink. To save the righteous king, Guernole strikes Dahut with his staff, and she falls into the ocean. Instantly, the storm dies and the sea becomes calm once again. But Dahut and the city of Ys have vanished beneath the waves.

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