YURI LEITCH

- GWYN - BRITAIN'S LOST GOD AND HIS ROLE IN GLASTONBURY'S MYTHICAL LANDSCAPE

Yuri is an accomplished artist as well as a studious researcher and writer of ancient mysteries on subjects such as Glastonbury's terrestrial zodiac, the Holy Grail, Joseph of Arimathea, the Knights Templar and the origins and development of Britain's Celtic Church. The fruits of this work are now to be published in Yuri's first book entitled 'Gwyn: On The Nature and Role of the Celtic Hunter God Gwyn Ap Nudd in Glastonbury's Mystical Landscape'.

Before King Arthur took up his role as guardian protector of the mythical Isle of Avalon, there was another guardian of Glastonbury's sacred isle. His name was Gwyn ap Nudd (pronounced Gwin-ap-neath). He is remembered in folklore as a Lord of the Underworld, whose abode was reached via a door on Glastonbury Tor. He was leader also of the Wild Hunt, ferrying the souls of the dead to Annwn, the never-world or otherworld. He was thus a British hunter god par excellence, but very gradually his role in the sacred myth cycle was diminished until finally he became King of the Fairies, said to have been banished from Glastonbury Tor by St Collen.


Yet a powerful clue to Gwyn's true role comes from the Welsh Triads, where he is cited as one of the three 'renowned astronomers' in the Isle of Prydein, i.e. Britain. This knowledge becomes the key to understanding Gwyn's true guardianship of Glastonbury Tor, as well as his connection with artist and illustrator Katherine Maltwood's concept of a terrestrial zodiac within the Glastonbury landscape.

 

Yuri lives and works in Glastonbury, and was the artist involved in the recent interior decoration of the George and Pilgrims Inn in the High Street. His artwork here includes a number of beautiful paintings and murals, many in a Pre-Raphaelite style.

For online information on the work and writings of Yuri Leitch, visit his website by clicking here www.yurileitch.co.uk

To order a special limited edition hardback edition of Yuri's new book 'Gwyn: On The Nature and Role of the Celtic Hunter God Gwyn ap Nudd in Glastonbury's Mystical Landscape'. click here.


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