Tradition: Welsh Mythology
Alternative Names: Dames of the Lower Region, Dames of Elfin Land, Wives of the Lower World, Gwraig Annwn
Category: Fairy
The Myth
The Gwragedd Annwn are beautiful female fairies who live beneath lakes and rivers in Wales. They belong to the Tylwyth Teg, the Welsh fairy folk, and are most strongly associated with isolated and mountainous lakes such as Llyn Barfog, the “Bearded Lake,” and Crumlyn Lake. They wear green and normally remain in the lower world, but they are sometimes said to cross into the human world. Unlike mermaids and other aquatic beings, they have no fish-like or other animal features and are entirely human in appearance. They are particularly associated with lakes and rivers rather than the open sea.
One tradition explains that the Gwragedd Annwn were created when St. Patrick travelled from Ireland to Wales to meet St. David. Welsh people who saw the two saints meeting began insulting Patrick because he had left Cambria. Understanding their insults, Patrick punished them by transforming the offending people into fish. The women among them were transformed instead into lake fairies, becoming the Gwragedd Annwn. They were subsequently said to live beneath the waters, sometimes emerging into the upper world, where they could be seen by ordinary people.
The Gwragedd Annwn were also believed to keep herds of extraordinary white cattle known as Gwartheg y Llyn, the kine of the lake. One farmer managed to capture one of these cows, which produced exceptionally good milk, butter, and cheese and made him wealthy. Some traditions say its milk could heal injuries, increase intelligence, and make people cheerful. The farmer eventually bred more cattle from it and decided to slaughter the original cow. When the butcher struck its head, however, the blow passed through it without causing harm. A woman dressed in green then appeared and called the cow and almost all of its descendants back to the lake. Only one animal remained behind, and it had become completely black. This was said to be the origin of the Welsh black cattle.
Sources
“Gwragedd Annwn.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 5, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwragedd_Annwn