#FolkloreThursday ~ The Cloak of Invisibility #Arthurian #myths #legends

I guess nowadays when we think of The Cloak of Invisibility we automatically think of Harry Potter. But did you know J.K. Rowling borrowed the idea from Folklore?

The Cloak of Invisibility is very common in German and Welsh mythology. I am going to stay with Wales for today's post because in the Welsh stories, the Cloak of Invisibility is owned by King Arthur.

Forget Excalibur, King Arthur's Mantle of Invisibility was one of his most prized possessions. There was no way Arthur was going to part with it. Harry Potter was of the same mind — he dropped the Resurrection Stone, broke the Elder Wand, but he kept the Invisibility Cloak!

The story of Arthur and his Mantle of Invisibility can be found in the Welsh story of Culhwch and Olwen c.1100. This cloak made the man wearing it invisible, although whoever was under the cloak could still see through the magic material. In this story, Arthur helps Culhwch complete his quest. Arthur gives Culhwch many things, but he will NOT part with his cloak!

Culhwch at Ysbadadden's court ~ Wikipedia

In The Dream of Rhonabwy (early 13th Century) the cloak is once again mentioned. This time the cloak goes by the name of Gwenn and it shrouds those who sit on it with invisibility!

The Cloak of Invisibility is one of the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Briton. This treasure is hidden somewhere on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, North Wales. But don't go getting your spades and metal detectors ready because Merlin is the guardian of the treasures and he takes that role very seriously!

Bardsey Island ~ Wikipedia

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