Merlin Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Merlin Wiki

A beast born of clay and conjured only by the most powerful sorcerer.
Gaius to Merlin about the Afanc[src]

An Afanc is a creature of magic forged using the elements of earth and water. It can only be killed by the opposing elements of wind and fire.

Afancs are also known to be venomous. When Nimueh transported one into Camelot's well, its presence poisoned the city's water supply, causing many of its residents to sicken and die.

Biography[]

The High Priestess Nimueh conjured an Afanc and transported it to Camelot's water supply. Soon afterwards, a plague swept through the city that killed dozens of people, turning their skin pale, their eyes milky, and their veins blue.

After determining that water was the source of the disease, Merlin and Gaius collected a sample from Camelot's well and discovered the Afanc. Merlin later returned with Arthur and Morgana and destroyed the creature by combining an air current with the fire from Arthur's torch, ridding Camelot of the plague (The Mark of Nimueh).

Creation[]

To conjure the Afanc, Nimueh shaped a piece of clay into the figure of a small animal while chanting a spell. She then placed the figure inside an egg-shaped container and dropped it into a fount that led to Camelot's water supply (The Mark of Nimueh).

Spells[]

  • Used by Nimueh to transport the Afanc (The Mark of Nimueh):
    • "Diegol cnytte, gewitte me yst, aliese hine, to Camelot he cymþ."

Mythology[]

Afanc from myth

The Afanc in Welsh mythology.

The Afanc (also spelled Addanc or Avanc) is a lake monster in Welsh folklore. Its exact descriptions varies; it has been said to resemble a crocodile, beaver, platypus, and a large frog with clawed limbs, and is sometimes said to be a demon.

It is sometimes said to have magical powers, the most common of which is the ability to create devastating floods. It is also said to have the ability to speak Welsh.

The Afanc was said to prey upon anyone foolish enough to swim or fall into its lake. One story describes how it was rendered helpless by a maiden who let it sleep in her lap. While it slept, her fellow villagers bound the Afanc in chains and took it to another lake.

In Arthurian legend, it is sometimes said that the Afanc was killed by either King Arthur or Percival.

Trivia[]

Galleries[]

Episode[]

Behind the Scenes[]

See Also[]

Series 1 Enemies
The Dragon's Call: Mary Collins † • Lady Helen (indirect) †
Valiant: Valiant † • DevlinSerpent Shield
The Mark of Nimueh: Nimueh † • Afanc
The Poisoned Chalice: Nimueh † • Balorian SpidersCockatrice
Lancelot: Griffin
A Remedy to Cure All Ills: Edwin Muirden † • Elanthia Beetles
The Gates of Avalon: Sophia † • Aulfric † • Sidhe elder
The Beginning of the End: Uther Pendragon
Excalibur: Nimueh † • Tristan de Bois
The Moment of Truth: Kanen
The Labyrinth of Gedref: Arthur Pendragon (indirect) †
To Kill the King: TaurenMorgana † • Uther Pendragon
Le Morte d'Arthur: Nimueh † • Questing BeastKilgharrah
Advertisement