Place of Origin: Brittany, France
Origin Date: Ancient Breton folklore (exact origin date unknown, but prominent in medieval and modern Breton traditions)
Domain: Death and the Afterlife
Symbols:
Scythe
Black Coach
Black Horses
Attributes:
Collection of Souls
Guide to the Afterlife
Ominous Presence
Epithets:
Oberour ar maro (Death's Henchman)
Karrigell an Ankou (The Wheelbarrow of Ankou)
Labous an Ankou (The Death Bird)
Equivalents:
Grim Reaper (Western folklore)
La Parca (Latin)
Yr Angau (Welsh)
Religion: Celtic Mythology
Sacred Texts:
The Legend of Death: The Ankou by Anatole Le Braz (Year of Publication: 1893)
Breton Folklore and Legends (Various authors and years)
Iconography: Ankou is typically depicted as a skeletal figure, often with a scythe, wearing a black robe and a large hat that conceals his face. He may also be shown riding a cart or a coach pulled by black horses.
Religion: Celtic Mythology
Description:
Ankou is a spectral figure often depicted as a skeletal man wearing a black robe and a large hat that conceals his face. He wields a scythe and is said to sit atop a cart for collecting the dead or drive a large, black coach pulled by four black horses, accompanied by two ghostly figures on foot. According to legend, Ankou is the first person to die in a parish within a year and is tasked with collecting the souls of the deceased until the next Ankou is chosen1. Ankou is a symbol of death and mortality, often associated with ominous omens and the inevitability of death.
Narratives:
The Legend of Death: The Ankou
This story, mentioned by Anatole Le Braz in "The Legend of Death," describes Ankou as Death's henchman and the protector of graveyards. Ankou is depicted as a spectral figure who collects the souls of the deceased.
The First Death
According to one legend, Ankou was the first child of Adam and Eve. This story emphasizes Ankou's role as the eternal collector of souls.
The Cruel Prince
Another version of the legend depicts Ankou as a cruel prince who met Death during a hunting trip. Ankou challenged Death to see who could kill a black stag first1. Death won the contest, and the prince was cursed to roam the Earth as a ghoul for eternity.
The Chosen One
In Breton folklore, Ankou is often depicted as the last person to die in a parish within a year. This person is then tasked with collecting the souls of the newly deceased until the next Ankou is chosen.
The Wandering Spirit
Ankou may appear as a wandering spirit, a skeleton carrying a scythe or a spear, or a tall figure wearing a long, dark cloak and a wide hat. This appearance evokes fear and serves as a reminder of mortality.
The Grim Carriage
Ankou is said to travel in a mystical carriage or cart, often depicted as a dark, shadowy vehicle filled with corpses. The cart is pulled by spectral horses or accompanied by eerie sounds like rattling chains.
The Tale of the Three Friends
Summary: A story recounts three young drunken friends who met an elderly man dressed in black on an old cart one night. Two of the friends taunted the man and broke the axle of his cart, while the third helped him mend it3. The next morning, the two who taunted the man were found dead, while the third was spared but his hair turned white
Worship Beliefs and Practices:
Ankou is not worshipped in a traditional sense but is respected and feared as a symbol of death. Rituals and festivals related to death and the afterlife often acknowledge Ankou's role in guiding souls to the afterlife.
Core Beliefs:
Attributes: Ankou is often depicted as a skeletal figure wearing a black robe and a large hat that conceals his face. He wields a scythe and is associated with collecting the souls of the deceased.
Significance: Ankou is the personification of death and the afterlife in Breton mythology. He is seen as a guide for souls, ensuring they reach their destined place in the afterlife.
Role: Ankou serves as Death's henchman, collecting the souls of the deceased. He is also considered a guardian of graveyards and a protector of the dead.
Practices of Worship:
Respect and Fear: Ankou is not worshipped in a traditional sense, but he is respected and feared as a symbol of death. People acknowledge his presence and role in guiding souls to the afterlife.
Rituals and Ceremonies:
Funeral Rites: During funeral ceremonies, people often invoke Ankou's presence to guide the deceased's soul safely to the afterlife. This may include prayers and offerings to appease Ankou.
Graveyard Guardianship: In some traditions, rituals are performed to honor Ankou as the guardian of graveyards. This can include lighting candles, leaving flowers, and reciting prayers for the deceased.
Offerings:
Food and Drink: Offerings such as bread, wine, and other food items are sometimes left at gravesites to honor Ankou and the spirits of the deceased.
Personal Belongings: Items belonging to the deceased, such as clothing or tools, may be left at the gravesite as offerings to Ankou.
Festivals and Traditions:
All Souls' Day (La Toussaint): A Christian holiday observed on November 1st, which has incorporated some elements of pagan traditions. On this day, people visit gravesites, light candles, and leave offerings to honor the dead and acknowledge Ankou's role in guiding souls.
Halloween (Samhain): While not specifically related to Ankou, the Celtic festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31st, honors the dead and the spirits that roam the Earth. It is a time to remember and pay respects to ancestors, and Ankou's presence is often acknowledged during this time.
Prayers:
Funeral Prayers: Specific prayers are recited during funeral ceremonies to invoke Ankou's guidance for the deceased's soul. These prayers ask for safe passage to the afterlife and protection from evil spirits.
Graveyard Prayers: Prayers are also recited at graveyards to honor Ankou and seek his protection over the resting places of the deceased.