As you may know, behind Aeternum is a small business based in Brittany (in southern Finistère, to be precise). And it is well known that this region lives to the rhythm of legends, myths, and magical practices, more or less well known (Brocéliande, Merlin, the Fairy Viviane, the Alignments, and many others). So, to highlight our beautiful region, we will regularly publish little-known legends from Breton history.
This week, we are heading to the Monts d'Arrée, which are said to conceal a gateway to Hell...
One of the sites most closely associated with this legend is Yeun Elez, a vast peat bog said to have been regarded as a cursed and mysterious place. It is said that Yeun Elez is a kind of passage between the world of the living and that of the dead. It is said to be possible to see the souls of the damned wandering there at dusk, along with sorcerers or priests who have lost their faith and are condemned to remain there eternally.
According to some, you might even see boiling water there, proof that Hell lies just beneath it.
The legend is also linked to the figure of the Ankou, an emblematic figure of Breton folklore who is often portrayed as the servant of death. The Ankou is said to be responsible for collecting the souls of the dead and leading them into the afterlife, and it is said that he roams around the Gateway to Hell to carry out this task. It is therefore rather inadvisable to wander there after nightfall...
See you next week for another legend!
Par Olivier of Aeternum
Passionate about esoteric traditions and the history of the occult from the earliest civilizations to the 18th century, I share some articles on these topics. I am also co-creator of the online esoteric shop Aeternum.
