Gelert

Green Gelert May 2006

The Gelert is a dog-like creature that was added to Neopets on January 25, 2000 as the Polypup.

On July 19th, 2000 the Polypup's name changed to Gelert and its look was updated, but that would not be the last time the Gelert changed its look.

On November 2nd, 2001 TNT added the Pick-The-Gelert Competition which featured 5 new designs for members to pick from. Both Gelerts #5 and #2 officially won (although the joke design, #3, actually had the most votes) so the two designs were combined and the final version (released on 29th November 2001) has not changed since.

About the Gelert

The Gelert is a distant cousin to the Lupe and are the embodiment of all that is fun and goofy.

They are joyous creatures, with a love of anyone and everything. If you are suffering from a long day at work, there is nothing better than coming home to a Gelert, who will do anything possible to make your day a happier day.

Legend and myth have been written about the brave deeds of Gelerts and such stories have made Gelerts a household name. If anything, their love of children make them excellent baby sitters. However, don't let their fun-loving nature fool you; like their Lupe cousins they're fiercely protective of their friends and family.

The Grave of the Greyhound

The Gelert is said to be based on the dog in the poem 'The Grave of the Greyhound' or 'Beth Gelert', where a greyhound, called Gelert, was slain by his master when he discovered the dog, covered in blood, at his infant's cradle. It later turned out that the blood was not of the master's son but that of a wolf who had tried to kill the boy, and that Gelert had really been protecting his master's heir.

A retelling of the story can be found here - many variations of it exist around the world. There is a page on the Neopets site itself dedicated to the story.

Trivia

• As of January 2007, 7.6 million Gelerts have been created, placing them 6th in popularity out of 54 Neopets. They are also featured in 115 different items and come in different colours...

Baby Blue Brown Checkered Christmas Cloud Darigan Electric Faerie Fire

Ghost Glowing Gold Green Grey Halloween Island Maraquan Mutant Orange

Pink Plushie Purple Rainbow Red Robot Royal Shadow Silver Sketch

Skunk Speckled Spotted Starry Strawberry Striped White Yellow

• In the Neopets TCG, Gelerts are affiliated with the element of fire.

See also

• Famous Gelerts: Bruno, Celandra, Elwyn, Kanrik, Prince Tourin, Tandrak Shaye, The Gelert Assassin, The Three, Vitri Sitol, Seradar
• Games: Caption Competition, NeoQuest I, NeoQuest II

External links

• Neopets Description: What is a Gelert?
• Pronunication: Gelert - gell-ert, Gelerts - gell-erts
• Neopedia: The Gelert Diaries
• NeoDeck: Rayn Trueshot, Gelert Pack
• Neopets TCG: Gelert Prince, Gelert Beast Hunter, Blue Gelert, Yellow Gelert, Gelert Wizard, Green Gelert, Gelert Mountain Climber, Red Gelert, Gelert Plushie, Green Gelert (2nd Print), Gelert Beast Hunter (2nd Print)
• Caption Competition: #4, #5, #31, #38, #70, #151, #161, #242, #244, #264
• Help File: Are special battle items such as the gelert helm only usable by that species?
• Editorial: 5, 14, 16, 17, 24, 26, 28, 30, 40, 42, 43, 45, 59, 64, 73, 81, 82, 83, 86, 89, 94, 104, 108, 118, 126, 131, 153, 164, 176, 179, 189, 198, 223, 224, 226, 232, 261, 262, 265
• NeoGreeting: Under The Weather, Gelert Happy Halloween, Im MAD About You, Have an Eggciting Easter, Uni Miss You, Happy Chinese New Year!