aula3_arthurs_legends

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What are the cultural roots of Arthur´s legends? 
 
Many characters and elements surround the stories of King Arthur have their 
roots in legends, beliefs and habits of the peoples who invaded Britain. Let´s 
tale a look at some of them. 
1- Arthur- ‘Arthur’ is the welsh form of the roman name Arthorius and that 
suggests that he has appeared when Britain was under the influence of the 
Roman Empire. Another story links the origin of the name ‘Arthur” from the 
legend, to a chivalry officer from the century II called Lucius Artorius Castus, 
who was a leader for the Bretons against the invaders in a number of 
battles. 
 
 
Fonte: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knights_of_the_Round_Table._Graal_(15th_century).jpg 
 
 
 
 
2- Avalon- In the year 1998, archeologists found in Cadbury Hill British military 
chiefs buried in coffins in the shape of boats. The ancient people believed 
that the soul traveled from one world to another which was found I lakes and 
seas. The coffins were pointing the hill of Glastonbury Tor, a religious place. 
During the flooding times, Glastonbury was isolated as an island. People 
wonder if that ritual is behind the legend that Arthur was taken to the magic 
island of Avalon to heal his wounds. 
 
3- Camelot- In 1542, John Leland found out hints of an ancient building from 
the century VI in Cadbury Hill, close to the river Cam. This river passed 
through the villages of West Camel and Queen Camel. Leland believes that 
this ancient building has given origin to the legendary headquarter of 
Arthur´s government. 
 
 
Fonte: http://claricemoran.wikispaces.com/file/view/CAMELOT.jpg/103298877/CAMELOT.jpg 
 
 
 
4- Excalibur- It was common during the Middle Ages to give names to swords. 
According to recent researches, the famous scene of the sword withdrawn 
from the rock comes from the fact that the Bretons forged their swords in 
rock moulds. It is important to make clear that the sword withdrawn from 
the rock was not Excalibur. King Arthur´s famous sword , called in the first 
reports ‘Caladfwich’ ( it comes from the welsh word caladbolg- duro corte) 
and after, in century XII of Caliburn, was given by him to the Dame of the 
Lake and it was forged by fairies. The fact that the sword came from water 
and returned to it after Arthur’s death comes from the habit of the first 
Celtic communities to throw in the water swords, shields and objects from 
the dead warriors. As time went by the two swords became into a single 
one. 
 
 
Fonte: http://www.swordsclub.com/images/Excalibur%20Sword%20-%20Silver.jpg 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5- The Graal- The origin of the Holy Grail comes probably from the word 
gradalis which means grail or dish. Indeed, a theme always mentioned in the 
Celtic legends is the search for a magical pot. From the century XVIII on it 
started to be associated with the Arthurian cycle, but only as a supernatural 
symbol without Christian connections. Around the century XV, it turned into 
the Holy Grail, the grail employed by Jesus. 
 
 
 
Fonte: http://www.infoescola.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/santo-graal.gif 
 
 
 
6- Lancelot of the Lake- The most famous knight from the Round Table has his 
origin in the welsh warrior Lluch Llauynnauc and in the Irish divinity Lugh 
Lamhfada. Another version is that the death of his father, King Ben, he was 
taken by the Dame of the Lake to be raised by her in a palace under water. 
7- Merlin-Merlin is the mixing of a welsh legend about a British noble in the 
ending of century VI. He was famous for becoming crazy in a battle and for 
raiding for the south of Scotland telling prophecies under the name of 
Myrddin, as the character Ambrosius Merlinus by Geoffrey de Monmouth. 
8- The Round Table- A famous round table created by Merlin with the purpose 
of getting together 150 knights to celebrate king Arthur´s deeds. The shape 
of the table has its origins in the Celtic belief that the circle is a symbol of 
coherence and totality.