European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse More mystery than fact surrounds this legendary figure by Jayne traendly of you Are intent on pinpointing the real King Arthur in England you May be disappointed. Not that this legendary hero King is by any Means dead his spirit lives on from the pre roman Sites of Iron age forts in Shropshire Cadbury to the bookshelves in modern new age shops in Glastonbury. But the adventure in an arthurian quest like that for the holy grail comes More from experiencing an imaginative journey rather than attaining a specific goal. And in this Case the search leads through the Scenic English Welsh countrysides which both Lay claim to the sleeping King. Actually historians Are still unsure As to whether King Arthur existed. Some think the historic original was probably a late sixth Century military Warrior who led the British in a series of victorious campaigns against the invading saxons. Unfortunately the two centuries Between the end of roman Rule in Britain in . 41 p the settlement of the saxons Are a shadowy the Story becomes a Jigsaw Puzzle in which historians try to put arthurian pieces into what Little is known about places events during these dark Ages. And since the evidence for Arthur is based Only on place names literary sources historians find it difficult to prove or for that matter disprove any theories. The earliest stories that mention Arthur Are Welsh most of which Are marvelous collections of myth magical adventures. The closest to a historical source is a line in the Codi Din an elegy written around 600, which praises a fallen Warrior but notes he was no More reliable Are two historical accounts that coincide with data already attained from other sources. One is the ninth Century Historia Brittnum written by the Welsh priest Tennius who names Arthur As a great Warrior King. He lists 12 Battles that Arthur won against the saxons the last one a major Victory at Badon a fact also recorded by an earlier Monk Gildas who however makes no mention of Arthur. The later 10th-Century Annales cambrian also refers to Badon adds the Battle of Calann in which both Arthur me Draut mordred fell. Unfortunately even these sources Don t provide absolute proof discrepancies arise in terms of dates locations. But the concept of a hero King did t need exactness for most people at that time. In fact its very obscurity allowed imaginative minds to fill in the gaps with a wealth of folklore literature other artworks creatine the Arthur history we know today. From peasant to Nobleman from Wales to the continent the contributors to this history Are of the earlier English writers was Geoffrey of Monmouth who in 1136 completed the Historia Begum Brittanie gave Arthur an official biography. It was this work which set the framework for future arthurian romances As Well As adding the figure of Merlin. Years later the Norman poet Wace mentions the round table the Breton belief of Arthur s survival in Avalon. The legends of tristan Lancelot the holy grail became known through the French romances of the Middle Ages the most notable of whom was Chretien de troyes the first to give Arthur s court the name Camelot. Later arthurian works built on these stories including sir Thomas Malory s 15th-Century Morte Dar Hurand Cornwall English channels a Tennyson s the idylls of the King which retold Malory s Story in the moral framework of 19th-Century victorian England. On the continent in Germany Richard a Painter s version of the legendary King Arthur. Some people dedicate their lives searching throughout England Wales for clues to the sleeping King. Wagner derived his music dramas tristan Isolde parsifal from earlier renditions of the arthurian tale. Even today the Story is still being retold in books such . White s the once future King Marion Zimmer Brackley s the mists of Valori set to music in the stage production came or flashed on the screen in movies including Excalibur the sword in the Stone next year s release of first Knight with Sean Connery Richard Gere. Inspired by a probable dark Ages Warrior this weaving together of legend reality spiced by present Day local versions is what makes up today s arthurian Trail. It also explains Why you can ind so Many Sites that claim to be the authentic locations of Camelot or Avalon or Arthur s burial site. But instead of focusing too much on the facts look at such a trip As an Opportunity both to use your imagination to explore the surrounding environs that shaped the legend Jarw Trodty is in Lanc writer living in we in Germany. Nove Berlo 1994 stripes Magazine
