Download - Who is this guy Arthur, anyway?
Who is this guy Arthur, anyway?
Facts• No hard evidence of a historical Arthur• Solely recorded in chronicles
– Geoffrey of Monmouth– Nennius– Gallet (Breton)– Bonedd yr Arwr (Welsh)
• Nearly all chroniclers claim Arthur as their own
Myth vs. Fact
• What’s the difference?– Myth has no proof
• relies on faith much of the time– Fact has at least partial proof
• Often myths are based on fact– Event or person is real– Becomes larger than life through retelling
Myth vs. Fact
• Myths based on fact– Jesus Christ
• depending on your POV– Daniel Boone– Davy Crockett
• Myths not based on fact– Paul Bunyan– Urban legends
• Poodle in the microwave, etc.
So Which Is Arthur?
• Grey area• Some evidence of a historical figure
– Battle of Badon Hill• defeated Germanic tribes
– Battle of Camlann• death of Arthur
– British ruler fighting in Gaul– British high or battle king
Geographical Evidence
• Stonehenge• Tintagel• Arthur’s Seat• Cadbury Castle• Merlin’s Cave• Carleton• Glastonbury Abbey and Tor
Bamburgh Castle
Arthur’s Seat
CarletonGlastonbury Abbey
Tintagel Castle
Tintagel
• Supposed place of Arthur’s birth– Geoffrey of
Monmouth– Local legend
Tintagel
Tintagel
Glastonbury
• Supposedly founded by Joseph of Arimathea
• Housed Holy Grail• Site of Avalon• Arthur’s burial place
Glastonbury
Glastonbury
http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/see/360/glastonbury/index.shtml
Carleton
• Arthur’s chief city– According to Geoffrey
• Central circle called “Round Table”• Current site
– Roman amphitheatre– Roman buildings
• bath houses• barracks
Cadbury Castle
• Associated with Camelot– John Leland, 16th century
• Iron-age fort• Refortified near end of
Roman Occupation
When Did Arthur Exist (If Ever)?
• Period between– 420 CE (Rome leaves)– 540 CE (Gildas)
• Celts– Had a “high king”
• may have been war king– Administered defense of Britain
When Did Arthur Exist (If Ever)?
• Superlative victory at Mt. Badon– Under Celtic High King– Stemmed (temporarily) Anglo-Saxon advance– Chroniclers associate with Arthur– May have instituted brief period of peace
• Camelot era?• Time of leisure and development?
Arthur’s Actions
• Continent– British war leader definitely went to Gaul
(modern France)– Fought Germans and/or Roman legions– Returned to Britain because of civil war
• regent claimed high kingship for his own
Arthur’s Actions
• Corresponds to:– Arthur’s campaign against Lancelot
• In “Lower Britain”– Probably Brittany
– Mordred’s betrayal• Imprisoning Guinevere• Seizing kingdom
– Arthur’s death