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Author
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Topic: Avalon & all that !
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Peter
Member
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posted 10-19-2002 01:40 PM
  
A recent book boought for me for a birthday pressie was;
The Keys To Avalon ... 2000, paperback about £13, Steve Blake & Scott Lloyd.
Not being an avid follower of Arthurian studies, I had seen this book reviewed, and noted the kicking of coventional ideas that had resulted from it, but carried it no further.
So it came as some surprise that after reading it, I found that I actual live in the old kingdom of Avalon !
It has been known for many years that just about all the old myths on Arthur are the result of romance from the middle ages. And that many of the castles he is supposed to be associated with, just did not exist when he was around.
I just wondered if anyone else had read this book, and their thoughts on it ? |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 10-19-2002 02:30 PM
The people who live in Glastonbury seem to feel that it is the isle of Avalon.
I was vaguely aware that a kingdom was attached to that isle but never new for sure how large of area it was supposed to encompass.
I'll look for the book as soon as i can, sounds good. |
Peter
Member
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posted 10-20-2002 07:20 AM
Where the misconception has been is the translation of the word 'Ynys', which can mean island or realm, or even kingdom. The rexamination of this word puts many 'maybe's' into a postive framework from which one can examine the landscape with greater understanding. |
Gordon
unregistered
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posted 10-21-2002 05:48 PM
There are many areas of the of kingdoms of the Britons which lay claim to having been home to various of the Arthurian sites, many of which argue from remaining british place names and alternate translation of simple words.
There is a similar book which argues solely the Scottish connection, 'The Quest for Arthur', by Stuart McHardy. He argues that the many of the original references to Arthurs homeland lie in the place the ancient Welsh called 'Y Gogledd', the area now known as Scotland. He then goes into the usual locally orientated diatribe on sites with supposed Arthurian connections. The main site I think Scotland has in it's favour is Dunbarton, an authenticated capital of the Britons Kingdom of Strathclyde.
Many of these books which argue mythological content, trying to sort out some fact from the fiction, most turn out to be plausible theoretics, which really amount to the authors opinion. Always in the topic of Arthur it is important to forget the medieval romanticism which distorted beyond recognition what truth remained, particularly with the inclusion of chivalric values and codes which never existed in dark age Britain.
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'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page
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Peter
Member
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posted 11-17-2002 11:11 AM
Now decided to search out some of the sites around Flintshire mentioned in the book, and see what there is.
I know the hill fort of Moel y Gaer (which we can almost see from the cottage), does have a little reported motte within it. So that is a good excuse to visit the site after 20+ years of saying I will.
Dinas Bran is always worth a visit, though a hell of a climb to get up there. Once again there is a little reported base of a large square tower just outside the town of Llangollen. It lies within the garden of house, so is difficult to find/see.
Perhaps a booklet one of these days on these 'very' minor sites of North-East Wales | |
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