GRAIL MYTH

  The dark day cometh when brother turns against brother. Following the bloodshed of Guenevere's rescue, Lancelot and his companions released the queen to Arthur and made their way to France. There Lancelot began to claim some of Arthur's lands for himself. In order to arraign the rebellious Lancelot, arthur ahd to leave Britain and journey to Gaul. The king appointed Mordred to rule in his absence. By all rights Mordred was entitled to the position, but Arthur would have cause to regret his choice. Mordred was of ambitious character, and once the king was safely overseas he began to spread false news of Arthur's death. Not knowing what was to come, Guenevere barricaded herself in the Tower of London, while Mordred fuelled the unrest. Word reached Arthur, who immediately returned to Britain. By this time, Mordred had taken advantage of the recent controversy surrounding the Fellowhip and had succeeded in winning some support. He hZd also managed to strike a ...

  Salisbury Plain in the south of England is home to many prehistoric monuments: long barrows, round barrows, Woodhenge, Durrington Walls, and its most famous Stonehenge. Excavation occurred in stages that spanned centuries, from Approximately 1100 to 2800 BCE (New studies have realigned this date). The earliest structures completed were teh ditch, its bank, and the Heel Stone. The Neolithic people of the time were farrmers with small numbers of domesticated animals. Small groups of immigrants, called Beaker People because of their pottery arrived in eastern and southern Britain sometime after 2500 BCE. They settled and merged with the natives, the two groups becoming a successful community whose efforts likely added to the grandeur of Stonehenge. Construction and remodelling would continue until 1100 BCE. with the extension of the Avenue. Over the centuriesits origins long forgotten, the awesome monument would inspire many tales. As with other stone circles, some of these stor...

  In the turbulent times preceding Arthur's reign, the land was ruled (according to Geoffrey of Monmouth) Arthur's grandfather, Constantine. On his assassination (he was poisoned by a Pct) the wily Vorgigern saw an opportunity to seize the throne.  Constantine had three sones, the oldest of whom was a monk named Constans. Vortigern encouraged Constans to leave his monastery adn take up the crown. Constans followed the advice of Vortigern, but not much time passed before he too was assassinated. vortigern then made his move and took the throne.  Under such dangerous conditions, the guardians of Constantine's two younger sons had the children taken out of the country to Brittany, safe from teh ambitions of Vortigern. Residing here was the future hope of Britain--two boys, Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther, later to be the fathe ro fArthur. In the days ahead, the people of Britain would draw strength from whispering their names and rumous of their ultimate return.  Whi...

  Eager to fight the most famous of Arthur's knights, Ironside the Red Knight of the Red Launde embattled himself in Castle Perilous, where he held the lovely Lady Lyones hostage. Confident that her plight would draw out the knights, Ironside patiently awaited their rescue attempts. In the two years that passed, many a brave knight tried and failed to free teh Lady Lyones. But still the famous opponents Ironside longed to face--Lancelot, Gawain, and Tristram had not come. Linet, sister toLyones, travelled Arthur's court and requested that the king send a Knight of the Round Table to save her sister. Arthur assigned Gareth to the task. Linet (like most of the court) was unaware of Gareth's true identity and knew him only as Beaumains, a lowly kitchen knave. Linet was furious and left the court immediately Gareth raced after her, deterrmined to prove himself both to her and the rest of the court. Despite her constant insults, Gareth remained courteous. While passing...

  By the time of Arthur, the Imperial system in Britain had collapsed. In its place stood a threadbare administrative system. Facing the threat of three invading nations, Britain appealed to Rome for help, only to be told she must fend for herself. The Picts and the irish Scotti tribes raided the northern borders and western shores, while the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons invaded the eastern and southern shores. Of all these, the saxon advance was the greatest threat. It was said that their cruel ways terrorized the people of the land. Such a desperate historical context calls for and gives rise to many heroic deeds, both real and fictitious, and the battle of Mount Badon would secure Arthur's place as a legendary, titanic leader. Although the exact date is unknown, we do know that this battle would have occurred around the eyar A.D. 500. Archaeological evidence suggests that at this approximate time the Saxon advance was halted. It is said that a measure of Arthur's success wa...