Village of Tintagel 

For hundreds of years the area has been famous for its King Arthur legend, including the historic castle on the cliffs. For more than 800 years a magical tale has been told that Tintagel was the birthplace of the noble King Arthur.

He was protected from evil by Merlin the magician who lived below the castle in a cave.

As many mysteries remain about Tintagel as facts are known. Today the two are inextricably entwined and the village remains one of the most awe inspiring and romantic spots in the UK.

The castle is found in the spectacular setting of the dramatic north Cornwall coast. Atlantic breakers crash against the cliffs, and through Merlin's cave, as visitors climb the steep but breathtaking path to Tintagel Island.

The ruins of the 13th Century stronghold of the Earls of Cornwall continue to be explored by people from all over the world.

On the mainland itself, the gaunt remains of the medieval castle represent only one phase in a long history of occupation.

Fact

 In June 1998, excavations were undertaken under the direction of Professor Chris Morris of the University of Glasgow, on a relatively sheltered and small site on the eastern side of the island, first excavated in the 1930s. 
Pottery from the 5th and 6th centuries was found, as well as some fine glass fragments believed to be from 6th- or 7th-century Málaga. 

Even more remarkable was a 1,500-year-old piece of slate on which remain two Latin inscriptions. The second inscription reads: ‘Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had [this] made.’ Who exactly Artognou was continues to be a subject for lively speculation.

Images;

http://www.greydragon.org/trips/Devon&Cornwall/th_tintagel026.jpg

(Looking out beyond the sheltered cove.)

http://www.greydragon.org/trips/Devon&Cornwall/th_tintagel027.jpg

(Tintagel is above and behind onthe left.  This railing overlooks to cove on the north side of the island. )

http://www.greydragon.org/trips/Devon&Cornwall/th_tintagel028.jpg

(the part of the castle that is on the mainland. )

Sabri P.

The History of Morgana

Morgan le Fay , alternatively  known as Morgan le Fay , Morgane , Morgaine and other names, is a powerful sorceress in the Arthurian legend . The first works that have not made ​​her character Morgana beyond its role as a fairy or magician. It became much more prominent in the later cyclical prose works such as the Lancelot Grail and the Post- Vulgate Cycle , which becomes an antagonist of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere

It is said that Morgan is the daughter of Arthur 's mother , Lady Igraine , and her first husband , Gorlois , Duke of Cornwall , so that Arthur (son of Igraine and Uther Pendragon ) is his half brother. It has at least two older sisters, Elaine and Morgause , the latter is the mother of Gawain , Sir Gaheris , Gareth , Agravain , with King Lot and usually the traitor Mordred , with Arturo . In Arthur 's death Sir Thomas Malory and elsewhere, is married , unhappily , to King Uriens of Gore and Ywain is her son .

In more modern interpretations of the Arthurian mythology , Arthur and Morgana seduces him conceive the evil Mordred , although originally in La Mort d' Arthur this role is assigned to Morgause or Anna , one of his sisters . One of the first works in fairy speak as the mother of Mordred Morgana is the opera Merlin by Isaac Albéniz , though here no mention of any type of incest. Probably , this facet of Morgana and Arthur's mother 's murderer was popularized by Marion Zimmer Bradley 's novel The Mists of Avalon and John Boorman in Excalibur film . In " The Mists of Avalon" , or Gwydion Mordred , Morgana is engendered by Arturo under the guise of Horned God , for Celtic Beltane rites in Avalon , the child grows up with Morgause and Lot in Orkney and this modern author manages to combine the two traditions . Recall that states that Geoffrey of Monmouth Mordred , like Gawain , the son of Lot and Anna , sister of Arthur. Arthur was married to Morgana King Uriens and this gave him a son , Sir Owein . But Morgana and her husband never got along , and once tried to kill him

In some legends , Morgana tries to conspire against stealing Excalibur Arthur and handed it to his beloved Sir Accolon to murder him . Arturo Accolon kills in a duel and retires to rest to a nearby convent . Morgana , enraged , steals the scabbard of Excalibur ( Arthur makes invincible ) and throws it into the sea. Then he sends a layer , apparently to reconcile but the king refuses. On the advice of Nimue , the Lady of the Lake and Merlin's successor , Arthur puts the maid of her sister. The layer sticks to your body and begins to burn as if by magic . The king saves his life and Morgana escapes away from Camelot.

Franco Tagliani

       T3

Dozmary Pool

Dozmary Pool in Cornwall is one of the legendary resting places of king Arthur’s sword Excalibur.
It is into these soulful waters high on Bodmin Moor that the most trusted knight Sir Bedivere is believed by many to have cast the sword of his master and king.
All of the king’s Knights of the Round Table die with him at the battle, save his long time friend and trusted companion, Sir Bedivere. Arthur, on his death bed, begs Sir Bedivere to take up his sword Excalibur and cast it into the Lake. In a state of fevered mind, Sir Bedivere takes the sword grudgingly from his master’s hand to the Lake.
Sir Bedivere throws the sword into the still waters of the lake, but before the sword touches the water, a mysterious hand and arm reach out to seize it in its flight. The knight watches as the arm slowly submerges into the rippling waters, and the king’s sword vanishes into the world of myth and mystery.
While still a youth, Arthur had received Excalibur from the water of a Lake, borne from the hand of a  Lasy of a lake. And now, as the king lies dying, the sword returns to its place of birth, to its watery womb-like scabbard, and so the circle from life to death is complete.
Arthur is free of the cares of this weary world, and it is now his time to rest.

If his last battle had been fought at nearby Slaughter Bridge, two miles north of Camelford; then perhaps we can suppose that the wounded king was carried by barge across the waters to the Isle of Avalon, perhaps this was to Glastonbury or to the Isles of Scilly.

This fascinating story has many Christian and pagan elements intertwined.
The Christian significance attached to water as a medium through which we are born again in baptism, through which we suffer judgment, enjoy forgiveness with the washing away of sin, and then we are born to eternal life.
Even from pre-Roman times there is wide-spread archaeological evidence of swords being cast into lakes and rivers as sacred offerings, especially at the time of a notably man’s death. Priestesses or goddesses ruled over many watery places, where offerings were commonly made to them.
Dozmary Pool is well worth visiting. It is high on Bodmin Moor, about twelve miles north-east, just off the A30, south of Belventor (home of Jamaica Inn).
Several other locations also have claimants to being the legendry Lake.  Tennyson believed the real place was Loe Pool, south of Helston.
The monks of Glastonbury Abbey said that Pomparles Bridge, in Somerset, or the 'Pont Perilous' as they believed it was originally called.
Where is the true Lake of the legend today? Visit Dozmary Pool and see what you think

 

 

By: Sofía Bortolosso

The history of Lancelot

In most romances and written in French prose Lancelot is characterized as the largest and most reliable of all the knights of King Arthur, always play an important part in many of the victories of King , but also the final fall of Arthur partly Lancelot himself , whose involvement with the wife of his lord , the queen Guinevere , destroys the unity of the royal court .

At an age between fifteen and eighteen, according to the custom of his time , the young Lancelot comes to travel the world with the proper equipment for someone of his rank and without knowing the true royal line . Travel , according to some writings , accompanied by an escort , towards the kingdom of Arthur, where influences of the Lady of the Lake , expected to be knighted .

Among his many exploits , conquer evil forces a castle called Dolorosa Guard , that make it your home , will change its name to Joyous Guard On his return to Camelot Arturo help end riots against him and set his position as a loyal knight of the king's court . Save numerous ladies of infinite dangers and helps " Sir Tristan " to hide his beloved Grail quest Embark undertaking great deeds on behalf of their queen . Although there is also a dark side to Lancelot deeply dishonored him throughout England , in one of his adventures goes to the mansion of a nobleman whose daughter is called "the beautiful maiden of Astolat " . This woman , also known as Elaine , falls in love with him and get putting on a garment that will look at a tournament, drawing the ire of his queen Guinevere . Lancelot flees angry and looking for Guinevere, leaving just yells with Elaine and so that, a few months died , asking her father to embark on a black barge with a letter to Lancelot , for everyone know what is likely to cause the ladies to Lancelot not match them . This provokes the wrath of Guinevere and Arthur , and it is from this moment that triggers the fall of the kingdom of Logris .

When Arthur learns by Morgana of the relationship that existed between Lancelot and his wife , condemns it to the fire and forever banishes Lancelot . This , however returns to Camelot and rescues Guinevere from its destination , killing the desire to some of his old comrades of the round table , so that the king is brought against it . In his absence , his throne is usurped by his illegitimate son , Mordred , which in the subsequent fight with his father to death . Guinevere , knowing the death of her husband enters a convent , so Lancelot decides to become a hermit, situation goes to the end of his days , only six weeks after learning of the death of Guinevere in the convent .

By : Fanco Tagliani

       T3

Excalibur: The Famous Sword.

Excalibur is the name of King Arthur's sword. The sword's name comes from the latin "Ex Calce Liberatus" which means: "Free from the stone"
It's not a normal sword, the story says this sword, is magic. Here, some "powers" that this sword had:

• Wounds recieved by one wearing the scabbard did not bleed at all. 
• It cannot be used for an evil act or it will break
• If someone holds it, he can not lie. 
• It can heal wounds
• Inspires courage in all men around the wielder. 

[In the "King Arthur and his knights" version] It appears on a lake of clear water. The "Lady of the Lake" was holding the sword in the middle of the lake. Merlin told Arthur to ask kindly to the Lady if he could have it. She told him to take her boat to get it. And he got it.  

The disappearence of the sword happens when Arthur asked to Perceval to throw the sword on the same lake he got it. Perceval did not wanted to do it, but he did it anyway, When he throwed it, a hand appeared and took the sword, and the great Excalibur got sunk. 

By Melissa V. 

Teens 3

Medival Weapons

These are some of the weapons that were used: 

Swords:

A sword fundamentally consists of a blade and a hilt, typically with one or two edges for striking and cutting, and a point for thrusting. The basic intent and physics of swordsmanship have remained fairly constant through the centuries, but the actual techniques vary among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose. Unlike the bow or spear, the sword is a purely military weapon, and this has made it symbolic of warfare or naked state power in many cultures. The names given to many swords in mythology, literature, and history reflect the high prestige of the weapon.

Anelaces:

An anelace, also called an anlace, is a medieval long daggeror a very short type of sword. An anelace was sharp on both sides and could be carried at the small of the backor girdle. Two anelaces could be used in a paired fighting style similar to using a sword and parrying dagger.

Poignards

A poignard, or poniard, originally a French word, is a lightweight dagger employed in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was primarily used for stabbing in close quarters or in conjunction with a rapier.

Flails

The military flail or simply flail is a weapon commonly attributed to the Middle-Ages but for which only a limited amount of historical evidence currently exists for most of this era.

María Sol Del Rosso.

The Holy Grail

The Holy Grail is a cup that is part of an important theme of Arthurian Literature. A grail, wondrous but not explicitly "holy". It is a processional salver used to serve at a feast. Chrétien's story attracted many continuators, translators and interpreters in the later 12th and early 13th centuries, including Wolfram von Eschenbach, who makes the grail a great precious stone that fell from the sky. The Grail legend became interwoven with legends of the Holy Chalice. The connection with Joseph of Arimathea and with vessels associated with the Last Supper and crucifixion of Jesus, dates from Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Great Britain. Building upon this theme, later writers recounted how Joseph used the Grail to catch Christ's blood while interring him and how he founded a line of guardians to keep it safe in Britain. The legend may combine Christian lore with a Celtic myth of a cauldron endowed with special powers.

The Holy Grail.

And, what follows is a video called "In Pursuit Of The Holy Grail" By: The BBC.