Ancient Mythology Exam 3 King Arthur Arthurian Romances Gododdin late 6th century CE Scottish poem contains the earliest reference to the name Arthur he was described as well skilled in war Anglo Saxon invasion of Britain Roman occupation of Britain ends in 410 CE Arthur of legend probably lived in late 5th century CE Invasions of Angles Saxons and Jutes from northern Europe period of strife and instability in Britain fought between warriors not knights and they used spears not armor In Medieval period there was a fascination with Arthur this is when the stories first originate In medieval and renaissance literature there were references to King Arthur the kind of Camelot and the ruler of all of Britain and also of the Knights of the Round Table In Sir Thomas Malory s Book Death of Arthur the following major themes are included Knights of the Round Table Lancelot and Guinevere and the Quest for the Holy Grail it tells of the complete life of Arthur and also he makes Lancelot an important figure birth Arthur born as a result of Uther Pendragon king of all Britain s desire for Igraine wife of the Duke of Cornwall Merlin transforms Uther into likeliness of Duke of Cornwall so he may sleep with Igraine compensation for Merlin s help was that Uther must give Arthur to Merlin after birth Merlin transforms from a force of evil to a force of good and he is a prophet Arthur was raised in secret so when he grows up he must prove his legitimacy of being the England king by means of Sword in the Stone rise to kingship pulls sword from the stone suppression of rebellion kings Excalibur suppression of plot by Morgan le Fey and Accolon downfall and death 4 contributing factors ongoing feuds with houses of Lot and Pellinore Merlin is imprisoned by Vivien a lady of the lake Lancelot and Guinevere have a love affair Mordred s wrath who seeks revenge against her father Merlin prophet magician advisor warrior supporter and protector of Arthur and his kingdom antichrist created to undo all the good done by Christ Robert de Boron Merlin s mother baptizes him making him a force of good not evil from his father the devil he receive knowledge of all past things and from god he receives prophecy Excaliber when Arthur faces Pelenor the sword breaks and he is saved by Merlin they go to the lake seeking a magic sword the Lady of the Lake gives him Excalibur and scabbard which protects him from wounds and death Knights of the Round Table formed by Merlin made first for Arthur s father then Guinevere s father then Arthur who married Guinevere total there was 150 seats for knights 100 knights and the round table were from Guinevere s father King Laudergraunce Merlin had 28 vacant seats Arthur elected Gawain and Tor to a seat the remaining 20 seats including the Seige Perilous dangerseat which eventually went to Galahad were left for those who might prove worthy Plot of Morgan Le Fey and Accolon Morgan Le Fey is Arthur s half sister who plots against him but it is a failed plot where Accolon dies Morgan takes scabbard and throws it into the lake then tries to kill him in numerous ways Morgan Le Fey sorceress versed in the magical arts shape shifter travels long distances with great speed hovers in the air dwells on and underwater is immune to Page 1 fire controls animals and evil spirits is usually at odds with Arthur but at times helps him she is among those women who take Arthur to Avalon to be healed she is a complex figure very dark and power hungry Lancelot Arthur s favorite knight among the best of knights in skill bravery and strength but he is flawed because he fell in love with Guinevere Arthur s wife but had a duty to Arthur takes no other lover but is tricked into sleeping with Elaine of Corbenic and Galahd is born The House of Lot Orkney wife Morgause daughter of Igraine and the Duke of Cornwall so half sister to Arthur children Gawain Gaheris Agravaine Gareth Mordred son of Arthur and Morgause illegitimate son who has hatred for his father House of Pellinore Listenoise children Lamorak Perceval Source of conflict between houses during rebellion Pellinore kills Lot in a fair fight later Gawain kills Pellinore to avenge his father s death Lamorak out of respect for Arthur does not seek vengeance Gawain then kills Lamorak in an unfair fight Pvnell Lamorak s cousin tries to kill Gawain with a poison apple but kills Mador instead and Guinevere is blames and sentenced to death but Lancelot rescues her Lancelot and Guinevere two accusations and confrontations Meleagant confronted Lancelot in front of both the king and queen and the insult led to a single combat between the two but Lancelot overpowered meleagant and by law that proved his innocence Agravaine and Morded catch Lancelot and Guinevere in her bed chamber in the act and so Arthur sentences Guinevere to death and Lancelot rescues her but kills Gareth in the process then Lancelot leaves for France and Arthur follows so Mordred attempts to take the throne in Arthur s absence Merlin s Prophecy tells Arthur that every child born on MayDay May 1st would be destructive so he orderd all these children to be killed off But Mordred was saved and ends up destroying Arthur in the end prophecy came true Battle of Camlann King Arthur s final battle both Arthur and Mordred are wortally wounded in battle but Arthur s army triumphed in the end Arthur is carried to Avalon to be healed which is home and was brought by the ladies of the lake and among those present is Morgan Le Fay but if he was actually healed is a mystery Nyangan Mythology Page 2 African Epic Hero Mwindo The chief Shemwindo rules a village called Tubondo in the state of Ihimbi Downstream from Tubondo is a pool and the home of the water serpent Mukiti Mukiti courts and marries Shemwindo s sister Iyangura Iyangura goes to live with Mukiti under the protection of his headman called Kasiyembe Shemwindo called his seven wives and all his people and told them that when a daughter marries her family is paid a bride price but when a son marries his family has to pay the price So he wants all his children to be daughters and says he will kill his son Mwindo was the only son born of this chief and so his dad tries to kill him the baby Mwindo was born out of his mom laughing and talking and carrying magic tools that contain power including a conga sceptre he can kill with just a glance and speaks telepathically Conga a flyswatter with a scepter like handle of wood A conga is included in the regalia of a
View Full Document
Unlocking...