From Scythia to Camelot: A Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail

ISBN-13: 9780815335665 / Angielski / Miękka / 2000 / 426 str.

Scott Littleton; Linda A. Malcor

Opis

This work challenges scholarly wisdom concerning the origins of the legends of King Arthur and the Holy Grail. The authors assert that the Arthurian and Holy Grail traditions did not derive from Celtic folklore and mythology, but rather from the folklore and mythology of the peoples of ancient Scythia (modern South Russia and Ukrainian Steppes). The authors argue that this folklore was carried to Britain and Gaul from the Steppes by Alan and Sarmatian tribes during the final days of the Roman Empire. They also demonstrate that several key figures in the legends, including the Fisher King and the Maimed Kings are based on historical individuals who lived during the early years of the 5th century. This book presents an analysis of the origins and developments of the Athurian legends.

Spis treści

Foreword Acknowledgments Preface Introduction Part I: The Cultural and Historical Background 1.The Northeast Iranians Part II: Figures 2. Arthurian and the Sarmatian Connection 3. Lancelot and the Alan of Lot 4. The Knights and the Narts 5. Women, Water, and Warriors Part III: Themes and Images 6. The Sword and the Stone 7. The Serpent Image Part Iv: The Holy Grail 8. The Holy Grail, the Cauldron of Annwin, and the Nartamongae 9. The AQlans and the Grail 10. The Grail Keepers Conclusions Appendix 1. A Note on Soources Appendix 2. Genealogies Appendix 3. A Reinterpretation of Nennius's Battle List References Cited Index

O autorze

C. Scott Littleton is professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at occidental College in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of numerous books and articles on comparative Indo-European mythology, including the The New Comparative Anthology: An Anthropological Assesment of the Theories of Georges Dumezil (3rg Edition, 1982). He has also published extensively on Japanese Mythology and Folklore.
Linda A. Malcor is a California-based free-lance writer and researcher. She holds a Ph.D. in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA and occassionally teaches and lectures on the Arthurian legends. In addition to scholarly publications, she writes fantasy fiction and screenplays.