Wednesday, April 14, 2010

ABC Wednesday - M is for Merlin

This legendary powerful wizard that lives in the Arthurian lores are one of my favorites. According to Wikipedia, "The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures. Geoffrey combined existing stories of Myrddin Wyllt (Merlinus Caledonensis), a North British madman with no connection to King Arthur, with tales of the Romano-British war leader Ambrosius Aurelianus to form the composite figure he called Merlin Ambrosius (Welsh: Myrddin Emrys).

Geoffrey's rendering of the character was immediately popular, especially in Wales; later writers expanded the account to produce a fuller image of the wizard. Merlin's traditional biography casts him as a cambion; born of a mortal woman, sired by an incubus, the non-human wellspring from whom he inherits his supernatural powers and abilities. Merlin matures to an ascendant sagehood and engineers the birth of Arthur through magic and intrigue. Later authors have Merlin serve as the king's advisor until he is bewitched and imprisoned by the Lady of the Lake.""


I have the trilogy Mary Stewart wrote about him, that I love: Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. All great books well-written as expected for anything from this awesome author. He's also in Mists of Avalon, another wonderful series.

Lucas got this cute Merlin statue from a carioca friend many years ago, and it's proudly placed on his altar:



For more M posts, visit the ABC page, and join the fun!

4 comentários:

Lilac Wolf (Angie or Angela) said...

I love how in the Mysts of Avalon Merlin was a title and not a specific person. Made the Arthur tale more realistic, I though - and loved it. Have you seen "Excalibur" or "Merlin"?

Roger Owen Green said...

Cute Merlin.

It is a fascinating history.

On behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you!-Ramblin' with Roger

Granny Smith said...

I have loved the figure of Merlin, figurative or not, through every King Arthur story that I have ever read and especially in the Mary Stewart trilogy. I much enjoyed your explanations of the origins of Merlin.

You asked me in your comment on my blog where I got the dragon images, and my answer is that I drew them.

I am fascinated by the fact that you are a resident of Brasil. I lived there and later visited my daughter who returned there to live and work. I have lived in Sao Jose dos Campos, Itajuba, and visited extensively in Ponta Pora on tthe Paraguayan border and in Gloria do Dorados, as well as having taking trips to many other parts of the country.

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I love the stories of Merlin too, and the little statue is wonderful!