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a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining
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a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining
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To: soc.religion.shamanism From: pstaples@chs.mb.ca (Penny Staples) Subject: Merlin and Shamanic Tradition Date: 49940729 The number and type of shamanic elements in the Arthurian legend depends on whose version you read. Anything explicitly non-Christian has been placed there in the last 50 years or so. If you're interested in the survival of shamanic and pagan elements in medieval Europe, as represented in the Arthurian mythos, my advice is to disregard any work of fiction written after the 15th century. For a more historical look, start with Malory's "Morte d'Arthur", in the original if possible, or get a good translation. About 10 years ago I did some graduate work with Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" (15th C), and a couple of earlier English versions of the Arthurian legend: the alliterative Morte (14th C), and the Arturian section of Layamon's Brut (12th C). If you are looking for survival of shamanic and other pagan elements in the Arthurian legend *as it existed in medieval Europe*, Layamon's Brut is a better place to start than Malory. I recommend the Early English Texts society (EETS) version, if you're willing to take on early Middle English. BTW, the Early English Texts Society has lots and lots of cool books -- the library at your local university probably has a whole section of them. I'll admit that I wasn't looking specifically for the shamanic elements when I was working with these texts, and it's been a while since I re-read any of it -- I'm thinking of going back and looking for it. I remember Merlin as being more of a garden variety sorcerer of a variety popular in medieval romance (i.e. not really shamanic). He doesn't have a huge role, even in Malory. Doesn't mean the shamanic elements aren't there, of course, but they aren't obvious. If you're interested in more than Merlin, the pagan elements are definitely present, even as late as Malory. For example: take a good look at Gawain -- his strength increases all morning and peaks at noon. After that it decreases until sunset, when he is at his weakest. Think about it. "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is also worth reading, if you like Gawain. Another example: the image of a sword in a stone has been found carved into rock at ancient religious sites in Mesopotamia, venerating a warrior God: the images involving a sword in a stone and i sacrifical king are incredibly ancient. However, be aware that the Arthurian legend has been popular with novelists and new age types over the last 50 years or so. Some of them have come up with some interesting variations, taking the basic story elements and reworking them, adding in their own twists (there;s a longstanding tradition for this . . . Malory did it -- the "Morte d'Arthur" is actually his mixing of earlier English versions of the tales with some old French Arthurian romances. He did a brilliant job, I think). Some have also done great violence to the legend (IMHO). The point is: recent writers have come up with variations on the Arthurian mythos that did not exist before 1900! As writers often do, they read the old stuff. They take the things they like, they ignore the things that don't interest them, and they add whatever seems right to them according to their own political/ethical moral purpose. Material from "The Hollow Hills" series and "The Mists of Avalon" is highly entertaining reading but don't look to them for any truly historical information. Anyway, I think I've rambled on long enough! Have a good day folks! Penny Staples
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