Round Table: Difference between revisions

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The [[mythology|mythical]] '''Round Table''' was supposed to have been created for [[Uthur Pendragon]] by [[Merlin]]. From Uthur it passed to King Leodegrance, again possibly through Merlin's arrangement. He, [[Malory]] says, sought to fill its seats (or ''seiges'') but [[war]]s and other losses meant that the most he ever appears to have managed was 100 out of the 150 vacant seats. Then [[King Arthur|Arthur]] received the Table as a [[wedding]] gift from Leodegrance when he married Leodegrance's daughter, [[Guinevere]] and over time filled the remaining seats, up till the [[Grail Quest|Quest for the Grail]], after which, the accounts make clear, the Table was never again filled.
Setting aside, for the moment, the '''Round Table''' exhibited in the Great Hall of the castle at [[Winchester]], England, the mythical Round Table was supposed to have been created for '''Uthur Pendragon''' by '''Merlin'''.<br>
From Uthur it passed to King '''Leodegrance''', aagin possibly through Merlin's arrangement. He, [[Malory]] says, sought to fill its seats (or ''seiges'') but wars and other losses meant that the most he ever appears to have managed was 100 out of the 150 vacant seats.<br>
Then [[King Arthur|Arthur]] received the Table as a wedding gift from Leodegrance when he married Leodegrance's daughter, [[Guinevere]] and over time filled the remaining seats, up till the Quest for the Grail, after which, the accounts make clear, the Table was never again filled


Historically, there is a Round Table exhibited in the Great Hall of the [[castle]] at [[Winchester]], [[England]]. There are claims that it has been dated to the [[12th century]], during the [[reign]] of [[Edward I]]. Recently [[archaeology]] has found evidence of a circular building having once stood in the Upper [[Bailey]] of [[Windsor Castle]], England, which is believed to have been intended to serve as the chapter housee for Edward's proposed [[Order]] of the Round Table, which was later succeeded by the foundation of the [[Order of the Garter]].
==Practicality==
==Practicality==
At a size of 150 seats, the table would have been unfeasibly large, but with any fewer there would have been a risk that storytellers would have had to enforce a discrimination between classes of Arthurian knights, as to whether or no they were sufficiently valiant to emrit the Round Table. With 150, no-one could be expected to remember when the literary limit had been reached.<br>
At a size of 150 seats, the table would have been unfeasibly large, but with any fewer there would have been a risk that storytellers would have had to enforce a discrimination between classes of Arthurian [[knight]]s, as to whether or no they were sufficiently valiant to merit the Round Table. With 150, no-one could be expected to remember when the [[literature|literary]] limit had been reached. The Winchester Table (which reaches 18 feet in diameter(!)) has 24 places around its circumference, each inscribed with the name of its tenant.
The Winchester Table (which reaches 18 feet in diameter(!)) has 24 places around its circumference, each inscribed with the name of its tenant.


==Named Places==
==Named Places==
Of these several are well-known Arthurian knights:
Of these several are well-known Arthurian [[knight]]s:
* Sir Galahad
* [[Sir]] [[Galahad]]
* Sir Lancelot du Lac
* Sir [[Lancelot]] du Lac
* Sir Gawain
* Sir [[Gawain]]
* Sir Percival
* Sir Percival
* Sir Tristram de Lyones
* Sir Tristram de Lyones
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* Sir Brunour
* Sir Brunour
* Sir Digore
* Sir Digore
* Sir Dagonet -- otherwise known as Arthur's court fool (''but then, looking at *some* modern day knights ... '')
* Sir Dagonet -- otherwise known as Arthur's [[court]] [[fool]] (''but then, looking at *some* modern day knights ... '')
* Sir Lionell
* Sir Lionell
* Sir Bleoberis
* Sir Bleoberis
Line 39: Line 38:
* Sir Safer (see discussion page)
* Sir Safer (see discussion page)
* Sir Alynore or Alymere
* Sir Alynore or Alymere


[[category:King Arthur]]

Latest revision as of 21:17, 24 February 2013

The mythical Round Table was supposed to have been created for Uthur Pendragon by Merlin. From Uthur it passed to King Leodegrance, again possibly through Merlin's arrangement. He, Malory says, sought to fill its seats (or seiges) but wars and other losses meant that the most he ever appears to have managed was 100 out of the 150 vacant seats. Then Arthur received the Table as a wedding gift from Leodegrance when he married Leodegrance's daughter, Guinevere and over time filled the remaining seats, up till the Quest for the Grail, after which, the accounts make clear, the Table was never again filled.

Historically, there is a Round Table exhibited in the Great Hall of the castle at Winchester, England. There are claims that it has been dated to the 12th century, during the reign of Edward I. Recently archaeology has found evidence of a circular building having once stood in the Upper Bailey of Windsor Castle, England, which is believed to have been intended to serve as the chapter housee for Edward's proposed Order of the Round Table, which was later succeeded by the foundation of the Order of the Garter.

Practicality

At a size of 150 seats, the table would have been unfeasibly large, but with any fewer there would have been a risk that storytellers would have had to enforce a discrimination between classes of Arthurian knights, as to whether or no they were sufficiently valiant to merit the Round Table. With 150, no-one could be expected to remember when the literary limit had been reached. The Winchester Table (which reaches 18 feet in diameter(!)) has 24 places around its circumference, each inscribed with the name of its tenant.

Named Places

Of these several are well-known Arthurian knights:

  • Sir Galahad
  • Sir Lancelot du Lac
  • Sir Gawain
  • Sir Percival
  • Sir Tristram de Lyones
  • Sir Gareth
  • Sir Bedevere
  • Sir Palomedes
  • Sir Lamorak
  • Sir Bors
  • Sir Pelleas
  • Sir Kay
  • Sir Ector
  • Sir Mordred

Others are perhaps slightly more obscure:

  • Sir Brunour
  • Sir Digore
  • Sir Dagonet -- otherwise known as Arthur's court fool (but then, looking at *some* modern day knights ... )
  • Sir Lionell
  • Sir Bleoberis
  • Sir Lucan

And some require a little deciphering:

  • "Sir Lacotemale Tayle" is La Cote Mail Taile, the Ill-Dressed Knight, which is another name for Sir Brunour, something perhaps unknown to the painter of the Table.
  • "Sir Lybyus Dysconys" is Le Bel Desconneu, the Beautiful Unknown, or Gawain's son, Guinglain.

And some seem otherwise unknown to modern eyes:

  • Sir Safer (see discussion page)
  • Sir Alynore or Alymere