King Arthur the Legend, the Symbolism & the History
Nov 30, 2014
King Arthur
the Legend, the Symbolism & the History
England
Why do we care?
Why is England – its history, legends and culture -- important to us, as Americans? Why is it important to Europe … the world?
Sure … of course …Not only is this where we, as Americans, have much of
our national history, but the British Empire spanned the entire globe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWedTbuAtR4
Plus – King Arthur makes a GREAT tale! The story of Arthur has been told and re-told for centuries in every part of the
European World …
Arthur: The Once & Future King
A Brief Look at Arthur: National Geographic
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa4v5gH3b18
Arthur: His Cultural Roots
In our search for King Arthur, we will begin with the Roman occupation of Great Britain. As you
will see from the many stories of Arthur, he often represents a coming together of
cultures and traditions: the Romans and the Picts, old ‘Celtic’ Britain and new Roman
Britain, Pagans and Christians.
Wait – who were the Picts?
Geography A Pictish Warrior• http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sgx2lIUtUQ&feature=related
Pre-Roman England was a mass of individual kingdoms, similar to the Native Americans. There were feuds, truces, wars and alliances among the tribes, but they were fiercely independent.
THE ROMAN INFLUENCE
We will talk more about the Picts later … they gave the Romans a really hard time …
Timeline: Caesar’s Rome
A rowing bireme, as possibly used by Caesar - entirely unsuitable for the stormy and tidal Channel waters.
Deal, England – Site of Caesar’s Invasion AttemptsBeach at Deal, England
Memorial at Deal
Deal, England
Britain AD Video 1/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLpgVEfy4mQ&list=PLtBw8-
A7vr1usU0eZarUFhAhzoNXxws_J
Timeline: The Influence of Trade
As discussed in the video, commerce between cultures can be just as influential as conquest – even more so where society is allowed to grow and thrive. This is what happens during this period, when Rome is influential, but not war-like … for the moment.
Coins minted under Cymbeline … aka Cunobelinus
Evidence of Rome’s truce with the Britons can be found in their relationship with Cunobelinus, whom Rome proclaimed as King of the Britons. Do you recognize his alias, Cymbeline … ?
Sure - Shakespeare
Cymbeline, also known as Cymbeline, King of Britain or The Tragedy of Cymbeline, is a play by William Shakespeare, based on legends concerning the early Celtic British King Cunobelinus.
Timeline: The Invasion
Caratacus
Guerilla leader of the native Briton resistance to Rome. He was tough, smart and a real problem for a very long time in the eyes of Rome.
Timeline: Conquest
Claudius
Timeline: Defeat
Caratacus
Here is a rendering of Caratacus in Rome, captured and in the court of Emperor Claudius.
Timeline: Rebellion
Timeline: Rebellion
Boudicca
Boudicca
Timeline: Occupation
Roman Towns in Britain
http://www.timetrips.co.uk/roman%20towns-towns.htm
Joseph of Arimathea• During the late 12th century,
Joseph became connected with the Arthurian cycle, appearing in them as the first keeper of the Holy Grail. This idea first appears in Robert de Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie, in which Joseph receives the Grail from an apparition of Jesus and sends it with his followers to Britain. Later retellings of the story contend that Joseph of Arimathea himself travelled to Britain and became the first Christian bishop in the Isles.
TimeLine: Scotland
Statue of Agricola erected in Bath, England 1894
More on the Picts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=029gSw0pZCc&feature=related
Timeline: Containment
Construction Began AD 122
The Walls
THE WALLS• Hadrian's Wall was the first of two fortifications built across
Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.
• The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. In addition to its role as a military fortification, it is thought that many of the gates through the wall would have served as customs posts to allow trade and levy taxation.
• A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot by Hadrian's Wall Path . It is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern England.
Hadrian’s Wall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeosZImCrMY
Timeline: Christianity
The Roman Occupation of Great Britain
Timeline: Departure
What was Camelot … who was Arthur?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSqcVeQZjSI