The Myth and Reality of Merlin

The Myth and Reality of Merlin

Reality?" Merlin, the greatest magician of all time. He lived, if indeed he lived at all, in Wales and southern England during the dawn of Christianity in those lands, long before written historical records were kept. Yet, his name is universally recognized around the world as synonymous with magic, and his popular image is almost as well known as that of Santa Claus. The beginning and ends of all things are all within Merlin's sight. he keeps the prophecies of the future, he holds the memories of all that has passed. When you hear the name Merlin an immediate image springs into the mind of an old man with a flowing white beard and bushy white eyebrows, dressed in a midnight blue robe and a tall pointed hat covered with stars. He is the prototypical wizard. Merlin is best known as the teacher and advisor of Arthur Pendragon, king of all the Britons. The legends of these two mythical figures are linked, but there is no certain proof that either man existed. Supposedly on Merlin's advice the famous Round Table of Arthur's court was built and he helped select 50 of the knights who were to sit at the table. The popular myth of Merlin, as we know it today, has come down to us primarily from two sources; one, the historian Geoffrey of Monmouth and the other, a writer, Sir Thomas Malory. Both men collected bits and pieces from earlier sources. Most of Malory's work was based on the French Arthurian prose cycle, a group of French medieval romances centered around the court of King Arthur. Before Malory, both Merlin and Arthur were better known on the Continent than they were in England. Malory's work crystallized the Arthurian legend into the form we recognize today. We know Merlin as a mysterious fig...

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...in later years is a testimony to his achievements and authority during his lifetime. Merlin's greatest power was fabled to be his ability to see events in the future. It was this gift of sight that made him so valuable t Arthur and the other kings he served.. We do not know for certain what methods Merlin used in his foretelling tales, but in many accounts Merlin is refereed to as using a crystal ball. Crystal scrying was in widespread use in Roman times, so it is quit possible that Merlin did employ a crystal. There is no sign that the legend of Merlin is fading into history. Just the opposite, it grows stronger with each passing year. Merlin has become a kind of demigod of magic, a hero9 for all modern magicians to inmatate and admire. he comes to life each time the tales of his exploits are told, and between the telling of his story he sleeps, but will never die.