Description
This original and compelling study argues against the traditional identification of Arthur as a king in Celtic Britain. Instead, Graham Anderson explores the evidence for two much older figures, known to classical writers as kings of Arcadia and Lydia, over a millenium before.
He shows how these kings can be clearly connected with traditional Arthurian characters and adventure, including an ancient Gawain, a Lady of Shallott, and a predecessor of Excalibur, and shows that the Arthurian universe found in Welsh tales and French romances is already anticipated in these earliest of Arthurian materials.
This radical reassessment of the Arthurian legends provides a new perspective on on age-old historical puzzle, and will provoke debate amongst Classical and Medieval scholars and Arthurian enthusiasts.
Table of Contents
Preface, Abbreviations, 1. The traditional Arthur, 2. The ‘Sarmatian connexion’ theory, 3. A first Arktouros: King Arkas of Arcadia, 4. Arktouros II: the evidence from folktale, 5. Ardus, ‘greatest of knights’: a first Artus-figure, 6. Some ancient Gawain-figures, and an elusive Lancelot, 7. Holy Graals and circular objects, 8. Tristan and Thraetaona: the Tristan legend in the East, 9. Six Arthurs in search of a character, Appendix 1: From Kambles to Camalis, Appendix 2: More ‘Bear’s Son’ heroes: Theseus, Achilles, Batraz, Alexander, Appendix 3: Jack the Giant Killer and King Arthur, Appendix 4: Toxaris’ third tale, Appendix 5: The earliest Tristan text: Rhodanes and Sinonis, Appendix 6: Mythology in the ‘Nennian’ battle-list, Notes, Select bibliography, Index
