While not as common as in many other myths and legends, several dragons play prominent roles in Arthurian myth. Uther carries the title Pendragon Pendragon or Pen Draig literally means "Chief-Dragon" or "Head-Dragon", but in a figurative sense, "chief leader", "chief of warriors", "commander-in-chief", "generalissimo", or "chief governor". It is the epithet of Uther, father of King Arthur in medieval and modern Arthurian literature and occasionally applied to historical Welsh heroes in medieval Welsh poetry, such as Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd.Pendragon
Why is King Arthur represented as a dragon?
King Arthur is represented as a dragon in two different dreams in the same book, but those are just prophetic dreams. Several other dragons appear in British legend, some of which were vanquished by knights who were generally more clever than great fighters.
Was King Arthur a real king?
King Arthur was a king of Great Britain, a friend of the prophet Merlin, weilder of Excalibur, and the adopted father of two dragons. King Arthur was a friend of the dragons, who helped him in his battles, carrying knights and burning enemies. He especially worked with Makaidos, the king of dragons.
Is King Uther Pendragon related to King Arthur?
Uther Pendragon. Uther Pendragon (/ˈjuːθər pɛnˈdræɡən, ˈuːθər/; Welsh: Uthyr Pendragon, Uthyr Bendragon), also known as King Uther, is a legendary king of sub-Roman Britain and the father of King Arthur.
Is there a real dragon in Le Morte d’Arthur?
The only real dragon in Le Morte d’Arthur appears when Lancelot liberates Lady Elaine from a magical boiling cauldron of water. The monster was his next test, and he basically slays it off stage so we don’t even have the satisfaction of seeing You’ve done what you can to cut back your spending.
Who was King Arthur's friend?
When Makaidos was tricked by Goliath into an ambush, he and Roxil where both stabbed. After that Arthur's friendship with the dragons deteriorated, with help from Sir Devin. He soon gave Devin permission to hunt dragons, leaving Merlin the dragon 's only human friend. Merlin renewed the alliance between them by taking Arthur to visit Clefspeare. They went from there to Baldtop, where Arthur wtinessed the dragon's transformation. He then adopted Hartanna and Clefspeare, re-naming them Irene and Reginald .
Who was the father of the two dragons?
King Arthur. King Arthur was a king of Great Britain, a friend of the prophet Merlin, weilder of Excalibur, and the adopted father of two dragons.
Why did Arthur get Excalibur?
Arthur was given Excalibur by Morgan, claiming to be the "lady of the lake ," in hope that he would use it to kill dragons. This hope was fufilled, not by Arthur, who used it only on his enemies, but by Sir Devin.
Who was Merlin's only friend?
He especially worked with Makaidos, the king of dragons. When Makaidos was tricked by Goliath into an ambush, he and Roxil where both stabbed. After that Arthur's friendship with the dragons deteriorated, with help from Sir Devin. He soon gave Devin permission to hunt dragons, leaving Merlin the dragon's only human friend.
What is King Arthur's name?
Some scholars have suggested it is relevant to this debate that the legendary King Arthur's name only appears as Arthur or Arturus in early Latin Arthurian texts, never as Artōrius (though Classical Latin Artōrius became Arturius in some Vulgar Latin dialects).
Who was King Arthur?
King Arthur ( Welsh: Brenin Arthur, Cornish: Arthur Gernow, Breton: Roue Arzhur) was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.
What is the genre of Arthurian romance?
The 12th-century French writer Chrétien de Troyes, who added Lancelot and the Holy Grail to the story, began the genre of Arthurian romance that became a significant strand of medieval literature. In these French stories, the narrative focus often shifts from King Arthur himself to other characters, such as various Knights of the Round Table. Arthurian literature thrived during the Middle Ages but waned in the centuries that followed until it experienced a major resurgence in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the legend continues to have prominence, not only in literature but also in adaptations for theatre, film, television, comics and other media.
Where did the name Arthur come from?
The origin of the Welsh name "Arthur" remains a matter of debate. The most widely accepted etymology derives it from the Roman nomen gentile (family name) Artorius. Artorius itself is of obscure and contested etymology, but possibly of Messapian or Etruscan origin. Linguist Stephan Zimmer suggests Artorius possibly had a Celtic origin, being a Latinization of a hypothetical name *Artorījos, in turn derived from an older patronym *Arto-rīg-ios, meaning "son of the bear/warrior-king". This patronym is unattested, but the root, *arto-rīg, "bear/warrior-king", is the source of the Old Irish personal name Artrí. Some scholars have suggested it is relevant to this debate that the legendary King Arthur's name only appears as Arthur or Arturus in early Latin Arthurian texts, never as Artōrius (though Classical Latin Artōrius became Arturius in some Vulgar Latin dialects). However, this may not say anything about the origin of the name Arthur, as Artōrius would regularly become Art (h)ur when borrowed into Welsh.
What is King Arthur's first account of his life?
King Arthur in a crude illustration from a 15th-century Welsh version of Historia Regum Britanniae. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, completed c. 1138, contains the first narrative account of Arthur's life.
How long did the last printing of Le Morte d'Arthur take?
Social changes associated with the end of the medieval period and the Renaissance also conspired to rob the character of Arthur and his associated legend of some of their power to enthrall audiences, with the result that 1634 saw the last printing of Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur for nearly 200 years.
Why did historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of sub-Roman Britain?
This lack of convincing early evidence is the reason many recent historians exclude Arthur from their accounts of sub-Roman Britain. In the view of historian Thomas Charles-Edwards, "at this stage of the enquiry, one can only say that there may well have been an historical Arthur [but ...] the historian can as yet say nothing of value about him". These modern admissions of ignorance are a relatively recent trend; earlier generations of historians were less sceptical. The historian John Morris made the putative reign of Arthur the organising principle of his history of sub-Roman Britain and Ireland, The Age of Arthur (1973). Even so, he found little to say about a historical Arthur.
What is a dragon?
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically scaled or fire-spewing and with serpentine, reptilian or avian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures around world. The two most well-known cultural traditions of dragon are.
What is Merlin's dragon prophecy?
Originally described in Geoffrey of Monmouth 's Historia regum Britanniae, tales tell of Merlin being summoned by Vortigern to explain why his new castle kept falling down.
Why did Tristram slay the dragon?
In one, King Goram promised his daughter's hand to whoever could slay a dragon terrorizing his lands. Tristram slays the dragon to win Isolde 's hand for King Mark. After slaying the creature Tristram collapses, either from previous wounds or from the dragon's venom.
How many legs does a dragon have?
Most are depicted as reptilian creatures with animal-level intelligence, and are uniquely six-limbed (four legs and a separate set of wings). The Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan (namely the Japanese dragon), Korea and other East Asian and South Asian countries.
Where does Lancelot encounter a dragon?
Lancelot's Dragon. In the Prose Lancelot, Lancelot encounters a dragon in a cemetery in the land of Corbenic. Lancelot dispatches the monster and is invited by King Pelles into his castle, where the king's daughter Elaine falls in love with him. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Where did the word "draco" come from?
The English word dragon and Latin word draco derives from Greek δράκων ( drákōn ), "dragon, serpent of huge size, water-snake". While not as common as in many other myths and legends, several dragons play prominent roles in Arthurian myth .
When did the dragon appear on the battle flags?
The dragon appeared on the battle flags of various British soldiers on their way to Rome in the 4th century. It was later adopted by 5th century Welsh kings who were keen to show their authority following the Roman withdrawal.
How many dragons did Vortigern find?
On digging the ground to start the castle's construction, Vortigern’s men found two dragons – one red, one white – fighting fiercely. After a real scuffle, the red dragon won.
What does the red dragon represent?
Some say that the red dragon represented Vortigern’s people, while Geoffrey of Monmouth saw it as a prophecy of the coming of King Arthur (funnily enough, the name of King Arthur's father – Uther Pendragon – translates into ‘Dragon’s Head').
Is the Welsh dragon on the Union flag?
Though the dragon faded in popularity somewhat and wasn’t featured on the Union Flag of 1606, in 1959 Queen Elizabeth declared that ‘only the Red Dragon on a green and white flag should be flown on government buildings in Wales’. Now, you see the Welsh dragon on badges, buttons, bumper stickers and painted on the faces of eager rugby fans ...
What is the name of the dragon in D&D?
Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most popular role-playing games of all time, and a dragon goddess named Tiamat -- one of its most popular villains -- appeared in the very first D&D supplementary rulebook, "Greyhawk," in 1975. Not one to age gracefully, this five-headed lady dragon has fully embraced her role as a vain and evil queen.
What is the dragon's name in Mulan?
In the 1998 Disney animated film "Mulan," a diminutive dragon named Mushu is given an assignment by the ancestors of a poor but dignified Chinese peasant: Watch over the peasant's headstrong daughter, Mulan. And, because Mulan has disguised herself as a male warrior and run away to join the Imperial army to battle invading Huns in her aging father's place, that's no easy task for this little guy [source: Disney ]. Unlike airplane -sized Western dragons known for their bad tempers, Mushu is a raccoon-sized dragon that is protective and good-humored. In the end, he helps Mulan restore honor to her family and save the empire.
What is the name of the dragon with purple scales?
With a pearlike shape, dainty pink wings and purple scales popping up along his spine, the lime-green dragon known as Puff, the Magic Dragon, is anything but threatening. And, say fans of the fictional dragon, that's exactly the point. Puff is the imaginary companion of a boy who, as he matures, leaves the dragon -- and his imaginary home in the land of Honalee -- behind in this coming-of-age tale that was penned in 1959 and popularized by the Peter, Paul and Mary song in the 1960s. Despite a longstanding urban legend that the song is about smoking marijuana, its creators insist that is simply not the case. Puff has been immortalized in poem, song, book and animated short, and according to creator Lenny Lipton, has been translated into 14 different languages [source: Lipton ]. Not bad for a make-believe dragon.
What did Lewis Carroll do with the dragon?
The poem ends with a triumphant boy lugging the dragon's head back to civilization -- a common literary ending for many dragons [source: Lewis Carroll Society of North America ].
What kind of puppet was used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
Guests at the 2005 world premiere of the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" film in London included a life-sized, fire-breathing Norwegian Ridgeback mechanical puppet.
What color are the heads of the dragons?
Each of her five heads is a different color -- white, blue, green, red and black -- to represent all the colors of her minions, which are an army of chromatic dragons. And, for good measure, she has an elongated reptilian tale equipped with a deadly stinger [source: Cook ].
Is a dragon real?
So how did these very different -- and distant -- cultures create representations of the same creature? For many, the answer is clear: Dragons were real, and perhaps still exist today.
Who was King Arthur?
Celtic bards traveled from court to court recounting folk tales of the past. Over time, Arturus, the military leader, became King Arthur of England. Some historians believe Arthur was Dux (Duke) of Britain, a Roman title. However, by AD 500, such titles had become vague and 'King' was the customary designation of Celtic leaders.
What is the modern tale of King Arthur?
Malory's text transports the reader to a dreamland of castles and kingdoms in which the love of adventure was reason enough to wage battles. Though these adventures are as real as a boy's dream, they're as difficult to place in the latitude and longitude of today's world.
What did the abbot say to the monks?
In desperation, the abbot raised his voice and declared: "I will tell you something new and great. There was once a mighty king, whose name was Arthur. . . .". The words had an electrifying effect.
Where is Arthur's seat?
Arthur's Seat from Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland. Excavations conducted by archaeologist Leslie Alcock revealed wattle and daub huts within an 18-acre enclosure on top of the hill. Two shrines, a metalworkers' area, furnaces, smiths' tools, and finished weapons were also unearthed.
Did King Arthur exist?
While there's no document to prove Arthur's existence, and archaeologists have found no objects bearing his name, there's nothing to say that he didn't exist. Then again, the legend of King Arthur may just be a myth - but if so, it's a good one.
Who was Arthur's battle against?
Also in the 12th century, the monk Nennius, in his Historia Brittonum (The History of the Britons) listed Arthur's battles against Germanic invaders - the Saxons and the Angles - during the late 5th and early 6th centuries.
Who was Arthur's father?
Arthur's father may have been Ambrosius Aurelianus, himself a Duke of Britain. The decades between Ambrosius' death, sometime after 495, and Arthur's own demise some 40 years later were a time of shifting fortune and wide-ranging struggles.
Who is King Arthur?
King Arthur, also called Arthur or Arthur Pendragon, legendary British king who appears in a cycle of medieval romances (known as the Matter of Britain) as the sovereign of a knightly fellowship of the Round Table. It is not certain how these legends originated or whether the figure of Arthur was based on a historical person.
Where did the legend of King Arthur originate?
The legend possibly originated either in Wales or in those parts of northern Britain inhabited by Brythonic -speaking Celts. (For a fuller treatment of the stories about King Arthur, see also Arthurian legend .)
Who was King Arthur married to?
King Arthur was married to Guinevere in most legends. Early traditions of abduction and infidelity follow Guinevere, who in some stories was carried off by Arthur’s rivals and in others had an adulterous affair with the knight Lancelot.
Who illustrated King Arthur?
King Arthur, illustration by N.C. Wyeth for the title page of The Boy's King Arthur (1917). Early Welsh literature quickly made Arthur into a king of wonders and marvels.
Who fought against the Saxons?
The 9th-century Historia Brittonum, traditionally attributed to Nennius, records 12 battles fought by Arthur against the Saxons, culminating in a victory at Mons Badonicus. The Arthurian section of this work, however, is from an undetermined source, possibly a poetic text.
Who is Uther Pendragon?
Uther is best known from Geoffrey's Historia Regum Britanniae (1136) where he is the youngest son of King of Britannia, Constantine III.
What is the meaning of the name Pendragon?
Uther's epithet Pendragon (composed of Welsh pen, "head, chief, top" and dragon, "dragon; warrior "; borrowed from the Latin word dracō, plural dracōnēs, "dragon [s]") literally means "Chief-Dragon" or "Head-Dragon", but in a figurative sense, "chief leader", "chief of warriors", "commander-in-chief", "generalissimo", or "chief governor". The name was misinterpreted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae to mean "the dragon's head". According to Geoffrey and works based on his version, Uther acquired the epithet when he witnessed a portentous dragon-shaped comet, which inspired him to use dragons on his standards. According to Robert de Boron and the cycles based on his work, it was Uther's older brother (elsewhere called Aurelius Ambrosius) who saw the comet and received the name "Pendragon", Uther taking his epithet after his death.
What happened to Uther's son in The Winter King?
At the start of the trilogy's first novel The Winter King, Uther is old and in failing health. His son Mordred has been killed during a battle with the Saxons, leaving behind a pregnant wife. Uther blames Arthur, who was at the battle, for his son's death and banishes him to Armorica.
What did Uther do with Aurelius?
With Aurelius on the throne, Uther leads his brother in arms to Ireland to help Merlin bring the stones of Stonehenge from there to Britain. Later, while Aurelius is ill, Uther leads his army against Vortigern's son Paschent and his Saxon allies. On the way to the battle, he sees a comet in the shape of a dragon, which Merlin interprets as presaging Aurelius's death and Uther's glorious future. Uther wins the battle and takes the epithet "Pendragon", and returns to find that Aurelius has been poisoned by an assassin. He becomes king and orders the construction of two gold dragons, one of which he uses as his standard.
What does Merlin see on the way to the battle?
On the way to the battle, he sees a comet in the shape of a dragon, which Merlin interprets as presaging Aurelius's death and Uther's glorious future. Uther wins the battle and takes the epithet "Pendragon", and returns to find that Aurelius has been poisoned by an assassin.
Who is the creator of the Three Great Enchantments of the Island of Britain?
In Triad 28, Uthyr is named the creator of one of the Three Great Enchantments of the Island of Britain, which he taught to the wizard Menw. Since Menw is a shapeshifter according to Culhwch and Olwen, it might be that Uther was one as well. If this is so, it opens up the possibility that Geoffrey of Monmouth's narrative about Uther impregnating Igerna with Merlin 's help (see below) was taken from a Welsh legend where Uthyr changed his own shape, Merlin possibly being added to the story by Geoffrey.
Who killed Hengist in Merlin?
Other medieval literature. In Robert de Boron 's Merlin, Uther Pendragon kills Hengist after an assassination attempt by the Saxon leader and Merlin creates the Round Table for him. In the Prose Lancelot Uther Pendragon claims to have been born in Bourges.
Overview
- King Arthur was a friend of the dragons, who helped him in his battles, carrying knights and burning enemies. He especially worked with Makaidos, the king of dragons. When Makaidos was tricked by Goliath into an ambush, he and Roxil where both stabbed. After that Arthur's friendship with the dragons deteriorated, with help from Sir Devin. He soon g...
Medieval literary traditions
Historicity
Name
The familiar literary persona of Arthur began with Geoffrey of Monmouth's pseudo-historical Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), written in the 1130s. The textual sources for Arthur are usually divided into those written before Geoffrey's Historia (known as pre-Galfridian texts, from the Latin form of Geoffrey, Galfridus) and those written afterwards, which could no…
Decline, revival, and the modern legend
The historical basis for King Arthur has been long debated by scholars. One school of thought, citing entries in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons) and Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals), saw Arthur as a genuine historical figure, a Romano-British leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons some time in the late 5th to early 6th century.
The Historia Brittonum, a 9th-century Latin historical compilation attributed in some late manus…
See also
The origin of the Welsh name "Arthur" remains a matter of debate. The most widely accepted etymology derives it from the Roman nomen gentile (family name) Artorius. Artorius itself is of obscure and contested etymology, but possibly of Messapian or Etruscan origin. Linguist Stephan Zimmer suggests Artorius possibly had a Celtic origin, being a Latinization of a hypothetical name *Artorījos, in turn derived from an older patronym *Arto-rīg-ios, meaning "son of the bear/warrior-…
Further reading
The end of the Middle Ages brought with it a waning of interest in King Arthur. Although Malory's English version of the great French romances was popular, there were increasing attacks upon the truthfulness of the historical framework of the Arthurian romances – established since Geoffrey of Monmouth's time – and thus the legitimacy of the whole Matter of Britain. So, for example, the 16t…
External links
• Arthur's O'on
• Artus Court
• King Arthur's family
• King Arthur's messianic return
• List of Arthurian characters