A Companion to Arthurian and Celtic Myths and Legends
Two of the richest sources of myth and legend are the Celtic and the Arthurian traditions. For the first time, these strands are brought together in an authoritative guide to the people, places, events, and stories associated with Arthur and with Ireland, Wales, and the wider Celtic world. Based on extensive research and reflecting the latest scholarship, A Companion to the Arthurian and Celtic Myths and Legends offers a unique reference to some of the most vivid and enduring tales in history.
From Gidolin to Lancelot, Tír na nÓg to Morgan le Fay, and Aed Ruadh to Zel, this book reveals a remarkable range of material. Lancelot and Guinevere’s love story has been retold countless times; yet the tale of Gidolin―a dwarf said to warm flasks of hag’s blood on the “hearth of hell”―is far less familiar. Aed Ruadh was a tyrannical king whose own champion invoked the powers of the sea, sun, wind, and firmament against him; Zel is a mythical king believed to have been buried on horseback within Silbury Hill.
Romance, magic, betrayal, humor, and horror all intermingle in Mike Dixon-Kennedy’s compelling work. The book spans the Celtic Golden Age, the Roman invasion and the collapse of Celtic society, and the later Celtic revival in the Gaelic regions of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and parts of England.
This richly illustrated A–Z guide is essential for anyone fascinated by Arthurian history, Celtic tradition, mythology, and legend.
