From Scythia to Camelot: A Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail

by C. Scott Littleton, Linda Malcor

Overview

This volume boldly proposes that the core of the Arthurian and Holy Grail traditions derived not from Celtic mythology, but rather from the folklore of the peoples of ancient Scythia (what are now the South Russian and Ukrainian steppes). Also includes 19 maps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317777700
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/23/2013
Series:	Arthurian Characters and Themes
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	424
File size:	43 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

C. Scott Littleton is professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at occidental College in Los Angeles, California. He is the author of numerous books and articles on comparative Indo-European mythology, including the The New Comparative Anthology:An Anthropological Assesment of the Theories of GeorgesDumezil (3rg Edition, 1982). He has also published extensively on Japanese Mythology and Folklore.
Linda A. Malcor is a California-based free-lance writer and researcher. She holds a Ph.D. in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA and occassionally teaches and lectures on the Arthurian legends. In addition to scholarly publications, she writes fantasy fiction and screenplays.

Table of Contents

Foreword Acknowledgments Preface Introduction Part I: The Cultural and Historical Background 1.The Northeast Iranians Part II: Figures 2. Arthurian and the Sarmatian Connection 3. Lancelot and the Alan of Lot 4. The Knights and the Narts 5. Women, Water, and Warriors Part III: Themes and Images 6. The Sword and the Stone 7. The Serpent Image Part Iv: The Holy Grail 8. The Holy Grail, the Cauldron of Annwin, and the Nartamongae 9. The AQlans and the Grail 10. The Grail Keepers Conclusions Appendix 1. A Note on Soources Appendix 2. Genealogies Appendix 3. A Reinterpretation of Nennius's Battle List References Cited Index

Editorial Reviews

Proposes that the pride of British legend did not derive from Celtic legend at all as most scholars and readers believe, but from Scythian folklore brought to the Misty Isle from the steppes of what is now southern Russia and the Ukraine during late Roman times by the Alan and Sarmatian tribes. Draws close parallels with surviving folklore among the modern people of the northern Caucasus, and argues that several major characters reflect historical people from the early fifth century. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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