"Merlin/Arthur" = "Antichrist/Beast"?

[M***@Camelot.com]

Hello! :-)

Please forgive the presumptuous name - I'm not far into my study of the legends
of Arthur, but I am a -big- fan of Merlin. My real name's Bill if you'd rather
refer to me as that - I won't mind - but I -do- like this screen name. :-)

Anyway, mulling over the various myths of the world as I often do, I was
beginning to wonder if there isn't some sort of symbolic connection between the
figures of Merlin/Arthur and the Christian figures Antichrist\Beast. I can't
really explain how I came to connect the two in my head, it wasn't a rational
process and that I freely admit, but the connections were made over a rather
extended period of time.

So, since it never hurts to ask, I thought I would. :-) I don't really take
the notion -too- seriously, so don't be afraid to tell me it's a load of
impossible malarky - I won't be offended. It's just a sort of "what if?"
curiosity which prompts me to post my query here.

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies. :-)

[John W. Kennedy]

Post by M***@Camelot.com
Hello! :-)
Please forgive the presumptuous name - I'm not far into my study of the legends
of Arthur, but I am a -big- fan of Merlin. My real name's Bill if you'd rather
refer to me as that - I won't mind - but I -do- like this screen name. :-)
Anyway, mulling over the various myths of the world as I often do, I was
beginning to wonder if there isn't some sort of symbolic connection between the
figures of Merlin/Arthur and the Christian figures Antichrist\Beast. I can't
really explain how I came to connect the two in my head, it wasn't a rational
process and that I freely admit, but the connections were made over a rather
extended period of time.
So, since it never hurts to ask, I thought I would. :-) I don't really take
the notion -too- seriously, so don't be afraid to tell me it's a load of
impossible malarky - I won't be offended. It's just a sort of "what if?"
curiosity which prompts me to post my query here.

Well, in the mainstream version, Merlin is the result of Hell's failed
attempt to create the Antichrist.

[Ian Weir]

Post by John W. Kennedy
Well, in the mainstream version, Merlin is the result of Hell's failed
attempt to create the Antichrist.

Hi, John--

I never knew that -- thanks for the intriguing information. Just a
pedantic question: when you say "mainstream version," which source
material do you mean? The Suite du Merlin?

Thanks
Ian

[John W. Kennedy]

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[M***@Camelot.com]

Post by John W. Kennedy

Post by Ian Weir

Post by John W. Kennedy
Well, in the mainstream version, Merlin is the result of Hell's failed
attempt to create the Antichrist.

Hi, John--
I never knew that -- thanks for the intriguing information. Just a
pedantic question: when you say "mainstream version," which source
material do you mean? The Suite du Merlin?

Robert de Borron, the Vulgate, Post-Vulgate.... I would normally be
including Malory when I say "the mainstream", but Malory doesn't treat
of Merlin's origin at all.
Hell did their best to create their own quasi-messiah, born of a virgin,
but the girl had sense enough to take her problem to a priest, who saw
to it that the infant was baptized at birth.

Very intriguing! Quite an interesting direction in which to steer some of my
reading. Thanks for the information! :-)