Discussion:
Did Merlins Spellbook have a name?
(too old to reply)
Slowmo
2005-02-15 18:56:10 UTC
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Hi All

Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it was?

Thnaks
Cherith
2005-02-16 09:25:19 UTC
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Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it was?
Thnaks
Do we know that he had a spell book, let alone what it was called?

Best regards,
Cherith
F***@aol.com
2005-02-16 17:27:12 UTC
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Post by Slowmo
Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what
it was?
Post by Slowmo
Thnaks
Maybe they called it "Tim".

Debra Kemp
Malcolm Martin
2005-02-16 23:24:58 UTC
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Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it was?
Thnaks
In one of the earlier traditions, Merlin did not have a spellbook, but
there was a book known as the 'Prohecies of Merlin'. This is now generally
thought to have been concocted by Geoffrey of Monmouth (c 1136, possibly a
little earlier) who is the first known author to set it out in English.

Otherwise there is no known spellbook for Merlin - although a Google search
on "Merlin's spellbook" produces more aspects to this than I ever knew
existed .........

Kind regards

Malcolm Martin
London, UK
s***@juno.com
2005-02-17 03:12:28 UTC
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Slowmo
2005-02-17 13:53:59 UTC
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Firstly thankyou for the effort in your reply. Though really not sure about
the slightly agressive nature of the last comment but Ill put that down to
the faults of written correspondance :) It was only a quick simple question
and I have no interest in this subject whatsoever but one of my children was
writing a story and asked, so relax a little 'Dad'
Post by s***@juno.com
I think you really ought to do a bit more reading in REAL HISTORY of
the period, son.
Debs
2005-02-17 16:02:06 UTC
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Amen, Brithe Maynard!

Debs
http://www.telltalepress.com?debrakemp.html
Debs
2005-02-18 02:01:37 UTC
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What I meant was:

Amen, Brother Maynard. Sorry for the massive typos. Shouldn't have
tried to hurry before work!!

Debs
http://www.telltalepress.com/debrakemp.html
Murray
2005-02-25 16:58:41 UTC
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Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it was?
Thnaks
As has been pointed out he did not have a spellbook as such. However, he did
write a complete account of all his works before retiring which may have
included his "spells".
This book he left with his teacher the mysterious Blaise somewhere in
Northumberland (See Didot Perceval)

Murray
s***@juno.com
2005-02-26 23:55:32 UTC
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BULLSHIT. This is part of the later Arthurian legend which has
absolutely no historical basis at all.

"Blaise" was St. Blaise, whose feast day of 1st/2nd February (Roman
CANDLEMAS/Celtic IMBOLC) was shared with Bride/Bridget, an ancient
Celtic goddess of fire, poetry, inspiration, brewing, healing, and
smithcraft (also with dairy work, since with the latter three topics
all used a cauldron heated over a fire). St. Blaise originated as a
Gaulish wolf-god known as "Blazey" (CF: book THE BLACK VIRGIN). Blaise
was also associated with wool-combing, and sheperds were especially
vigilant about watching for wolves attacking their flocks.

Blaise was one of the patron saints of the city of York, and was
featured in processions and festivals in that town in medieval times,
due to the heavy concentration of sheep-raising, wool processing, and
weaving in Yorkshire/Northumbria.

Please note that in the early poems of Myrddin aka Merlin Caledonius,
he is given a companion of a pig, and that Merlyn was also associated
with wolves and stags.

This entire tradition is a bleed-over from early British pagan
religious tradition. It has no basis in historical fact, apart from
the one known fact that a northern British king, Gwendolleu ap Ceidio
(king of Selgovia, the tribal lands of the Selgovae) employed his
second cousin from the royal lineage of Yorkshire/Ebrauc (Myrddin) as a
bard/sorceror -- Gwendolleu was killed in battle at his fort of Caer
Gwendolleu (also called: Caerwinley OR Arfderydd/Arthuret) ca. 568 CE,
and Myrddin/Merlyn supposedly survived and became a fugitive in the
northern mountains for years after the battle. I say "supposedly"
because, according to the ancient genealogy of the Coeling royal
lineages (CF: earlybritishkings.com), the man Myrddin Wyllt ap ap
Morfryn ap Morydd was born ca. 488 CE -- thus making him 80 yrs of age
in 568 CE. He could not possibly have survived another 30-50 years in
the northern wilderness, as the poems attributed to him claim.

The "MERLIN" of Arthurian legend, by the way, is a composite character,
comprised of:

1 -- the "Ambrosius" child mentioned in Nennius who prophesied for
Vortigern regarding the buried dragons under his continually-falling
tower of refuge

2 -- the druidically-trained pagan priest/bard/sorceror who was the
advisor of Arthur's father and Arthur himself

3 -- Myrddin, pagan priest/sorceror to Gwendolleu ap Ceidio, king of
two kingdoms: Selgovia and Galloway

4 -- Lailoken, a madman of Strathclyde whose legend was fused with
those of the first two men by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
xargon
2005-02-27 06:11:51 UTC
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Post by s***@juno.com
BULLSHIT. This is part of the later Arthurian legend which has
absolutely no historical basis at all.
Of course, this NG _is_ called alt.legend.king-arthur. The poster might
possibly be interested in the Merlin of legend and not necessarily a
Merlin out of history.
Diane L. Schirf
2005-02-27 13:05:40 UTC
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Post by xargon
Post by s***@juno.com
BULLSHIT. This is part of the later Arthurian legend which has
absolutely no historical basis at all.
Of course, this NG _is_ called alt.legend.king-arthur. The poster might
possibly be interested in the Merlin of legend and not necessarily a
Merlin out of history.
But then someone couldn't get their shorts in a bundle, could they? :)
--
http://www.slywy.com/
Murray
2005-03-01 12:43:05 UTC
Permalink
I was only answering the question in the spirit it was asked - i.e. one of
exploring Arthurian Legends. This may be BULLSHIT in terms of historic
fact - but then so is most Arthurian Legend - I suppose as another poster
has alluded to, this must means most of this group is BULLSHIT in your
terms.

Having said that, your outline of some of Merlin's background is interesting
and could be developed further here, especially his relationship with his
mentor Blaize - but I fear as that is 'only' legend further discussion will
be BULLSHIT. However, for those of us who believe that 'mere' legend has its
own importance and reality, would anyone like to continue the discussion?

Murray
Post by s***@juno.com
BULLSHIT. This is part of the later Arthurian legend which has
absolutely no historical basis at all.
Sir Fauntleroy
2005-04-22 13:55:55 UTC
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<profanity removed for the sake of Jesu>

INFAMY!

You offend me, sir. Now stand back by an arm's length so that I may strike
thee.
Doc Martian
2005-07-03 20:37:43 UTC
Permalink
it's name.... was fred.

cheers!
Doc
Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it was?
Thnaks
James Toupin
2005-07-06 04:07:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Doc Martian
it's name.... was fred.
cheers!
Doc
Post by Slowmo
Hi All
Can anyone tell me if Merlin's Spellbook had a name, and if so what it
was?
Post by Slowmo
Thnaks
Okay... The previous reply's answer of "INFAMY" was certainly more reliable,
but not half so entertaining!

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