Publisher's Synopsis
The Mysteries of Avalon is a unique and ground-breaking book which challenges many of the accepted views of the Arthurian tradition. From clues in old tales and documents, place-names and the mythic landscape, August Hunt weaves a tapestry of the Celtic gods and goddesses and of the Arthurian tales that heralds a new chapter in the interpretation of the deeds and existence of the greatest heroes of British legend - King Arthur and Merlin. Not only does the author place these figures in the British landscape, he also dispels many of the older inaccurate ideas about them and demonstrates which of their tales have been assimilated with other early sources to produce the popular images that exist today. By applying his wealth of knowledge and exploring the obscure and unresolved areas of the Arthurian tales, August Hunt provides new and provocative interpretations leading to startling conclusions about many subjects including the nature of Merlin, the dragon spirit of Britain, the real Holy Grail, the location of Avalon and the identities, human and divine, of the major characters in the Arthurian tales. Amongst these the author also focuses on the significant but often shadowy female figures of the myths like the Lady of the Lake, the mother of Arthur and the nine goddesses of Avalon. The quest for the hidden mysteries leads from Wales to Cornwall to Scotland, from Ireland to France to Italy, but most of all from the forgotten fragments of the past to the unfolding of the myths that dwell at the heart of the British psyche. The author includes fascinating appendices on a new interpretation of the Ogham alphabet and how to use it for divination, the symbolism and ritual uses of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain, and the zodiacal correspondences of King Arthur's battles.
