Who cares if it's all real? Myths and the heritage importance of King Arthur .
Why are homegrown British and overseas tourists attracted to
visiting the UK? Is it in part because there are so many tangible visible signs of a
mysterious past layers of archaeology, strange stone circles and chalk figures in
impossible places mix these with the intangible stories (or myths) of demons,
witches, highway men and Kings you have an enticing reason to visit despite the
constant drizzle!
Its best from a heritage perspective we don’t delve too deep
into these intangible characters as David Lowenthal explains ‘History strives
to know as much of the past as possible; heritage is helped by imprecise
impression and sketchy surmise.’[1]
Let us not worry if our most famous legend King Arthur was real because the
wonderous stories take tourists on a fabulous journey through the west side of
the UK. And conveniently King Arthur certainly did visit some of the most
beautiful parts of Britain,(or did he?). For heritages sake let us not spoil the fun with
fact.
King Arthur is so long ago covered in the fog of time and
the stories are told so often that reality doesn’t really matter the fact is it
all could have happened, (although it didn’t!), it could have. The oldest
stories date back to AD540, and King Arthur's Cornwall Discovery Trail takes in
The Vale of Avalon, Tintagel (Castel Dyntagell), Dozmary Pool, King Arthur's
Great Halls and St. Nectan's Glen. Those who seek Camelot can visit the Welsh Roman
fort of Caerleon where the Welshman Geoffrey of Monmouth a medieval cleric who
popularised Arthurian legends placed his Castle and round table. Move on to Pembrokeshire
and visit his grave and stone circle at Bedd Arthur, or is it his final resting
place? There are many other such graves in the UK. You can travel all the way
up to Camelon in Scotland and you guessed it the clues in the name - visit
another Camelot contender.
Of King Arthur, historian Norman Myres said, ‘no figure on the
borderline of history and mythology has wasted more of the historian's time.’[2]
But this is the conclusion heritage is not always concerned by seeking out the
truth for that would ruin a good day out. Heritage is concerned with melding
the myths we have in this country and enclosing them into experiences, you can
now see a huge stone carving commissioned by English Heritage, of
Merlin of Arthurian legend at Tintagel Castle all part of perpetuating the
myths of King Arthur. Actually, the real history part is our perpetuating the
myth of King Arthur this is the true history our love of retelling our myths
and handing them down in ever expanding versions. The experiences we offer our
tourists are fantastical and magical layered over time intangible heritage mist
sprinkled upon tangible landmarks an enticing package.
[1] Lowenthal,
D. ‘The heritage crusade and the spoils of history.’ Cambridge university press
1998. P.134
[2] Myres,
J. N. L. (1986), The English Settlements, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Page
16.
Image.1. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Knights_of_the_Round_Table._Graal_(15th_century).jpg
Image 2.
https://www.cornwalls.co.uk/attractions/king-arthurs-great-halls.htm
Image 3
http://www.landoflegends.wales/location/bedd-arthur-stone-circle-mynachlog-ddu
Image 4
https://www.visitcornwall.com/about-cornwall/blogging-cornwall/discover-king-arthurs-tintagel-and-beyond
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