Holy Grail
The Quest for the Holy Grail is as confusing and contradictory as all of the Arthurian mythology, but the dominant legend is Christian in origin-even though the Catholic Church itself denounces it. The Grail was said to be the cup of the Last Supper and at the Crucifixion to have received blood flowing from Christ's side. It was brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea, where it lay hidden for centuries. The search for the vessel became the principal quest of the knights of King Arthur. It was believed to be kept in a mysterious castle surrounded by a wasteland and guarded by a custodian called the Fisher King, who suffered from a wound that would not heal His recovery and the renewal of the blighted lands depended upon the successful completion of the quest.
The magical properties attributed to the Holy Grail have been plausibly traced to the magic vessels of Celtic myth that satisfied the tastes and needs of all who ate and drank from them. In most Arthurian legends, Galahad the pure was the only Knight able to retrieve the Grail and his doing so renewed their fellowship with the land-ending famine, pestilence...
The first appearance of the Holy Grail in a written test was in Chretien de Troyes's the Conte del Graal ('Story of the Grail') and has been featured in thousands of different poems, novels and mocies--perhaps the most endearing to this generation is the third installment of the Indiana Jones movies.
As to what happened to the Holy Grail in legend, some believe it to be in legend, some believe it to be in Chalice Well in Glastonbury put there by Joseph Arimathea. Others feel it may have been taken to Nova Scotia in 1398. Still others believe it was spirited away by the Knights Templar.
Matt has discussed in prior appendixes the whole concept of Holy Blood, Holy Grail and how it involves a messianic lineage leading from Jesus Christ. Anyone wanting more info on this should read Holy Blood, Holy Grail (the book) or Bloodline of the Holy Grail. They are both available at any book store.
Taken from Lady Pendragon Vol.3, #2
Return to the Reference Guide Page or Return to the Main Page