The Legends of the Holy Grail
Copyright (c) 2010 James Holan
The legend of the Holy Grail is one of the most debated legends from medieval times. It is surrounded with famous political figures such as King Arthur and his knights, the Knights Templar, several Popes and other religious affiliates, as well as the Christian icons Jesus and God. Despite these political and religious icons, there are also a variety of Pagan and Welsh icons in the early legends who are not only related to these Arthurian concepts but who also quest for the same object, the Holy Grail. The fact that these two traditions, the Pagan/Welsh and the Christian, have similarities opens up the question of whether the Grail is a Christian tradition or if it came from an earlier Welsh/Pagan tradition that eventually became the Arthurian legends we recognize today. In the case of the Holy Grail, there is evidence in both Christian and Pagan/Welsh folklore to suggest that the Grail Legends are in fact a derivative from Pagan/Welsh beliefs. This is seen through the evolution of oral tradition and fairytales, in the accounts of the famous historian Geoffrey who wrote about King Arthur, and the symbol of the Fisher King, the most debated and misunderstood symbol of the Holy Grail Legends.
To truly understand the legend of the Holy Grail two specific aspects of the Grail Legends have to be explored: the history of the Grail and the history of the people who quested for it. The first and possibly most important person in connection with the Holy Grail is Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, the Holy Grail was the cup Christ drank from at the last supper as is depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper” completed in 1497. Next, the cup was used by Joseph of Arimathaea to