Britain Ad: A Quest For Arthur, England And The Anglo-saxons
by Francis Pryor /
2006 / English / EPUB
1.3 MB Download
In this book, which accompanies and expands on his Channel 4
television series, leading archaeologist Francis Pryor retells the
story of King Arthur, legendary king of the Britons, tracing it
back to its Bronze Age origins The legend of King Arthur and
Camelot is one of the most enduring in Britain's history, spanning
centuries and surviving invasions by Angles, Vikings and Normans.
In his latest book Francis Pryor -- one of Britain's most
celebrated archaeologists and author of the acclaimed Britain B.C.
and Seahenge -- traces the story of Arthur back to its ancient
origins. Putting forth the compelling idea that most of the key
elements of the Arthurian legends are deeply rooted in Bronze and
Iron Ages (the sword Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword in
the Stone and so on), Pryor argues that the legends' survival
mirrors a flourishing, indigenous culture that endured through the
Roman occupation of Britain, and the subsequent invasions of the
so-called Dark Ages. As in Britain B.C., Pryor roots his story in
the very landscape, from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, to South
Cadbury Castle in Somerset and Tintagel in Cornwall. He traces the
story back to the 5th-century King Arthur and beyond, all the time
testing his ideas with archaeological evidence, and showing how the
story was manipulated through the ages for various historical and
literary purposes, by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Malory among others.
Delving into history, literary sources -- ancient, medieval and
romantic -- and archaeological research, Francis Pryor creates an
original, lively and illuminating account of this most British of
legends.
In this book, which accompanies and expands on his Channel 4
television series, leading archaeologist Francis Pryor retells the
story of King Arthur, legendary king of the Britons, tracing it
back to its Bronze Age origins The legend of King Arthur and
Camelot is one of the most enduring in Britain's history, spanning
centuries and surviving invasions by Angles, Vikings and Normans.
In his latest book Francis Pryor -- one of Britain's most
celebrated archaeologists and author of the acclaimed Britain B.C.
and Seahenge -- traces the story of Arthur back to its ancient
origins. Putting forth the compelling idea that most of the key
elements of the Arthurian legends are deeply rooted in Bronze and
Iron Ages (the sword Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, the Sword in
the Stone and so on), Pryor argues that the legends' survival
mirrors a flourishing, indigenous culture that endured through the
Roman occupation of Britain, and the subsequent invasions of the
so-called Dark Ages. As in Britain B.C., Pryor roots his story in
the very landscape, from Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, to South
Cadbury Castle in Somerset and Tintagel in Cornwall. He traces the
story back to the 5th-century King Arthur and beyond, all the time
testing his ideas with archaeological evidence, and showing how the
story was manipulated through the ages for various historical and
literary purposes, by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Malory among others.
Delving into history, literary sources -- ancient, medieval and
romantic -- and archaeological research, Francis Pryor creates an
original, lively and illuminating account of this most British of
legends.