King Arthur
At the heart of the Arthurian legend stands King Arthur himself, a figure whose historical existence is debated, but whose legendary status is beyond question. Arthur is often depicted as the ideal king: noble, just, and brave. According to the legend, Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon, born during a time of turmoil in Britain. Arthur's story is most famously told in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae (1136) and later in Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur (1485).
Arthur is typically described as the ruler of a golden age in Britain, uniting the land under his reign and defending it from invasions. His sword, Excalibur, and his legendary round table of knights are key symbols of his power and justice. The search for the Holy Grail and the eventual fall of Camelot form the central arc of the Arthurian myth.
Merlin
Merlin, the wizard and advisor to King Arthur, is another essential figure in the legend. He is a mysterious and wise character who plays a critical role in Arthur’s rise to power. In some versions of the story, Merlin is the one who helps Uther Pendragon conceive Arthur through magical means, with the famous episode of Uther’s transformation into another man to seduce Igraine, Arthur’s mother. In other tales, Merlin is a mentor to young Arthur, guiding him in the ways of kingship and ensuring he is ready to take the throne.
Merlin’s wisdom and mystical powers make him one of the most iconic figures in Arthurian legend, though his eventual disappearance or death marks the decline of Arthur’s kingdom. His character is often depicted as a symbol of ancient knowledge and the mystical forces that shape Arthur’s destiny. shutdown123