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From: Jo Walton <Jo@kenjo.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: alt.legend.king-arthur,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.satanism,alt.magick,alt.pagan,alt.mythology
Subject: Re: Merlyn-Druid or Christian?
Date: 17 Jun 1995 12:00:33 +0100
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In article <803319126snz@aslan.demon.co.uk>
           Andrew@aslan.demon.co.uk "Andrew Rilstone" writes:

> In article <803233742snz@kenjo.demon.co.uk>
>            Jo@kenjo.demon.co.uk "Jo Walton" writes:
> 
> > On the thread generally: there are two poems purportedly by Myrddin in the 
> > Black Book of Carmarthen which is relatively available in the Llanerch Press 
> > version, translation by Meirion Pennar, English on right hand pages, Welsh on > > left. 
> 
> What evidence links "Myrddin" to "Merlin"; and what is the connection
> between "Myrddin" and "Arthur"? Are we talking about two legendary 
> figure being stuck into the same story, or is there some reason to
> think that the historical Myrddin was associated with the historical
> Arthur? And if so, where does that leave the Romano-British Arthur?

"Merlin" is a Frenchicized version of Myrddin. There is nothing earlier than 
Geoffrey on Monmouth linking Merlin/Myrddin and Arthur. The traditions are 
seperate before that. Merlin is a very mysterious figure even within the modern 
Arthur mythology.

I find the Romano-British Arthur fascinating, and also the way the Celtic 
tradition has been all but lost by the time one gets to Malory, never mind any 
later. But it is a very complicated issue. I may write something up on it and 
post it here in a couple of days.

-- 
Jo
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               - - I kissed a kif at Kefk - -
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Help me colonise an alien planet at Intersection Glasgow '95
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