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More Merlin Legends

© Fiona Broome

There are far too many Merlin legends to research and summarize here. That could be a career in itself, and--for some--it has been.

However, some of the more interesting tales are worth mentioning, as well as some Merlin-related trivia:

Merlin and the Round Table

In one legend, Merlin was the designer of the famous Round Table, of King Arthur's court. This tale claims that the Round Table was a replica of the table made by Joseph of Arimathea, for the display of the Holy Grail at Glastonbury.

Joseph's table was, in turn, a copy of the table chosen by Jesus for his disciples, at the Last Supper.

(For more information about Joseph of Arimathea and how he links Glastonbury to Jesus' childhood, see other articles at this topic.)

Merlin was Taliesin?

In another legend, Elis Gwffudd claimed that Ambrosius Aurenlianus, aka Emrys Gwledig, was reincarnated as Taliesin, who was then reincarnated as Merlin, son of Morfryn. The "death" of Merlin is another topic of speculation.

Taliesin was one of the most famous bards of Britain, and his tales are among those included in the famous history, the Mabinogion.

There are many other links between Taliesin and Merlin. In some tales, they are the same person. In others, they were both mystical travelers through time, setting Britain on the correct path to the vision we call Camelot.

What happened to Merlin?

In most tales, Merlin is still alive. He may be immortal in his human form, or he may be a spirit who appears to be human.

In one story, Merlin was (and still is) trapped by Nimue, or perhaps Viviane, on an island or in some isolated place.

In other, he's living in an invisible/glass house on Bardsey Island (Ynys Enelli) with nine companions and the 13 treasures of the Island of Britain. These include the true throne of the British realm, where King Arthur will sit when he returns.

More links between Glastonbury and Merlin

In yet another story, Merlin awaits the return of King Arthur in the glass castle at Glastonbury Tor, in England.

Also at Glastonbury, there are two odd springs of water, one of them red and the other white. This links to Merlin's early years, when he saw a red dragon and a white dragon beneath a hill.

Both springs emerge at a possible site of Merlin's glass castle, and you can visit the red spring (Chalice Well) or the White Spring, when you are in Glastonbury.

The water at Chalice Well (the red spring) really is a rusty red. The water at the White Spring is milky white. Both emerge at Glastonbury Tor, within a few feet of each other.