Did King Arthur Really Exist?

For nearly a thousand years, people have beenfrom The Palace of Holyroodhouse car park.
inspired and entertained by stories, poems, songs,The late Dr. Norma Lorre Goodrich was professor
paintings and tapestries about King Arthur, who hasemeritus of French and comparative languages at
become the subject of one of the largest bodies ofClaremont Colleges in California and the author of four
literature in the world. However, physical evidence hasArthurian books: King Arthur; Guinevere; The Holy Grail;
been so lacking as to appear systematically obliteratedand Merlin. Her research located the territory of the
over the centuries. Even so, an abundance of truths'real' Arthur in the borders area of what is now
has preserved in books, and more recently in films, ofsouthern Scotland. She believed that the cave located
King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and theon the Whithorn Peninsula, now called St. Ninian's cave,
Holy Grail. All of these contain elements of truth andis Merlin's famous burial cave described by legends as
clues for those questing for historical facts behind thecreated by request of his Lady of the Lake, Niniane. At
legends.this site Goodrich described seeing a burial niche high
The body of Merlinius Ambrosius Dubricius, identified byup on the left side of the ruins of the cave.
historian Norma Lorre Goodrich in her book Merlin asDr. Goodrich and thousands of other visitors to this
the man better known throughout history as "Merlin"cave site over the centuries failed to identify remains
was, according to Goodrich, discovered on Bardsy Isleof ancient art. Rock sculptures and traces of rock
by the Bishop of Llandaff. Goodrich maintains that thepaintings are still visible. The images and faded
Merlin's body was taken to the cathedral founded bypaintings of larger-than-life standing figures in
Merlin at Llandaff, Wales. Geoffrey of Monmouth,ceremonial attire and large and small chiseled faces of
author of one of the first histories of King Arthur, andhelmeted warriors and beautiful ladies bear an uncanny
an acquaintance of that same twelfth century Bishopresemblance to descriptions of legendary Arthurian
of Llandaff, began his famous History of the Kings ofancients. Towering above all, forty feet above the
Britain in 1120, the same year as the Bishop's discoveryfloor of the cave, is a rugged crowned head with red
of the body. Geoffrey attributed his source to "a verybeard, strong shoulders, and grey mantle. Over the
ancient book written in the British language" (Theright shoulder another symbol is still visible, a giant
History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffrey ofheart-shaped shield with a legendary sword through it.
Monmouth, Bishop of St. Asaph, translated by Lewis G.Those looking for stone sculptures of mythological or
M. Thorpe.) Coincidentally, Geoffrey was appointedhistorical figures have been conditioned to look for
archdeacon of Llandsaff (sp) in 1140.sculptures created in the style of the Greek or Roman
Since Geoffrey of Monmouth, non-fiction and fictionsculptors, art that was created in marble that allowed
writers have researched and written about Kingthe artist to produce very recognizable human
Arthur, inspiring readers to search for evidence thatlikenesses. The stone at the cave on Whithorn
might prove the existence of this ancient king and hisPeninsula is brittle with fissures and does not lend itself
legendary kingdom. At least three of these writerswell to sculptures. Artisans could cut and chip the
have made discoveries, and have written aboutstone within the limitations of the rock and tools used
evidence that can still be seen today by thoseto create a likeness but would then be forced to stop
conducting their own grail quest.as the rock broke in the wrong direction. Unlike the
Sir Walter Scott was a prolific poet and novelist.lifelike images of the American presidents carved into
Historical fiction, a genre he helped create andcliff in the Black Hills, these ancient sculptures appear
popularize, reflected his keen interest in Scottish history,quite basic and rough. However, the intent of the Merlin
and his research led him to some major discoveries.and his artists appeared very clear to the couple who
He convinced the Prince Regent, later George IV, todiscovered the images. Visitors that plan their walk to
search in Edinburgh Castle for the Scottish Honours,the Whithorn cave when late afternoon sunlight casts
the Royal Scottish regalia which had disappeared overshadows will find that these are the best conditions for
a hundred years before. The Honours wereviewing the sculpted stone figures and images.
subsequently found. Sir Walter used to escort hisThis recent discovery by author Kaye Hennig and her
friends at sunset to Calton Hill in Edinburgh to viewphotographer husband, Terrance, provides dramatic
below the Salisbury Crags ancient weathered carvingsnew evidence that may help secure the legendary
that he thought memorialized King Arthur.Arthurians a place in history. Beyond that, the symbols
One distinctive sculpted image that may be amongseen in this ancient art could help explain how the
those seen by Scott is still visible. It resembles aArthurians came to be lost and could provide clues to
"helmeted man." This image was recentlyunravel the mysteries surrounding the legends of the
re-discovered by Kaye Hennig, author of King ArthurHoly Grail. The couple believes that the ancient art
Lord of the Grail, who believes that it was created bywas created inside this burial cave to serve as a
the famous Merlin as a memorial to the real Kingrecord of King Arthur and his Merlin and as memorials
Arthur. This giant head can still be seen quite clearly into the notables of their legendary lost kingdom.
the late afternoon on the Salisbury cliffs just across