The Companion to Arthurian and Celtic Myths and Legends

Two of the most fertile types of myth and legend are the Celtic and the Arthurian.For the first time these are brought together in an authortative guide to the people, places, events and traditions associated with Arthur and Ireland, Wales and the Celtic fringe.Based on wide research and reflecting the latest scholarship, A Companion to the Arthurian and Celtic Myths and Legends provides us with a unique reference tool to some of the most colourful stories and traditions in history. From Gidolin to Lancelot, Tir na n-og to Morgan-le-Fay, and Aed Ruadh to Zel, we discover a wealth of material, Lancelot and Guinevere's love story has been retold many times; that Gidolin was a dwarf who was said to keep flasks of hag's blood warm on the 'hearth of hell' is less well-known.Aed Ruadh was a tyrannical king whose own champion inviked the powers of the sea, sun, wind and firmament against him; Zel is a mythical king who is said to have buried on horseback within Silbury Hill. Romance, magic, betrayal, humour and horror are mixed together within the pages of Mike Dixon-Kennedy's intriguing book.It encompasses the Celtic Golden Age, the invasion of the Romans when Celtic society began to collapse, and the later Celtic revival in the Gaelic countries of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and in England. This richly illustrated A-Z guide is a must-have for all those enthralled by Arthurian history and the Celts, mythology and legends.