P

Wolfram von Eschenbach - Parzival    Wolfram von Eschenbach wrote the poem "Parzival" sometime between 1200 and 1210. Wolfram was a Bavarian, knighted by one of the Counts von Henneberg at Massfeld near Meiningen. He was a legendary figure even in his own time. Well known from his lyrics, he is supposed to have been one of the founders of the mastersingers. Wolfram von Eschenbach was present with the German contingent at the siege of Damietta in Egypt during the fifth crusade where he may have been impressed by the actions of the military orders, esp. the Templars ...read more

St. Patrick   'About 389 a son was born to Concessa, wife of a Romano-British deacon called Calpurnius. Calpurnius was a decurion,a Roman citizen of some standing. His father Potitus had been a Christian priest. The family lived at Banna Venta Bernia. The son had two names; Magonus and Patrick'. ......read more

Perceval   Perceval is a Grail Knight   "Sir Percivale, Whom Arthur and his knighthood called the Pure." ....read more

Peredur  from the Mabinogion - 'Earl Evrawc owned the Earldom of the North. And he had seven sons. And Evrawc maintained himself not so much by his own possessions as by attending tournaments, and wars, and combats. And, as it often befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was slain, and six of his sons likewise. Now the name of the seventh son was Peredur, and he was the youngest of them....read the full text here

Perlesvaus    The anonymous 'Perlesvaus' (entitled ‘The High History of the Holy Grail’ by Sebastian Evans in his translation) is believed to have been composed on the continent of Europe, circa 1220-1230, as a continuation of Chretien DeTroyes' unfinished work "Perceval, or the Knight of the Grail".  This romance is rather more mystical in tone than its predecessors although the basic events remain the same. Almost uniquely among the early grail texts this continental romance overtly draws on archaic Celtic legends. The hero of the tale, Perceval, comes from Kamelot in Wales. He is a descendant of Joseph of Arimathea. His grandfather was Alain li Gros. His uncles are King Pelles, the Fisher King and the evil king of Castel Mortel. In the romance Perceval encounters the 'Grail Knights' who wear white surcoats adorned with a red cross. The hero makes the journey to what is recognisable as a Celtic Elysium. ...read the full text here  .....download in pdf eBook format

Phoenicia / Sarras When Phoenicia came under the protection of Rome in 65 BC there seems to have been a resurgence of trading activity. as the ships of Phoenicia traded from port to port all over the known world with less danger than at any other time......read more

Place Names  Geoffrey of Monmouth, Malory etc mention a lot of names which, although they are significant places in their world, seem to be out of place in an Arthurian context. ...read more

Precession and the Ecliptic The Ecliptic is the path the sun follows across the sky. The name comes from the fact that the only time eclipses can occur is when the path of the moon approaches the path of the sun .....read more

'Preiddeu Annwfn' - 'The Spoils of Annwyn'  The Book of Taliesin is a collection of prophetic, religious and historical poems ostensibly written by the sixth century Welsh bard Taliesin. The earliest surviving copy has been dated to 1275. Experts agree that some, but not all, of the material included in the book of Taliesin originated in the sixth century. The poems include 'Preiddeu Annwfn' - 'The Spoils of Annwyn'

Island of Hercules The earliest known direct written mention of Lundy comes from the second century geographer, Ptolemy. He calls Lundy;- 'Heraclea' - 'Isle of Hercules.' He also names Hartland Point, the nearest point of land to Lundy;- 'Heracles Promontory' - 'The Headland of Hercules.' ...read more

The Punchbowl   'The widespread Celtic faith in the magical powers contained in white quartz and rock crystal appears to extend at least as far back in time as the early bronze age, beliefs still held by people today. The presence of white quartz in Celtic sacred wells is so widespread as to prove that this rock was deemed worthy of giving as a votive offering to the gods. ...read more

Pythagoras  Pythagoras was born circa 570 B.C. on the Greek island of Samos. His father is thought to have been a gem-engraver, and it is probable that the Pythagoras would have been trained in the same craft. As a young man of 22, Pythagoras travelled to Egypt, afterwards studying for 3 years in the temples of Tyre and Sidon. ....read more

Monty Python and the Holy Grail    Released in April, 1975, and filmed on a budget of less than £250,000.  "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" explores the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Charged by God with a sacred Quest, Arthur and his Knights set out in search of the Holy Grail. Our Heroes face seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way ranging from a killer Rabbit to the feared Black Knight himself!...read more