What Is The Truth Behind The Legend Of Merlin | Merlin - The Legend | Chronicle
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- Опубліковано 6 сер 2021
- Merlin is the archetypal wizard, Welsh and Celtic in origin but with connections across the water in Cornwall and middle Europe, and, of course, the Arthurian legends. The powerful wizard is portrayed across folklore with many magical powers, including the power of shapeshifting, and is well-known for being King Arthur's mentor, ultimately guiding him towards becoming the king of Camelot. In this documentary, we take a deep dive into the fantastic world of Merlin and his influence in today's society.
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@@nix324 ..did you know that Merlin is akin to 18th century folklore....druidical.
@@nix324 ... I see you think that I knew what you were getting at or rather that I thought that you were not familiar with Merlin the magician and his
Had icicles in his hair and snow up to his hips clearly walked the same route to school as some of our parents lol
Went overseas for the first time when i was 30……To my mums village, turms out the school was literally across the road from her house 😂
🤣🤣🤣 omg for reals!! And they all had to walk MILES in foul conditions!!
Yet my dad had 3 corvettes... 😒
Back in my day we walked 15 MILES....15 MILES to school
Well I m 70 and as a child I had to walk 20 miles to school barefoot in the snow. And it was uphill, both ways!!!!
@@patrickregan3302 I'm 100 and we had to construct railways for the first 40 years of our life to get to school while wearing no shoes , everyday rained and snowed also was 150° kelvin degree million times the 69th power also also also also
Time to fall asleep learning about Merlin
Exactly what I'm doing rn😂
Same!
What a funny coincidence art it not lol I’m done time for sleep sleeps… ✌️
lol… My sleep meds are British narrated historical documentaries🤷🏻♀️. Makes for some crazy dreams which thoroughly entertain my therapist 😂
@@kaebmunson haha love it
Alan Lee - *sits down to sketch Merlin, draws Christopher Lee* 😄
Both Lees are treasures.
what about stan lee
My grandfather and uncle’s name was Merlin and when my uncle passed I was pregnant and named my son Merlin. Idk why I always loved the name.
I'm yo 8ball❤❤❤
That's a sweet sort of tradition.
I like to think Merlin was the last if not one of the last Druids of Celtic Britain.
Didn't the Romans massacre them all?
@@thhseeking This is the reality. The traditions and beliefs of the Druids were systematically erased by the Roman campaign of persecution. The people in these videos are New Agers and Larpers. What little we do know of actual Druid practice through archiology was that they practiced human sacrifice, head hunting, and ritualized cannibalism. Which isn't to say they were savages, mind you... The heads were from fallen enemies to steal their secrets, and the evidence that remains is that the human sacrifices were typically of volunteers during times of emergency, or of failed leaders given to the gods as a peace price. This is what ancient animistic religions are really like. Not this fluffy bunny modern mysticism.
@@thhseeking And the English. Oppression of the Welsh and Welsh culture was carried out by the English / Saxons. To this day the Welsh word for English means Saxon.
@@ANPC-pi9vucertainly there is a limited truth/reality to what you say. However you're missing the whole grand picture of the human race... or our essence, which is Majick. Never doubt it.
@@savannakougar5209 don't tell people what ro do or think, please
"Because stories are important.
People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around.
Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power.
Stories, great flapping ribbons of shaped space-time, have been blowing and uncoiling around the universe since the beginning of time. And they have evolved. The weakest have died and the strongest have survived and they have grown fat on the retelling...stories, twisting and blowing through the darkness."
- Sir Terry Pratchett
As a teenager I read a book called the Crystal Cave. It was so such a good story about Merlin. It made me read Le Morte D'arture.
Merlin, being a Celtic druid, was chosen because the High Council hoped that with his help, the
future King Arthur, who, according to a “Vorausschau”, or, viewing into the future, was to be
born on January 4, 469 and would transform Henoch's teachings of love, peace, harmony and
the freedom and equality for all people into reality. At that point in time, Arthur’s birth was
about 2-3 years away. The goal of the hoped for dissemination of this information to the
barbaric Celts, amongst who Merlin lived, was that they would refrain from degenerate
barbarity and their bloody battles.
Thus, Merlin’s teachings and learnings were enhanced by Plejaren Keridwena’s instructions
and he had developed great visionary skills based on his practiced meditations. Merlin was
unaware that Keridwena was an extraterrestrial. Keridwena was strongly taken with Merlin
because he did much good for the people and was very wise. She fell in love with Merlin and
fulfilled several of his wishes because he realized on several occasions that she had skills far
beyond anything he could explain as a druid.
Have you read the other books in the series? Mary Stewart is the author.
@Monica Starr, There's a copy of that, along with 2 other books about him, in the part about that farm that's supposedly at the base of the hill/mountain where the crystal cave is purported to exist. Near the beginning, I believe (5-10 min in).
Edit: it's @ 14:51 at the Merlin's Hill Centre. As someone else said, they're by Mary Stewart and include The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment.
@@vincentzack is that part of The Crystal Cave book or is that lore that you picked up elsewhere?
I had the opportunity to study La chanson de Rolland in old Roman script, fascinating 🌄
I lived in a town in Wales called Carmarthen. Through Carmarthen runs the river Towy. On the banks of The Towy was a large Oak tree which legend had it hid a door to Merlins home. It was said if tree were ever cut down the river would flood the town. They cut the tree down and the river has flooded the nearby buildings ever since.
I moved to Alderley Edge and a local tale says that in a cave under The Edge sleeps Arthur and his Knights put under a spell by Merlin, they wait in slumber ready to do Battle when Britain is in its hour of greatest need.
Arthur has woken and so have all his knights. that time is now
...és , amit monnd - azt neked kell tenni..... !
.....
The white Brotherhood
@@sylviabriggs4087 - ... és Médiai
mágus pap ..... :)
It's Caerfyrddin! Caer = Fort or Castle. Fyrddin the Welsh mutation of Myrddin, mispronounced by the English speaking world as Merlin ! Carmarthen is a translation of the Roman name for Caerfyrddin.... Moridunum meaning "Sea-Fort"
I think Obi-Wan Kenobi is a great example of a modern interpretation of Merlin. Teacher, mentor, keeper of vast knowledge. Great job on this video!
It's over Melissa... I have the high ground.
Oh please, that is a insult to the force
Yoda is more Merlin
More like Yoda. But really they both played that role
The same magical hermit hiding and giving it all to a child?
Im a boy from Albania. I know the legend of Merlin and king Arthur for more than 10 years ago, lets say when i was 8 year old ( now im 21 ). I have studied this legend many times and this is my favorite legend, especially Merlin part. Merlin made me like magic and now im interested in every aspect of magic. This is great documentary! Thanks a lot!
try to watch the BBC show _Merlin_ produced from 2008-12. you'll will have a blast
Glad you like it, Being English speaking folk, Americans weather they realize it or not this story is basically the same thing as the Christian Bible as Englishmen from great Britain taught us our language and most things we do here today, so naturally this one's very popular in western culture. And honestly The knights of the round table is a more American acceptable version of the Bible anyways as religion is extremists outa context, the knights of the round table is easier to understand for Americans.
@@Notyourhandle777monty python to
@Notyourhandle777 So is Arthur Jesus or is Merlin Jesus?
@@demonflowerchild- No ...
Merlin - Médiai - Magus - pap.
:) *
Nicol Williamson will always be Merlin to me. His voice is legendary.
Although I am not from England, I have to admit that the story of Camelot is the one that has always been fascinating me the most.
I love all the medieval artwork.
It's not an English story,
It’s from Wales, like Jonah in the bible.
Arthur and Merlin fought the English. The English were invaders of Briton.
Arthur, Merlin and Camelot are fictional neither them or the place have ever existed
Merlinus Magus is a character that will never cease to exist. Thank you so much for the history.
god i absolutely adore fantasy novels. having an olden, wise guide that is mysterious in all ways while none is beautiful to me. i am so glad merlin was created
gay
I've always liked the idea of how Merlin aged in reverse, He came in as an old man and as the years went by he grew younger
Benjamin Button'd it up.
Interesting how that subject was completely ignored by this documentary!
I have always loved Mary Stewart’s version of the Arthur and Merlin legend. The Crystal Cave and its 2 sequels make fascinating reading.
Watch Ancient Historia. Arthur is a true legend. Historically Law banned the truth.😊
I still have the books and reread them over and over,
Another beautiful telling of the legend is "The Mists of Avalon".
@@harrietharlow9929 One of my all time favorite books.
@@conniedavidson1807 Mine, too!
We need Merlin in our World to give us some magic.
What Harry Potter wasn't entertaining?
We need Arthur too
You (and people like you) are SO ready for what's coming.
He was an astrologer 🤷historian think everyone believes their lies. Our history is a lie but the truth is coming out
Thank you Ancient Historia ❤
protestantism killed the magic in England
After fn around in modernity all day for fiat currency but definitely mastering capitalism at great expense to my soul…I’m tired. This is all I needed to enjoy my Saturday. Thanks!! ❤️❤️❤️🧙♂️
Hang in there Jypsy! Hope your weekend refreshes you.
I keep working for some other a hole. Definitely not mastering capitalism. I'm ready to return to the old ways.
This makes us so happy ❤️!
Wow that was deep. I feel you though. All will be ok.
@@Sunflowrrunner imma swish my wand for you.
I always found the connection between Merlin and Odin fascinating
Most gods have a connection that are a different interpretation of the same thing with different names. Often names that are close or at least derived from the elder ones.
Merlinnek, nincs köze Odinhoz... !
:)
- a Hunokhoz , Médekhez, igen..... !
*
A legend till the end of time ~ simply because we need him. ❤
You know "Fin" "the end" "it's over" every book ends lol
Always
Not need but definitely follow
This is awesome! The more I can learn about the Merlin, the better! I'm probably weird, but I'm devolted to both him and Lord Herne. I've just learned to go with it. Merlin is so many things rolled into one. I see him as one linked to that Otherworld, even though so many on this plane saw that as madness, somewhat analagous to the Holy Fool in Eastern Orthodoxy--one who is judged insane by those whose spiritual eyes do not see beyond this world, but who actually has a very strong connection to Deity and can actually be a bridge from the Otherworld to this. Thank you so much for posting this!.
History is just so Interesting 👌 I love to put docs like this in background while i work. Thanks for the vid 🔥🔥
Our pleasure 🛡️
But this is NOT history. It IS however NONSENSE !!!
@@ChronicleMedieval Well I get that this video is about Merlin, and yes the author of Lord of the Rings did have discussions about his myths - but I find it a bit pity that here Gandalf is based, supposedly on Merlin rather than in fact also the Finnish myths within our national epic of Kalevala, where stands the character of Väinämöinen - a wise man and wizard in his own right able to sing a man into swamp among other things. And he by the way NEVER was 'based' on Merlin no, no. Väinämöinen is utterly a character of his own, from completely different mythology of his own - and as it is obvious that Finnish is the language up on which the Elven tongue in the Lord of the Rings is proven to be based it CAN NOT be then claimed that Gandalf was born merely out of Merlin, for Tolkien was absolutely educated enough to know of our mythology as well. Short of would deserve a mention, that Merlin is not the only forefather of wizardly characters in stories generally speaking.
Medieval is the most interesting period
@@stephmill8547 Oh? You possess advanced degrees in the relevant fields as these fine folks in this documentary do? Where did you receive your doctorate from, Oh Random Internet Guy?
Alan Lee! What a legend. His art is so breathtaking.
I love it that you mentioned Mary Stewart's books. That's my favourite version of the Merlin story
The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own.
Loved seeing Mary Stuart's work. I've read them all when I was a teen ager and loved them all.
I am always watching British history documentaties, so I recently came across your channel. Thank you for all of the great documentaries you upload on your channel, ones I cannot find anywhere else. This was another great one. Thanks from Louisiana, USA
That's a lovely post Charity. Right back at ya, As a Brit I follow many channels on US History which are fascinating. From the Revolutionary war, Civil war and how your heroic countrymen and women formed such a fantastic Nation. One if Britain's great achievements is relaying so much of our heritage to the US.
Hi, Charly-I am from Vancouver, BC, Canada I noticed that you are from Louisiana, I was wondering if you ever watched (Swamp People) It was one of my favorite shows. I used to get it on History Channel here in Canada, however in my apartment the management cut some of our cable channels due to the recession we are in, rather than raise our rent they did that to us so I bought a laptop and got internet instead,a good investment. Anyways the Swamp People are about people in your state who hunt alligators. It looks dangerous and I guess most are good God fearing family's, most are French, most likely those who stayed way back before France sold the land to the US. Anyways I hope you are doing OK way out there, the state is dangerous just because of the hurricanes you get out there so stay safe and God Bless-from Canada.
If I can I would like to reccomend a Documentary called Joan of Arc, its a short vidieo about 45 minutes, I am sure you would enjoy the true story about a young French peasant girl who commanded a army and saved France from the English.I am not sure where it is but you can use youtube browser to find it, it would be worth your time. God Bless.
@@dennisexplorer487 thank you for your kind words. Yes, I watch Swamp People. It is a very true depiction of the Cajun culture and that hunting. I actually hunted alligators once when I was a teenager. Swamp People takes place in south eastern Louisiana. I grew up on the opposite side of the state, near Texas. Now, I live in the middle of the state. When I was a girl, my dad would take me hunting and fishing. I have hunted rabbit and squirrel. We have caught shrimp and crabs. I dont do that anymore.
@@jamesthurbin2185 I didnt notice your post until this morning. I am currently enthralled in the Peasant's Rebellion. That was a complicated part of history. I am proud of our connection to England. Honestly, the history of Britian is the history of America.
If you are interested in books about the American Civil War, you can read the series by Shelby Foote. The books are long, but his writing style is amazing. His history books are more a novel as opposed to a dry history book.
I hope you are well.
I presumed he was an alchemist/ could identify metals, plants and rocks. And that he used his wisdom with those things to help mentor others who struggled to understand the complex science back then. Often times, I just realise that people believed in mythical beings because it was hard to educate themselves, still discovering animals and plants. History and mythology is so fascinating. I often wonder how they were so smart for their time.... without being given. The answers like this generation...
Who says that he wasn't real??
99.9% of the world believes in Jesus.
@@lunastar776 What are you talking about? They never said he wasn't real.. you sound like a bot. Go away
Each generation has its academics. Stop disrespecting modern life. This is literally a fallacy called hasty generalization.
That story about the fight between the two dragons where Merlin predicts that Britain will rule the world seems to have come true quite astonishingly
Every nation has legends like that 😅
@@silasfrisenette9226 Not so specifically
As I understand it, though, the "prediction" was first reported after it had come true 🤔
Prophecies never come true, except when people DESPERATELY want them to come true.
@@silasfrisenette9226 Exactly. Its all hindsight. Like Nostradomous. No one read one of his "predictions" and actually prevented something bad that happened.
It's when you look back after like ohhhhhhhh, nowww it makes senseeeee. Meh.
That dairy woman in Wales is a lovely soul and I want her to teach me everything she knows.
I think the Welsh accent is the most beautiful accent in the world.
I am born and bred Welsh and live in Wales,we are the original ancient Britons,Merlin was indeed Welsh but his Welsh name is Myrddyn,Carmarthen it’s anglicised name is in Welsh Caerfyrddyn Myrddyns fort.👍🏻🙂
@@hammondOT thank you from a Welshman 🙂
You already know it.
Thank you for the wonderful information! I recently found out Merlins real name as it should be said and pronounced. British history is so rich, fascinating, and I can never get enough!
This was a great documentary on this mysterious entity, not talked about in history. It was a day today. Thank you for your hard work. It made my evening!!!
Thanks for tuning in!
"not talked about in history" because it's a myth.
Just like how Robin Hood is "not talked about in history" because it's a myth.
Myth isn't History.
At best, a Myth *may be History without proof.
@@Mohawks_and_Tomahawks No, they arent myths. They're legends. Get your mind out of indoctrination and false historical "facts" and expand your tunnel vision.
@@Light-Shift Agreed. A legend has some basis in some historical premise, but the details have been lost, and so the tales grow. I've been fascinated by the lineages of the kings and queens of England, who start with a progenitor named Odin. Myth? Legend? History? Fascinating!
@@JanCarol11 very well said 😏👍
Man. I'd love to see an hour long documentary where scholars examine Christian Mythology in the same tone as this...
PLEASE I NEED THAT😭
This would be incredible but would probably get so much pushback from Christians.
Dragons in genesis
@@erinsymone1645 google "what does the Talmud say about Christians"
@@erinsymone1645 Almost certainly because Christians will be completely unable to find anything they actually believe in it...
I'm glad she wraps that up for us in the first three minutes. I nearly watched the whole thing!
I have recently finished rereading Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave and her two wonderful sequels, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. They are well written, rich in content and just fun.
Thanks to you I have at last found book 3 of the series and just ordered it. Merci...
I find it interesting that this documentary Completely and Totally Ignored the aspects of Merlin starting out as old and growing younger as time passed!!! 🤔
They couldn't cover every text in one hour.
My favorite version of Merlin is Nicol Williamson in Excalibur [1981]. His wit and that he's outsmarted by a fish in the river is perfect to his otherwise intense power. Also, his description of "The Dragon" is esoteric.
Merlin was advisor to pendragon, healer, part Nostradamas, and mentor, guide to Author. I would say Merlin studied healing somewhere and a little bit of other things to combat the evil of men. I like M K Hume's version of Merlin, where she has him growing up studying healing, which many of his time would be confused with majic. Then later becoming advisor/healer to the kings of his time.
They would have been correct in their assumption that the manipulation of energy to correct the 'subtle body' of another person is magic.
It's like someone goes out into the land to learn the creation and come back and share or use the wisdom they receive.
Yes! Thats what it's all about, the adventure of life 😎 we share wisdom with whom we choose
Merlin was a G
I love it! Thank you for Upload it :D
Mary Stewart has a really good series of books on Merlin starting with The Crystal Cave.
She does a good job of crossing the legend of Merlin the magician and “humanizes” many of his skills. Though she maintains many parts of his prophetic nature.
Edit, I wrote this comment before I got to the part about her. 😂
Thank you for this comment, I just checked this out from the library ☺
The Mists of Avalon is excellent also
Read all of Mary Stewart's books (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, and finally, The Wicked Day.) Great reads! This was back when the movie Excalibur came out in 1981, and I became almost obsessed with all things King Arthur. Referring to the sword as Caliburn instead of Excalibur took some getting used to, but still loved the books.
Have read them all a few times. Just about to finish listening to them on audible as I write this. Love these books
@@deborahsunflower939 I've read Mists Of Avalon multiple times
The wet weather of Wales is central to the entire myth. So it begins: West Africa across the sea, to the Caribbean, to boil in the Gulf of Mexico, then a northward turn to assault the Mississippi basin, northward again through the great cities, then speeds off to clip Canada, back to the North Sea and a long northward run to slam into Ireland….then across another sea to hammer Wales. Amazing journey the water takes to shape our lives, our dreams, our landscapes.
Love the knowledge thank you so much 🙂
The knight that built the round table was Sir Cumference.
Merlin was probably some science teacher from our day in age. Knowing all sorts of crazy science shit that was perceived as magic.
no he wasn't
@@MidwestFarmToys Not a chance you could know about something-Not possible...My last reply
magic is kept secret people will misuse itar so best its be kept in secret
he’s mythological
Woe...woe to us of the so called modern age. We have lost so much. Turned out backs to our true history. Abandoned hope in exchange for money and the illusion of power. Good God, keeper and source of the Brightest of Lights; I pray that you will rescue your lost children.
Truely spoken!😔
We shall return to the ways of Odin and Asgard.
This is such a silly sentiment that has existed ever since humans have been conscious of history .. Romans complained about having strayed from the traditions and ways of the ancestors ... It's ridiculous
@@silasfrisenette9226 in a way it's comforting that people change so little after such a long time. This is definitely the most dramatic "the old days were better" rant I've seen recently though.
These shows remind me old history channel segments that you watch at like 11pm. So glad to see these. You have a subscriber!
Merilns beard!
I love Welsh mythology which is, for me, true as true! I have Welsh blood as my G,G, Grandfather was from the Brecon Beacons & although obviously i never met him, my mother has described this mountain of a man ( she was a child when he died) very tall she thought about 6ft 5ins, slender with a very long, to his trouser belt, snow white beard & his hair of which he had a mane of it, also snowy white & gentley curled was long.
everyone in the family was in awe of him & a little afraid with his booming voice.
My mother wasnt afraid of him & told him so, when she was 5yrs old & he loved it
He was born & bred in Wales but married a young woman from
Northumberland & its how my mothers people came to live here
GGGrandfather John Thomas Lloyd Jones was steeped in Merlin Lore & through my grandmother to my mother & me told of all the stories GGGrandfather Jones knew.
He said he was a Bard & a proper member of the Fraternity of Bards & used to travel all over Wales storytelling, for a whip round, a good meal & best bed for the night.
I wish id met him, all i have is a sepia type photo which needs restoring but you can see his hight & the almost halo of white hair down his shoulders & long beard he was about 85yrs old yet still a handsome man.
He was born in 1842 & died in 1928 or there abouts
( my grandmother was a Victorian ..just ! Born in 1898)
Dressed in breeches, long socks & yes buckle shoes, fancy shirt with bow & a 3/4 cloak, his Barding attire.
His day profession was as a Gunsmith & these were like duelling pistols in those days he also did Blacksmithing & told of Wayland Smith stories.
It makes me proud to know im from such stock, as well as a proud Northumbrian
As well as part Basque & Scandinavian whoa what a mixture!! Lol
Beautiful country in Wales, quite magnificent & ive been to the
Brecon Beacons & its wild down there, literally primeval forests like the ones far north of Sweden & Norway, never seen forests like that anywhere but Wales & Scandinavia.
Im sure some parts are untouched from countless millenia! Plus they are palpable places, you have to have stood in these forests to know what i mean, there is awareness & intelligence of a kind in those trees & its a humbling experience to have stood in their presence
Just amazing & sobering & almost unknowable.
With resspect,utter cobblers!
@@hogwashmcturnip8930
Thank you for your reply
& your respect, i also respect your opinion, everyone is entitled to say what they think & feel.
At least you took the time to reply & that was nice of you.
Ok well have a good coming week end, cheers 🙋♀️
@@itallia666 totally agree it was really great you shared this story, I'm wdlsh and my GG was the same
Merlin was born and raised in the borderland forests in South Scotland
Bollocks
It's interesting but I am surprised that there wasn't any exploration of Merlin's connection to the older Woden/Odin of Germanic/Scandinavian myth because the venn-diagram of overlap between the two is huge. I suppose if that connection was ever explored it would take twice the time to cover, though, with how complex the two characters are.
well said
I was expecting more of this too!
Why would they be comnected? They come from two differen mythologies. One Celtic and the other Nordic.
@@Knappa22 look up proto Indo-European myth. Everything is connected.
@Knappa22 not mythology same story different cultures they could very much be 1 and the same
Amazing documentary, thatbk you, 🧙♂️
I know this documentary is about Merlin,but the thing I find hardest to believe is that people disliked the "nasty wilds" so much. Especially considering how disease and poo filled the cities were then.
it was probably very dangerous and also not safe from brigands or whatever other unsavoury folk that would take advantage of you. but yeah, I also wonder the same as you do sometimes.
A lot less than modern popular culture depicts them as.
@@2ears1mouth786 yes I think Jamaica Inn did a good job with that
@@2ears1mouth786 in that time the majority lived on the land not in cities
I did notice this too, for historians they seem to have a very modern perspective on things. As if they lack an imagination that would allow them to connect more deeply to the people of the time. For a character as interesting as Merlin they tell this history in a way that seems almost lifeless, or should I say devoid of magic. A side effect of too much time in modern academia probably, using our imagination tends to be frowned upon in such circles.
I am _so_ glad that my first real introduction to Merlin was in “The Once and Future King,” which I read at about the age of 14 and a few times since! To me, it was a very literate and _very_ humorous retelling of the Merlin tale, and because of this I’ve never been at all interested in taking the legend seriously. Even though I’m an avid reader of history and biographies,I have no idea how people allow themselves to become so fixated on periods of the past that they cease to live in the “now.”
That is unfortunate. The Once and Future King is for children. Read Mary Stewart’s Merlin Trilogy, or even T. A. Barron. Much better. Mary Stewart’s books are much more substantial, much more real than TOAFK which is…fluff.
"I have no idea how people allow themselves to become so fixated on periods of the past "
1. "imagination"
2. love dressing up
3. "the now" can be quite a drag
Being from America we don't have a very long history so it's really fun to learn about ancient European history. Keep them coming.
Got to be honest, it always bugs me when Americans say that. American history doesn't just start with 'white man' and for that matter neither does Australian and New Zealand history, what about native Americans? Aztecs? And Aborigines in Australia. Their history goes back even further than even this does.
@@markorollo. I'm not saying the native American history doesn't go back farther. The tribes that were here in the U.S. didn't have a writen language so there isn't much to study or even know about them other than oral traditions. I personally dislike when others assume and take out of context comments and construe them.
@@aethellstan I'm fully aware that they are fictional characters but they do give some insight of the historical culture during that time period.
You guys do have interesting history as well...the Western world... American Natives...I read a lot about it as well.
Paul Bunyan is a great Myth of the forest?? So may more I can’t think of them at this the me, oh yes Paul Henry of the railroad!!
I think what I love about this style of documentaries is that they say so much but so little. They make it really easy to tune out and dissociate which is peaceful
That was great. And I look forward to discovering those pieces of media you haven't heard of right along with you!
That kid considering that there might not be magic for a moment and then equivocating the thought with the lack of reason to exist is the best part of this entire doc.
Maybe she still beeives in Santa too....
Children should guide us into delusion. What a better world that would be. /sarcasm
Merlin is adventure, freedom, hope, wisdom, imagination, bravery, and redemption. All the ideals we aspire to.
Yet find so hard to achieve
@@melska because most of the world is under the sand tribe Abrahamic spell.
"Merlin, Merlin, Merlin" - nobody ever talks about poor Taliesin, he of the Radiant brow!
I'm the proprietor of Excalibur Shovels. We use Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot, Sir Kay & Galahad. The Merlin tradition lives on! 🧙♂️
Oh, that little black book 📖 is such a gem 💎 how it's managed to last for centuries is beyond me. Amazing video.
Fantastic stuff. Really enjoyed this.
Great to hear!
Named my daughter Avalon after this legend ..
In welsh means ‘Isle of apples’
Merlin has the knowledge we seek. Thank you! Great video.
As Merlin is sleeping against my chest, I am watching these documentaries. I have always loved Merlin, and loved the past stories. ❤ I hope to have a new story of Merlin to add to people's book shelves one day. Keeping the traditions up of making him forever loved by all.
Nice I also love Merlin 🤘
bad idea sleazstack.
@@DG-lz4jx are you talking to me
@@randyspencer5937 I think they are a child. I would ignore them.
@@francegamble1 Not a child- just a Fallen Angel. And like Randy, I agree your falseness is nice indeed. You mud flooders like to continue in the old world traditions like incestual cave dwellers. The world needs to keep dead myths alive to keep the dark ages going.
Maybe instead of building upon the old shadows you pale in, be truly creative and make up your own.
This documentary inspires me to embrace my own magic, thank you for uploading! Many blessings!
The documentary literally starts off by talking about how Merlin clearly began as a piece of literary fiction... lol
@@NightTimeDay magic is real bro. Merlin is still fiction
@@sullieskye bro you're on some harry potter shizz LOL
Want to enroll in merlins spiritual school?
thats precisely what Merlin is meant to do. pearls before swine you know 😉
Fabulous documentary, wonderful to trace the history and journey of The Merlin.
Perhaps we can mount an expedition to find Merlin in his glass prison. As the story goes, his wife stole his magic secrets and imprisoned him in a glass prison. Wizards are immortal, are they not? Let's go find Merlin and free him.
Theory: Merlin was a scientist who knew about damast steel.
He showed his buddy Arthur, who was a blacksmith. You know, the guys pouring metal into a stone form and getting a sword out of it. ;-)
26:52 The clouds form a hooded Merlin figure - in my imagination anyway! Great documentary, thank you!
I believe I'm seeing the same thing... Like he's lookin to the left..
Where? 😂😅
Did you *seriously* refer to Geoffrey of Monmouth-author of the *immensely* influential *HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN,* as “an obscure, little-known 12th-century clergyman?!?!? To anyone who studies British medieval and early modern literary and cultural history, Geoffrey of Monmouth is not “obscure” at all.
The idea of Merlin as an advisor is sound. Reason being is that someone who is willing to learn in life,
and truly understand the world, make the best advisors. Usually, people who are unable to separate their
personal lives from decisions that need to be made in life, are the ones you need to watch out for.
"The one who is at peace with him/herself, his/her knowledge, his/her understanding and the world at large, is the
one that offers the most. Priceless will be the thoughts of such an individual." SJM
This is fascinating, but what is it with the recurring dub over of all the whispering voices? Did Peter Jackson edit this video? Is Merlin putting on the One Ring?
Merlin/Myrddin was Welsh
🏴
They say his birth place was carmarthen.
The Arthurian legend is indeed Welsh, Tintadgal Castle is rumoured to actually be Camelot! Btw I don't actually know correct spelling but I don't think I'm far off!🤣👍
We are led to believe so, however merlin was a wild man born and raised in the the southern Scottish forests (Pictish lands)
@@limhan3209 I think when people claim Merlyn, Arthur etc to be Welsh, they don't mean that they're necessarily from modern day Wales in western Britain. They mean that they were Native Britons/Welsh that, at one time, inhabited all of Britain before the Scots pushed them down from the north, and the English from the east.
There is also a Cornish connection. All of the main megalithic sites used by them is in Cornwall, lady of the lake. Entrance to Avalon, stone circles, king Arthur’s hall, dozmary pool, davidstow Celtic war tribe meeting monument. There is even a knights Templar building from 12th century near by this area with depictions and stone engravings of the holy grail… also tintagel and merlins cave… Cornwall has just as much Celtic significance if not more than Scotland and wales. Is was even in Cornwall, then “dumnonia” that the last of the Celtic tribes and kings along side Dane vikings fought Wessex. Wales fell to Wessex way before Cornwall…
I read Jack Whyte's Skystone series of books. It is about the legend of Arthur and Merlin and their stories along with the founding of Camelot and Britain . Very good books and detailed, highly researched. jack Whyte is a Scotsman, now living in Canada. Hard to beat.
I read them too and thought they were amazingly written. He lived not far from me in BC so I phoned him one day and had an interesting conversation with him about how he wrote the books and how he researched the material.
The prophet Samuel and King Saul : Merlin the magician and King Arthur
Myrddin Wyllt (Welsh: [ˈmərðɪn ˈwɨɬt]-"Myrddin the Wild" Myrddin Emrys ("Ambrosius"), Merlinus Caledonensis ("of Caledonia") or Merlin Sylvestris ("of the woods").[2] The real Merlin, Myrddin Wyllt, was born in about 540 and had a twin sister called Gwendydd. He served as a bard to Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio, a Brythonic or British king who ruled Arfderydd, a kingdom including parts of what are now Scotland and England in the area around Carlisle. Gwenddoleu was killed in the Battle of Arfderydd, near modern Longtown, in 573 during a defeat by King Rhydderch Hael of Strathclyde.
Merlin was born and raised in the borderland forests in South Scotland
Do you think it’s real or mythology? Personally I think a bit of both
Today my magic is in the music I play
@@Hecateofcrossroads because of the way that history was done in those days, it is VERY difficult to discern reality or combination of persons LOL BUT, it IS mystical . . . .
Myrddin had to be changed to Merlin, because Myrddin doesn't go well into Latin :P
Curious that the expert would say that with Tolkien's "Merlin," Gandalf, he's not talking about the divine (42:00). Within Tolkien's mythos, Gandalf is literally an angel. On a symbolic level, Gandalf is a Christ figure, dying and rising. How much more divine can you get?
I dont know why but when i was a kid my older brother told me Merlin was buried under Mt Rushmore and the only way to get to his tomb was melt mt Rushmore with acid.
How do I find the guy at the end of the documentary with the paintings I would really like to find him and purchase one if it all possible
It was mentioned that Tolkien did not depict as a divine figure, on the contrary: Gandalf was in fact an angel sent in human form as a form of guidance to counter Sauron.
An oversight not to mention T.H. White's wonderful interpretation of Merlyn and White making his message relevant to twentieth century conflict, which in my opinion White succeeded better in doing than did either Tolkien or Lewis.
I like Mary Stewart's books better
@@patrickday4206 OK but I'm not so sure Stewart's make any attempt to have relevance to 20th century. They're more historical novels with mystical settings.
Rosemary Sutcliff also wrote a decent novel with even greater focus on historical plausibility but again, no attempt to speak across the centuries. White really pushed the parallels and analogies.
Wow. Very good..Enjoyed that.
Thought The Mists of Avalon deserved a mention too though 💚
Today's Merlin lived in the apartment under mine in Glastonbury for a few years. Best days of my life. I felt like I was living in a fairy tale. Wizard of oz suited me to a tee. I even had my beautiful cairn terrier Corry who looked just like Toto. The world would be so cool if the Glastonbury way of life was adopted
Merlin is amazing but it is sad that Taliesin the Bardic equivalent is often overlooked. Taliesin is said to have been Merlin's bardic mentor.
Or vice-versa? I've seen them interchangeably.
exactly
@@JanCarol11 Or Geoffrey of Monmouths used HP Lovecrafts trick and gave authenticity to their characters by associating them with actual historical figures.
He created much of his tales out of other welsh legends, and his invention inspires later authors to add to the legend from across Europe.
IMHO Taliesin was an inspiration for Merlin, and the conversation is similar to another ancient welsh tale, which is said to be between King Arthur the legend and the historical warchief he was inspired by.
The mystery is discovering the much more mundane original inspiration
Frank Lloyd Wright was a fan, and named his house after him.
"sad that Taliesin the Bardic equivalent is often overlooked"
Sounds like he needed a higher quality Influencer of the day....
I’m always amazed when historians give presentations about the influences and origins of King Arthur and Merlin and never notice the main one.
Europeans and specifically English writers were steeped in biblical history and the stories in the Bible shaped everything in the culture.
One of the most influential parts of the Bible is the Old Testament story of the obscure shepherd boy David from the most humble family in the most humble tribe among the Israelites.
David was selected and anointed by the prophet Samuel and eventually became the King of Israel and drove out their enemies as well as brought about a renaissance of the culture and a golden age of the nation before it all collapsed again due in part to his own immoral behaviour and that of his son Solomon.
So the wizard Merlin is the miracle working prophet Samuel, the boy to be king Arthur is David (who also slew a giant and as with Uther, took another man’s wife and impregnated her with a future great king in Solomon) and the rebellious nephew/son Mordred is David’s son Absalom who rebelled against and fought a civil war against his father King David.
There are, of course, other influences of the Arthurian myth, but the origin story of the boy to be king David certainly influenced Monmouth and others to a great degree and the similarities should be noted in any examination of the myth.
I'll be doing a presentation of this on my channel at some point as it's a very interesting topic.
And you missed the point that both the Jesus and Arthur stories you are comparing are based on the ancient Egyptians mythology of the Sun progressing through the zodiac throughout the course of an earth year and the ecliptic grand solar year.
Jesus, Joseph, Moses, Sargon, Arthur, Osiris, et al are all the sun with their 12 followers/tribes/apostles/sons/wives..... you get the point.
I like it! Have you heard of Bill Donahue? He has a channel and he breaks down allegory and parables in a unique way
@@mohnjarx7801 I haven't but I'll check it out. Thanks.
@@mohnjarx7801 There are more educated Biblical apologists on YT who refute that claim.
Here I'm more pointing out how many aspects of the King Arthur myth are actually just the prophet Samuel and David transplanted to Anglo Saxon mythology.
@@mohnjarx7801 I'll take a look. Thanks
I've never been so bored hearing about Merlin.
I am so mind blown! I thought Merlin was someone real, veiled in magic and exaggeration 😅 I love this documentary! Thank you
Awesome seeing my ‘Schooling town’ Caerleon on this great documentary 👍
Schooling town, how British is that?
@@aethellstan I stand corrected... feel better? Just replace documentary with video.
hello fellow struggler, in this dark world, i thought i'd let you know that God loves you and to love yourself always.
How could you not mention aleister Crowley as a Merlin like figure! Hahaha it’s all good, love this doc.!
Great video I was completely impressed
Wise-ard, wizard is the fable, Merlin King Arthur's literal and figurative, Oldest friend. Nick names Merlin the wise, he was Arthur's personal advisor to the throne.
Often, too often in fact, the background music drowns out what the people are saying. Except for when the woman is talking. The woman is good.
A beautiful piece.
I love the flints and his attention to detail with adding them. However, it shows he didn't understand the character as Gandolfini didn't need a flint and steal to light his pipe.
merlin was REAL
The entire story is allegory.
Merlin was the moon, King Arthur the sun. His knights the 12 houses of the Zodiac.
The grail mystery is also allegory for the pursuit of perfection, which cannot be obtained, but the quest itself is the improvement of oneself.
Other mystery schools use the same allegory worded differently, "Turning lead into gold", "Making a good man better", etc.
Yeah you got that new age knowledge that is nothing but drivel
Great documentary. Some of the background music was like nails on a chalkboard.
@Thursdaysindecember... cacophony...I agree...