Merlin or King Arthur

profen4 · Nov 10, 2010

Hi guys,

I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is a symbol associated with King Arthur (or the knights of the round table) or Merlin. I've scoured the net to no avail.

If there isn't anything, you guys have any thoughts as to what symbol might be good for this? Obviously I thought of a circle for the round table, but it's too boring. But I don't want it to be overly complex either.

In a related question, do you know of a symbol that is related to 'sacrifice' but not "the cross." preferably something that would have been taken from the same time period (or earlier).

Thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it.

regdog · Nov 10, 2010

Well there's the red dragon which was the symbol of the Pendragons.
You could use a sword for Excalibur.
A staff could be used to symbolize Merlin

Kenn · Nov 10, 2010

If I think of King Arthur, I think of Excalibur, although it is not really a symbol. He was a Pendragon (which means head dragon) and I think that a red dragon was his battle standard. I seem to recall Merlin prophecising about a battle of two dragons (Celts and Saxons) also.

A lamb is sometimes used to symbolise sacrifice (as in sacrificial lamb), but I don't know about the period you are interested in.

dclary · Nov 10, 2010

He was Arthur Pendragon (last dragon) -- so I imagine a Dragon Rampant would be a good symbol. You could go with whatever you can make work in context of the story, though.

Merlin was a druid or sorceror depending on your source. He would have no outward symbol I would think.

PeterL · Nov 10, 2010

Arthur's symbol was a red dragon.

profen4 · Nov 10, 2010

Thanks guys. That actually helps a lot!

DavidZahir · Nov 11, 2010

Arthur pretty much means "bear."

hammerklavier · Nov 12, 2010

In "the sword and the stone," Merlin always had an owl companion.

Carmy · Nov 12, 2010

Merlin was reputedly a Druid. Try a triskele.

Deleted member 42 · Nov 12, 2010

Carmy said:
Merlin was reputedly a Druid. Try a triskele.

Err, only on modern texts.

Now, there is a case for making him a swine-herd, via the Suibne tradition.

Also a bad poet driven mad by love, who loses his wits and subsists on acorns he wrests from pigs, whilst living as a mad poet hermit under an oak tree.

shaldna · Nov 13, 2010

Merlin was supposed to be able to turn into some sort of hawk (a merlin?) IIRC so I would have associated the bird with him.

Carmy · Nov 13, 2010

Okay, I'll accept that.

Merlin was still a Celt so a triskele would be apt.

Rufus Coppertop · Nov 13, 2010

shaldna said:
Merlin was supposed to be able to turn into some sort of hawk (a merlin?)

In which particular tradition?

It would surely have to be pre-Galfridian as there is nothing about this in Monmouth or the Prose Vulgate Cycle.

Xelebes · Nov 13, 2010

Lady-in-the-Lake? In know it's a plot element but it is an English archetype because of it. Where in Slavic cultures a lady-in-the-lake is a bad omen, it is a good omen in English world. Or go with the Rampant Red Dragon.

Deleted member 42 · Nov 13, 2010

shaldna said:
Merlin was supposed to be able to turn into some sort of hawk (a merlin?) IIRC so I would have associated the bird with him.

That's also modern, and not derived from medieval tradition or texts.

Merlin or King Arthur

profen4

regdog

The Scavengers

Kenn

New kid, be gentle!

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

PeterL

profen4

DavidZahir

Malkavian Primogen

hammerklavier

It was a dark and stormy night

Carmy

Deleted member 42

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Carmy

Rufus Coppertop

Xelebes

Delerium ex Ennui

Deleted member 42