where does merlin come from?

Answer 1

It was Geoffrey of Monmouth who introduced Merlin into the myths of King Arthur. The name Myrddin is altered to Merlin to avoid a resemblance to the obscene French word merde (meaning excrement). While Geoffrey is remembered most for his character of Arthur, it was Merlin whom he concentrated on, making the prophetic bard a central character of his three books: Prophetiae Merlini, Historiae Regum Britanniae and Vita Merlini. As a result of this second book, where Merlin appears in the tales of the king Vortigern, Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon who reigned immediately before Arthur, Merlin in some later works also became a character in tales of Arthur.

Geoffrey tells only two tales of Merlin. Merlin is begotten on a king's daughter by a demon and the episode is now placed at Carmarthen, in Welsh Caer Myrddin. As a young boy, he was already known for his prophetic abilities, and was consulted by King Vortigern to explain why his castle would collapse every time it was rebuilt. He revealed there was an underground lake, with two sleeping dragons, a white one and red one and explained they, respectively, represented the Saxons and Britons (and portent for things to come).

Nennius had recorded this tale in the Historia Britonum of the 9th century, but attached it to Aurelius Ambrosius rather than Merlin. Geoffrey conflated the two sages and incorporated them into his work, simply and baldly stating that Merlin was also called Ambrosius to cover over his changing of Nennius. A long section of prophecy is added at this point. The first tale tells how Merlin created Stonehenge as a burial place for Aurelius Ambrosius. The second tale tells how by shape-changing magic Merlin enabled Uther Pendragon to enter into Tintagel in disguise and father his son Arthur. These episodes also appear in many later adaptations of Geoffrey's account.

Somewhat later the poet Robert de Boron retold this material in his poem Merlin with many expansions but with details garbled and changed in a way that suggests that the version of Wace, who adapted Geoffrey's account into Anglo-Norman, had entered oral tradition and that this oral tradition was what Robert knew along with some other Merlin tales. Only a few lines of the poem have survived. But a prose retelling became popular and was later incorporated into two other romances.

In Robert's account Merlin is begotten by a devil from hell on a virgin as an intended Antichrist. But his expectant mother, advised by her confessor and counsellor Blaise who realised what was amiss, had the boy baptized at birth to foil this Satanic plot. However, being half-demon, Merlin still had tremendous magical powers to know what was happening past and present and God himself gave him prophetic knowledge of the future.

Robert de Boron lays great emphasis on Merlin's power to change his shape, on his joking personality and on his connection to the Grail. This text introduces Merlin's master Blaise, who is pictured as writing Merlin's deeds which Merlin dictates to him, explaining how they came to be known and preserved. It also connects Merlin with the Holy Grail.

As the Arthurian mythos was retold and embellished upon, Merlin's prophetic aspects were sometimes de-emphasized in favor of portraying Merlin as a wizard and elder advisor to Arthur. On the other hand in Prose Lancelot it is said that Merlin was never baptized and never did any good in his life, only evil. Medieval Arthurian tales abound in inconsistencies.

In the Prose Lancelot and later accounts Merlin's eventual downfall came from his lusting after a woman named Nimue, who coaxed his magical secrets from him, eventually turning the magic he had taught her against him and imprisoning him either in a cave where he died or in a magical and invisible palace where he may live still. This was unfortunate for Arthur, depriving him of Merlin's counsel.

There are three such accounts of Merlin in Arthur's day which also cover the early days of Arthur's reign. The earliest, known as the Vulgate Merlin, includes Robert de Boron's Merlin. It was intended as a sort of prequel to the three romances of the Lancelot-Grail Cycle. An incomplete variant version known as The Book of Arthur also exists. The second is sometimes called the Huth Merlin or the Post-Vulgate Suite du Merlin. It is part of a long prose romance that has not survived intact but which is now known as The Book of the Grail or the Post-Vulgate Cycle, intended as an entire history of the Grail and of Arthur and his knights. This also includes Robert de Boron's Merlin. The third work is called The Prophecies of Merlin and contains long prophecies of Merlin (mostly concerned with thirteenth century Italian politics!), some by his ghost after his death. The prophecies are interspersed with episodes relating Merlin's deeds and with various Arthurian adventures in which Merlin does not appear at all.

Answer 2

The legend of Merlin come from England, during the period of King Aurthur. He was an adviser and magician. Legend has it that Merlin ages backwards, so that he remembers the future. I forget how the two meet, but, I do remember that they meet before Arthur is crowned King. Merlin didn't die, according to legend. Supposedly, be fell in love with a sprite who trapped him either in a tree ( that is why some trees like oak, yarrow, elm, and willow are considered sacred in England. Different versions have Merlin trapped in one of those trees ) or trapped in a the Castle in the Clouds.

Answer 3

the most proper books on the problem are _The Crystal Cave_ and its sequels through Mary Stewart. She did a good number of analyze and tried to stay as actual to the old pre-Malory legends as she ought to. She tells the completed tale of Arthur from Merlin's element of view. Marion Zimmer Bradley in _The Mists of Avalon_ focuses more effective on the Celtic bard/druidic custom, taking the placement that "Merlin" became no longer a unmarried human being's call even if the identify of a particular intense priest contained in the pre-Christian custom. both are truly worth studying.

Answer 4

It all depends on who you read as to the origin of merlin.

Answer 5

Wales

Answer 6

a book

Answer 7

He is part of the Arthurian legend, there is no proof that he actually existed. I like to think that he did.

Answer 8

From your imagination dude, from your imagination.