Glastonbury
is steeped in legends and mysticism that weave themselves through
much of what you will see and experience at Glastonbury. On this page
we give a briefing to the three main strands of legend and its impact
on what you will see and experience at Glastonbury today.
Joseph of Arimathea And The Holy Grail
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy disciple of Jesus. He also provided
the tomb where the crucified Lord was laid until his Resurrection.
After the death of Jesus legend has it that Joseph accompanied the
Apostle Philip, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene & others on a preaching
mission to Gaul. Lazarus & Mary stayed in Marseilles, while the
others travelled north towards Britain.
At the English Channel, St.Philip sent Joseph, with twelve disciples,
to establish Christianity in the most far-flung corner of the Roman
Empire: the Island of Britain. The year AD 63 is commonly given for
this "event". |
His
boat ran ashore in the Glastonbury Marshes and, together with his
followers, he climbed a nearby hill to survey the surrounding land.
Having brought with him a staff grown from Christ's Holy Crown of
Thorns, he thrust it into the ground and announced that he and his
twelve companions were "Weary All". The thorn staff immediately
took miraculous root, and it can be seen there still on Wearyall
Hill.
At Glastonbury Joseph built the first monastery in Britain. From here
he became the country's evangelist. |
Thorn
Bush On Wearyall Hill |
Further,
Joseph is said to have brought with him to Britain a cup, said to
have been used at the Last Supper and also used to catch the blood
dripping from Christ as he hung on the Cross. A variation of this
story is that Joseph brought with him two cruets, one containing the
blood and the other, the sweat of Christ.
Either of these items are known as The Holy Grail.
One legend goes on to suggest that Joseph hid the "Grail"
in Chalice
Well at Glastonbury for safekeeping.
King
Arthur & Avalon
Glastonbury claims to be Avalon and to be the final resting place
of King Arthur. Nearby hill fort at South Cadbury has long been suggested
as the location for Camelot.
According to legend after Arthur's many exploits and stories concerning
his Knights, the Round Table and the Holy Grail, he was wounded by
Mordred at the battle of Camlan. This was around the year 542 and
he was then taken across the water to the Isle of Avalon for his wounds
to be healed.
Glastonbury Tor,
the hill that rises above Glastonbury, has been linked with the Isle
of Avalon, where King Arthur was buried after his death. This isn't
so farfetched as it may sound, for a millennium ago the water level
was much higher, and the tor would indeed have been an island. Avalon
was also called "the isle of glass" which does suggest similarities
to the name "Glastonbury". |
The
Holy Grail, the object of Arthur's questing, is said to be buried
beneath Glastonbury Tor, and has also been linked to Chalice
Well at the base of the Tor.
The association
of Arthur and Glastonbury goes back at least to the early Middle Ages.
In the late 12th century the monks of Glastonbury
Abbey announced that they had found the grave of Arthur and Guinivere,
his queen.
According to the monks, an excavation found a stone inscribed "Here
lies Arthur, king." Below the stone they found the bones of a
large man, and the smaller skeleton of a woman. The monks reburied
the bones in the grounds of the abbey, where they were a very handy
draw for pilgrims. The site of the grave can be seen today in the
abbey grounds. |
King
Arthur's Final Resting Place?
Glastonbury Abbey |
Mystical Glastonbury - Druids, Earth Godesses, Ley Lines ..
Glastonbury is a centre for mystics, earth spirits and such like,
a substantial part of what makes Glastonbury unique. A walk down Glastonbury
High Street encounters many retail outlets focussed on the broad mystic
subject and you'll encounter quite a few people in characterture strolling
around on their everyday business.
You have a good chance of there being some kind of allied exhibition
or meeting taking place.
Back 2,000 years ago the Celts believed Glastonbury
Tor was a gateway to the underworld. The White Spring at the foot
of Glastonbury Tor is now being turned into a Temple for such people
who are into Mother Earth and mystic bekiefs..
Natural geomagnetic lines in the earth, (ley lines) come together
at Glastonbury.
One such ley line called 'The Michael line'. 'The Michael line' flows
down from the Tor and then passes through the other major Glastonbury
sites – Chalice Well, the Abbey and Wearyall Hill |
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