Merlin - The Wise Wizard Of King Arthur - Arthurian Mythology

Merlin is a legendary figure from stories about King Arthur. He is often depicted as a powerful wizard who helps and gives advice to King Arthur. He is known for his wisdom, magical abilities and involvement in the stories of the Knights of the Long Table. Merlin's origin and the character vary depending on the version of the Arthurian legends. In many stories, he is portrayed as a wise and enigmatic figure who possesses prophetic knowledge and extraordinary magical powers. Merlin first appeared in a work written by a British historian named Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century and later other writers like the French poet Robert de Moron added more to his character. He is considered as a person who engineered the birth of King Arthur and even looked after him, becoming his advisor. According to legends, Merlin's birth was quite unique. It is said that his mother, Princess Adan, had a child with a demonic being called an Incubus. This special birth is believed to be the reason behind Merlin's magical powers and his connection to supernatural realms. Merlin inherited these supernatural abilities from his Incubus father which allowed him to read others' thoughts, predict the future and even shapeshift. When Merlin was born, he was said to have been covered in hair and was able to speak clearly as if he was an adult even though he was just a baby. One story suggests that he was named after his grandfather from his mother's side. Because Merlin's mother had a child with a demon, her life was always in danger as people started to see her as a demon as well. However, Merlin used his supernatural powers to protect and save his mother. Legends of Merlin further extends, claiming that Merlin is a creature born from a demon. In these stories, Merlin is specifically created with the intention of becoming the Antichrist whose purpose is to undo the consequences of the harrowing of hell. After learning about this, Merlin's mother sought help from a priest named Blaze who quickly baptized Merlin after his birth. This act freed him from the power of Satan and changed his intended destiny. There are also stories that portray Merlin as an evil figure. These tales emphasize that Merlin was born from a demon and was never baptized to free him from his demonic inheritance. They suggest that Merlin possessed a deep wisdom that came from demons which is why he was both feared and revered. The Bretons feared him while ordinary people considered him a holy prophet and even worshipped him as their god. Many argue that Geoffrey combined early tales of Meridin and Ambrosius who are two legendary Britain prophets in order to create the mythical sage Merlin. Geoffrey called the composite figure formed from Meridin and Ambrosius as Merlinus Ambrosius which later transformed to as Merlin. According to the stories, when Merlin was young he fought in a war and saw many terrible things that made him lose his mind. He then fled from civilization into the woods and became a wild man of the forest. Living in the forest helped to connect with the nature and to learn to balance the good and the evil. He would change himself into different animals and learn their secrets as well as the secrets of the nature itself. Spending time in the forest helped him become a wiser wizard. During this time there was a king named Vortigern who wanted to build a strong fortress to protect his city. However, every time they tried to build it, the fortress would collapse before its completion. The king was confused and asked his advisors to find why this was happening. The wise men told him that he needed to sprinkle the foundation of the fortress with the blood of a child who didn't have a human father. Since Merlin was known as a child of an incubus, the king called upon him to get his blood. When Merlin came before the king, he told the king that beneath the foundation of the fortress there is a lake where two dragons were fighting. One dragon was white and the other was red. The white dragon represented the Saxons while the red dragon represented the native Celtic Britons. This Merlin interpreted as a sign that the true and rightful king should be brought to the throne. Afterwards, with Merlin's influence, Uther Pendragon became the king. He fought in the battle and just as Merlin prophesied, managed to win the battle. Merlin then became the advisor to the new king. Uther Pendragon desired for Ygritte who happened to be the wife of his enemy and sought Merlin's help in winning her over. Merlin agreed to help but on one condition, that the child born from the union of Uther and Ygritte would be given to him. Using his magic, Merlin transformed Uther to look like Ygritte's husband and the two united. As a result of their union, Arthur was born. As promised, Uther handed over the child to Merlin. The wise advisor took the baby and vanished into the woods, promising that the prince would return when the time was right to claim his rightful throne. So it was Merlin who raised the child and taught him everything he needed to know to become the future king. Uther's time as king didn't last long as he was poisoned by one of his dukes. After Uther's death, Merlin created a magical sword called Excalibur and plunged it into a storm. He said that only the true king of Britain would be able to pull the sword out. When Arthur grew up, he managed to remove the sword from the stone, proving that he was the rightful king. From that point on, Arthur became the king of Britain and Merlin continued to serve him as his advisor. The legends specifically mention how Merlin guided Arthur during the time of war. Merlin had the ability to predict the future and use powerful Merlin also had several apprentices throughout his life. Some of them were Arthur's half-sister Morgan le Fay, Sir Bill, the Lady of the Isle of Avalon, the wise damsel, and Mabon. Merlin shared his magical knowledge with his apprentices, but they didn't inherit his ability to see the future. That was something only Merlin possessed and it could not be taught. However, Merlin had a weakness that eventually led to his downfall. He was attracted to dangerous women and one of them was Arthur's half-sister Morgan le Fay, who ultimately turned into a powerful enchantress. She is sometimes even described as Arthur's greatest rival, at least for a certain period of time. She is also described as someone who Merlin loved deeply, but his feelings were not returned in the same way. In some versions, they are even portrayed as lovers. Merlin's love for Morgan was so great that he went against his own principles and deceived the king to protect her when her plot to harm Arthur failed. This is the only known instance where Merlin intentionally misled Arthur. Merlin's downfall can be attributed to his desire for one of his apprentices, who is often known as Vivian in the legends. She is also referred to as the Lady of the Lake. Different versions of the stories tell different tales, but their interaction plays a significant role in shaping Merlin's fate. Vivian becomes one of Merlin's most talented and important students. However, she deceives Merlin and tricks him to reveal his magical secrets and spells. She then imprisoned Merlin with his own spells so that she could take over his role as King Arthur's advisor. Some stories suggest that she did this to ensure her own safety and to gain power. The exact form of Merlin's prison or grave, as some would prefer to call it, varies in different versions of the legends. It is said that he would be trapped in a cave, a tree, a hole beneath a big log or even in an invisible tower made only of magic with no Even today, many people believe that Merlin is still alive, wanting someone to set him free from his prison. Because of this belief, numerous groups have tried to locate his tomb from time to time. The common image of Merlin in popular culture is that of a kind old man with a pointed hat, a long white beard and holding a wand or star. He has become an inspiration for many Merlin and characters influenced by him are often portrayed as mentors to the hero, guiding and preparing them for their ultimate goals. Whether he is trapped in a hidden prison or resting in an unknown grave, the legend of Merlin remains a source of wonder and curiosity. Considering his extraordinary powers, you can't help but wonder if he will ever be able to free himself from his prison and make a return. What do you think of this story? 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