The Grail: From Celtic Myth to Christian Symbol

314 Pages·1991·11.688 MB·English

by  Roger Sherman Loomis

FROM CELTIC MYTH TO
CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
Roger Sherman I^oomis

THE GRAIL
FROM CELTIC MYTH TO
CHRISTIAN SYMBOL

THE GRAIL
FROM CELTIC MYTH TO
CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
BY
ROGER SHERMAN LOOMIS
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street,
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Copyright © renewed 1991 by Princeton University Press
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Loomis, Roger Sherman, 1887—ig66.
The Grail : from Celtic myth to Christian symbol /
Roger Sherman Loomis,
p. cm. (Mythos)
—
Includes index.
ISBN o-6gi-02075-2 (alk. paper)
1. Grail Romances—History and criticism. 2. Christian art and
—
symbolism Medieval, 500-1500. 3. Arthurian romances
— —
History and criticism. 4. Mythology, Celtic. 5. Grail Legends.
—
I. Title. II. Series: Mythos (Princeton, N.J.)
PN686.G7L6 tggi
398'. J5J dc20 gi—18021 CIP
—
This book was originally © 1963 by Roger Sherman Loomis,
and published by the University of Wales Press
(in the United States by Columbia University Press).
The Princeton Mythos edition is reprinted
by agreement with the Loomis Estate
and by arrangement with the University of Wales Press.
First Princeton Paperback printing in the Mythos series, 1991
10 98765432
Princeton University Press books are printed on acid-free paper,
and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the
Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the
Council on Library Resources
Printed in the United States of America
TO
GERTRUDE SCHOEPPERLE LOOMIS
AND
LAURA HIBBARD LOOMIS
IN
GRATEFUL AND LOVING
REMEMBRANCE

Whether in the Teutonic countries, which in one of their corners
preserved a record of old mythology, or in the Celtic, which allowed
mythology, though never forgotten, to fall into a kind of neglect and
to lose its original meaning, the value of mythology is equally
recognizable, and it is equally clear that mythology is nothing more
than Romance. Everything in the poets that is most enthralling
through the mere charm of wonder, from the land of the Golden
Fleece to that of the Holy Grail, is more or less nearly related to
mythology.
w. p. ker. The Dark Ages, p. 47
La grande originalite de notre romancier, c’est d’avoir ressenti
a la fois le charme, en verite tres prenant, des contes celtiques et
l’incomplete satisfaction qu’ils apportent a l’esprit.. . . L’imagination
est ravie, mais l’inteUigence deconcertee: elle aspire a ordonner ce
chaos charmant. L’auteur de la Queste etait loin de se douter que tout
cela n’avait pas toujours ete une vaine fantasmagorie, et que ces
contes etranges n’etaient pour la plupart que l’expression deformee
d’antiques croyances paiennes. Mais il eut la clairvoyance rare de
comprendre qu’en l’etat ou les Fran^ais de son temps le trouvaient, le
merveilleux celtique, malgre son charme incomparable, n’etait plus
qu’une forme vide. Ce qu’il y introduisit, ce fut tout naturellement
sa conception chretienne de l’univers et de l’homme.
albert pauphilet, Etudes sur la ‘Queste del Saint GraaV, pp. 192 f.
Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.
vergh, Georgies, iv. 490
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