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 i •* ■ .