On the Trail of the Holy Grail

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Scholars have long known that the Grail is essentially legendary, a mystic symbol forever sought by those seeking Enlightenment, a quest in which the search is as important as the result. Time and again it has been said that the Grail is a construct of mystical Christian ideas and motifs from the ancient oral tradition of the Celtic-speaking peoples of Britain. There is much to commend this view, but now, drawing on decades of research in his native Scotland, in a major new contribution to the Grail legend, the field historian and folklorist Stuart McHardy traces the origin of the idea of fertility and regeneration back beyond the time of the Celtic warrior tribes of Britain to a truly ancient, physical source. This is a physical source as dynamic and awesome today as it was in prehistory when humans first encountered it and began to weave the myths that grew into the Legend of the Holy Grail.

Additional Information

Title	On the Trail of the Holy Grail
Author	Stuart McHardy
Binding	Paperback
ISBN-13	9781905222537
No. of Pages	160
Series	On the Trail of
Edition	N/A
Author Bio	About Stuart McHardy STUART McHARDY F.S.A is a writer, occasional broadcaster, and storyteller. Having been actively involved in many aspects of Scottish culture throughout his adult life - music, poetry, language, history, folklore - he has been resident in Edinburgh for over a quarter of a century. He has held some illustrious positions including Director of the Scots Language Resource Centre in Perth and President of the Pictish Arts Society. His books include The Quest for Arthur (1 84282 012 5), The Quest for the Nine Maidens (0 946487 66 9), On the Trail of Scotland's Myths and Legends (1 84282 049 4) and Tales of the Picts (1 84282 097 4) Strange Secrets of Ancient Scotland, Tales of Whisky and Smuggling, The Wild Haggis an The Greetin-faced Nyaff.
Back Cover Copy	Holy: sacred, pertaining to a religion Grail: Vessel, platter or cauldron Holy Grail: priceless historical artifact or sacred Christian symbol? Fact or fiction? Myth or reality? You'll not find the Holy Grail under the Louvre... Scholars have long known that the Grail is essentially legendary - a mystic key forever sought by those seeking Enlightenment, a quest in which the search is as important as the result. Theories abound as to its true origins and meaning, most of them unprovable. But now, in a revolutionary new quest for a deeper understanding of the Grail lore, folklorist and historian Stuart McHardy draws on decades of research in his native Scotland to expose a phenomenally powerful force of nature that could be the genesis of the Grail. How does the crucial idea of the 'sacred feminine' or goddess link to our past - and present? Who was the real 'king' Arthur? How can we break the coded history of the Grail embedded throughout the Scottish landscape?
Reviews	N/A
Table of Contents	N/A
BISAC Subject	SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology
BIC Subject	Folklore, myths & legends

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