Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: King Arthur

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry. A medieval tile found on the Abbey grounds depicting an elephant

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry. The only building that has survived the centuries almost unscathed is "Abbot´s Kitchen". It is architecturally similar to the kitchen at Fontevraud Abbey near Chinon in France

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry. The richly decorated portal of St Mary's Chapel Details On the left the Magi on horseback, on the right Herod ordering the Massacre of the Innocents

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry. The richly decorated portal of St Mary's Chapel

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry.

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry.

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry. A model of the abbey before it was neglected and destroyed

Glastonbury is a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants, but it is also a myth. A number of stories dating back to the Middle Ages link Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury and also to the legend of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and Avalon. The abbey flourished at that time, as do the many esoteric shops and services today, and then there is the annual Glastonbury Festival, one of the most important music events in Europe. One legend claims that the abbey was founded by Joseph of Arimathea in the 1st century. But it´s proven, that the abbey was founded in the 8th century and enlarged in the 10th. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1184. Reconstruction began almost immediately and the Lady Chapel, was consecrated in 1186. There is evidence that, in the 12th century, the ruined nave was renovated enough for services while the great new church was being constructed. Pilgrim visits had fallen and in 1191 the alleged discovery of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's tomb in the cemetery provided fresh impetus for visiting Glastonbury. In the 14th century, only Westminster Abbey was more richly endowed and appointed than Glastonbury. The abbey was suppressed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England. The last abbot, Richard Whiting, was hanged, drawn and quartered as a traitor on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. After the Dissolution, two of the abbey's manors in Wiltshire were sold by the Crown to John Thynne. The ruins of the abbey itself was stripped of lead and dressed stones hauled away to be used in other buildings. The site was granted by Edward VI to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset who established a colony of Protestant Dutch weavers on the site. When Seymour was attainted in 1551, the abbey site reverted to the crown, but the weavers remained until they were removed in the reign of Queen Mary. In 1559 Elizabeth I of England granted the site to Peter Carew, and it remained in private ownership until the beginning of the 20th century. Further stones were removed in the 17th century, so that by the beginning of the 18th century the abbey was described as a ruin. The only building to survive intact is the Abbot's Kitchen, which served as a Quaker meeting house. Early in the 19th century the site became a quarry.

Otranto occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. It gained importance in Roman times, as it was the nearest port to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. After the end of the Roman Empire, it was in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it surrendered to the Norman troops of Robert Guiscard in 1068. The Normans fortified the city and built the cathedral, that got consecrated in 1088. When Henry VI., son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, married Constanze of Sicily in 1186 Otranto came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen and later in the hands of Ferdinand I of Aragón, King of Naples. Between 1480 and 1481 the "Ottoman invasion" took place here. Troops of the Ottoman Empire invaded and laid siege to the city and its citadel. Legends tell that more than 800 inhabitants were beheaded after the city was captured. The "Martyrs of Otranto" are still celebrated in Italy, their skulls are on display in the cathedral. A year later the Ottoman garrison surrendered the city following a siege by Christian forces and the intervention of Papal forces. - Otranto had been one of the last Byzantine strongholds in Apulia, but finally Robert Guiscard could take it. It had probably been such a stronghold, as Otranto had hosted an autocephalous bishopric, only dependent of the patriarchal see of Byzantium since 968. So (Roman) Catholicism had to perform something "convincing" for the so long (Byzantine) Orthodox christians. One was to erect a huge church. The Otranto Cathedral was erected, over ruins of a Paleo-christian church from 1080 on and was consecrated in 1088. It is 54 metres long by 25 metres wide and is built on 42 monolithic granite and marble columns. I had come to Otranto, to see the mosaic. I had planned to stay one night in Otranto, I spent three nights - and still had not seen all the details. I was so overwhelmed, that I took hundreds of photos, but the mosaic is "endless". I will upload only a couple. It was created by a monk named Pantaleon and his workshop between 1163 and 1165. Pantaleon lived at the monastery San Nicola di Casole, located a few kilometres south of Otranto. The mosaic covers the nave, both aisles, the apse and the presbytery. This sums up to a total of 1596 m². About 10 000000 (10 million!) "tesserae" were used. There are scholars, who have counted up to 700 different "stories", that are told here. Though, these "stories" are often disputed, as today's interpretations are mostly very "vague". German historian Carl Arnold Willemsen published the most important book about the mosaic in Italian " L'enigma di Otranto", that since the 1970s is translated in many languages. I followed his theories. As the church is a parish church, there are benches placed on the mosaic floor. Only for the Sunday service, the ropes are open so that the parishioners can reach the benches. I stayed up to Sunday to mix with the locals. There are a couple of royals one can find in Otranto. ALEXANDER THE GREAT was easy to find, unfortunately, I was unable to take a proper photo of REX ARTURUS, the legendary British King Arthur, riding a goat. Sitting on a throne, placed between the Queen of Sheba and a mermaid is King Salomon.

Otranto occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. It gained importance in Roman times, as it was the nearest port to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. After the end of the Roman Empire, it was in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it surrendered to the Norman troops of Robert Guiscard in 1068. The Normans fortified the city and built the cathedral, that got consecrated in 1088. When Henry VI., son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, married Constanze of Sicily in 1186 Otranto came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen and later in the hands of Ferdinand I of Aragón, King of Naples. Between 1480 and 1481 the "Ottoman invasion" took place here. Troops of the Ottoman Empire invaded and laid siege to the city and its citadel. Legends tell that more than 800 inhabitants were beheaded after the city was captured. The "Martyrs of Otranto" are still celebrated in Italy, their skulls are on display in the cathedral. A year later the Ottoman garrison surrendered the city following a siege by Christian forces and the intervention of Papal forces. - Otranto had been one of the last Byzantine strongholds in Apulia, but finally Robert Guiscard could take it. It had probably been such a stronghold, as Otranto had hosted an autocephalous bishopric, only dependent of the patriarchal see of Byzantium since 968. So (Roman) Catholicism had to perform something "convincing" for the so long (Byzantine) Orthodox christians. One was to erect a huge church. The Otranto Cathedral was erected, over ruins of a Paleo-christian church from 1080 on and was consecrated in 1088. It is 54 metres long by 25 metres wide and is built on 42 monolithic granite and marble columns. I had come to Otranto, to see the mosaic. I had planned to stay one night in Otranto, I spent three nights - and still had not seen all the details. I was so overwhelmed, that I took hundreds of photos, but the mosaic is "endless". I will upload only a couple. It was created by a monk named Pantaleon and his workshop between 1163 and 1165. Pantaleon lived at the monastery San Nicola di Casole, located a few kilometres south of Otranto. The mosaic covers the nave, both aisles, the apse and the presbytery. This sums up to a total of 1596 m². About 10 000000 (10 million!) "tesserae" were used. There are scholars, who have counted up to 700 different "stories", that are told here. Though, these "stories" are often disputed, as today's interpretations are mostly very "vague". German historian Carl Arnold Willemsen published the most important book about the mosaic in Italian " L'enigma di Otranto", that since the 1970s is translated in many languages. I followed his theories. As the church is a parish church, there are benches placed on the mosaic floor. Only for the Sunday service, the ropes are open so that the parishioners can reach the benches. I stayed up to Sunday to mix with the locals. There are a couple of royals one can find in Otranto. ALEXANDER THE GREAT was easy to find, unfortunately, I was unable to take a proper photo of REX ARTURUS, the legendary British King Arthur, riding a goat. Seen here, sitting on a small stool, is REGINA AUSTRI, the Queen of the South better knows as Queen of Sheba.