Camelot
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- For other uses, see Camelot (disambiguation).
Camelot is the name of the stronghold of the legendary King Arthur, from which he fought many of the battles that made up his life. Its specific location is currently unknown and may be a fictionalized Romano-British province of post-Roman Britain. It is described as many days' journey from Avalon. Various stories present Camelot's court in varying ways, anything from welcoming followers of both the Celtic and the Christian gods, to exclusively one or the other. Since the location of Camelot is still a mystery, the truth about it—if there is one—is still unknown.
Geographical references
Possible locations of Camelot include:
- Cadbury Castle
- Tintagel Castle
- Viroconium
- Caerleon-on-Usk, in South Wales
- Dinerth Castle near the River Arth, West Wales
Though the name "Camelot" may be derived from Camulodunum (modern Colchester), the stronghold of the Catuvellauni kings, and later the provincial capital of Roman Britannia, its Essex location (in East Anglia) places it in the wrong Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
In popular culture
The phrase 'Camelot' is often used to refer to the period in US history of 1960-1963. More specifically, it refers to the presidency of John F. Kennedy, as his term was said to have a lot of potential and promise for the future and the period was idyllic for many in the world, encouraged by Kennedy. The period was ended by Kennedy's tragic assassination, which is often compared to the fall of King Arthur. The line "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot" from the musical 'Camelot', has been used in pop culture to refer to this period.
The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte is a historical fiction series based on Roman Britain and Medieval Britain wrapped around the Arthurian legends.
In the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Camelot is called a "silly place" by King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table decide not to go there.
The musical Camelot, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, is loosely based on the legend.de:Camelot fr:Camelot