Real, Legend or Myth - Does It Really Matter?
I doubt if many can say that they have never heard of God, King Arthur, and Robin Hood and are not at least vaguely familiar with the activities attributed to them. Some will swear that facts support their existence and accomplishments. Others attribute such beliefs to naivety, indoctrination, or superstition. Today, the majority of scholars believe that there is sufficient evidence to prove that Arthur and Robin did exist. Whether or not their actual lives and achievements have been accurately documented throughout the centuries is another thing entirely. Most subscribe to a theory that the fantastic stories about them are gross exaggerations, the achievements of several men, mistakenly attributed to just one man, fabricated tales, or a combination of all three.
There are records that mention a Romano British calvary commander, renowned for his fighting, leadership, and diplomatic skills. He successfully thwarted an Anglo Saxon invasion during the early 6th. century. Another Romano British warrior leader, named Artos, is credited with defeating the Saxons in the Battle of Mons Badonicus (Mount Badon) in the 9th. century. By the 12th. century, Artos became King Arthur. It wasn't until the 19th. century that Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Excalibur, and the Holy Grail came along.
Robin Hood, better known as Robyn Hode in the earliest tales, became famous as an English folk hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Robin was an early diminutive of Robert in medieval England. It is believed that the stories are loosely based upon the exploits of Robert Earle of Huntingdon in 1198 AD and Roger Godberd in 1234. Both of them actually did rob from the rich. However, their ill-gotten gains seldom found their way to the poor.
At some point in time, early humans began to worship gods. For a long while, pagans held the monopoly on the practice of attributing the unexplainable to several gods. Then, along came the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, who in 1336 BC declared that there was only one god - Aten, the sun god. Thus monotheism was born. Shortly after Amenhotep died, the Egyptians decided it was more fun to worship and celebrate several gods, so polytheism returned. It was not until the 8th. century BC that several Hebrew prophets decided that the polytheistic beliefs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were outdated. Monotheism returned and has been the concept of choice for most who believe in a god ever since.
Whether or not one chooses to believe in the most popular concepts of God, King Arthur, or Robin Hood is their prerogative. It doesn't really matter. After all, it is the belief that good is better than evil, right is better than wrong, and love is better than hatered that counts. Whether or not the stories about these larger than life beings, who championed such concepts, are real, legend, or myth doesn't matter, as long as the lessons and philosophy behind the stories are understood, practiced, and perpetuated.
There are records that mention a Romano British calvary commander, renowned for his fighting, leadership, and diplomatic skills. He successfully thwarted an Anglo Saxon invasion during the early 6th. century. Another Romano British warrior leader, named Artos, is credited with defeating the Saxons in the Battle of Mons Badonicus (Mount Badon) in the 9th. century. By the 12th. century, Artos became King Arthur. It wasn't until the 19th. century that Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, Excalibur, and the Holy Grail came along.
Robin Hood, better known as Robyn Hode in the earliest tales, became famous as an English folk hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Robin was an early diminutive of Robert in medieval England. It is believed that the stories are loosely based upon the exploits of Robert Earle of Huntingdon in 1198 AD and Roger Godberd in 1234. Both of them actually did rob from the rich. However, their ill-gotten gains seldom found their way to the poor.
At some point in time, early humans began to worship gods. For a long while, pagans held the monopoly on the practice of attributing the unexplainable to several gods. Then, along came the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, who in 1336 BC declared that there was only one god - Aten, the sun god. Thus monotheism was born. Shortly after Amenhotep died, the Egyptians decided it was more fun to worship and celebrate several gods, so polytheism returned. It was not until the 8th. century BC that several Hebrew prophets decided that the polytheistic beliefs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were outdated. Monotheism returned and has been the concept of choice for most who believe in a god ever since.
Whether or not one chooses to believe in the most popular concepts of God, King Arthur, or Robin Hood is their prerogative. It doesn't really matter. After all, it is the belief that good is better than evil, right is better than wrong, and love is better than hatered that counts. Whether or not the stories about these larger than life beings, who championed such concepts, are real, legend, or myth doesn't matter, as long as the lessons and philosophy behind the stories are understood, practiced, and perpetuated.
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