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Brocéliande
Brocéliande, Brécélien, Bréchéliant. Forest with fabulous associations of eastern Brittany officially known since the French Revolution as the forest of Paimpont, the last remnant of the primeval forests, 25 miles SW of Rennes. Described by Nora K. Chadwick as ‘the last stronghold of magic and the literature of magic in Europe’, Brocéliande served as the scene of countless medieval and Renaissance narratives, Arthurian and non-Arthurian. One of the best-known sites in Brocéliande is the enchanted fountain or spring of Bérenton (also Baranton, Barenton; from Belenton, ultimately Belenus [?]), usually presided over by a tall and beautiful queen; in some texts the guardian is Esclados le Roux, a menacing knight. The fountain was known for its storm-making powers; its water is always cold but never freezes in the winter. According to some Arthurian traditions, Merlin was imprisoned in an oak tree in Brocéliande by the maiden Vivien (or Niniane). The forest also served as a refuge for Christian clergy during the Viking raids.
Bibliography See Nora K. Chadwick , ‘The Forest of Brocéliande’, in Early Brittany (Cardiff, 1969), 292–354; |
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Cite this article
JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brocéliande." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brocéliande." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Brocliande.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brocéliande." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Brocliande.html |
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Broceliande
BroceliandeA magic forest in ancient Brittany, identified with the forest of Piampont in modern-day Brittany, which figured in Arthurian legend. It was in this place that Merlin was enchanted by Nimue or Viviana, Lady of the Lake, and imprisoned beneath a huge stone. The name Broceliande is often employed as symbolic of the dim unreality of legendary scenery. Sources:Lacy, Norris J. The Arthurian Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Publishing, 1986. |
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Cite this article
"Broceliande." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Broceliande." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403800799.html "Broceliande." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403800799.html |
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Broceliande
Broceliande, a legendary region adjoining Brittany, in the Arthurian legends, where Merlin lies.
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Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Broceliande." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Broceliande." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Broceliande.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Broceliande." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Broceliande.html |
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