Fisher King
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "A common theme among [[mythological king]]s are the [[king]]'s [[wound]]s, sacrifice and (sometimes) death for the betterment of the people. The [[Fisher King]] is an example of theme of the "wounded king.""--Sholem Stein | ||
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| - | A '''mythological king''' is an [[archetype]] in [[mythology]]. A king is considered a "mythological king" if he is included and described in the culture's [[mythology]]. Unlike a [[fiction]]al king, aspects of their lives may have been real and legendary, or that the culture (through legend and story telling) believed to be real. In the myth, the legends that surround any historical truth might have evolved into symbols of "kinship" and leadership, and expanded with descriptions of spiritual, [[supernatural]] or magical chain of events. For example, in legend the king may have magical weapons and fight dragons or other mythological beasts. His [[archetype|archetypical]] role is usually to protect and serve the people. | + | In [[Arthurian legend]], the '''Fisher King''', also known as the '''Wounded King''' or '''Maimed King''' (''Roi blessé'', in [[Old French]] ''Roi Méhaigié'', Welsh: ''Brenin Clwyfedig''), is the last in a long bloodline charged with keeping the [[Holy Grail]]. Versions of the original story vary widely, but he is always wounded in the legs or [[groin]] and incapable of standing. All he is able to do is [[Fishing|fish]] in a small boat on the river near his castle, [[Corbenic]], and wait for some noble who might be able to heal him by asking a certain question. In later versions, knights travel from many lands to try to heal the Fisher King, but only the chosen can accomplish the feat. This is achieved by [[Percival]] alone in the earlier stories; he is joined by [[Galahad]] and [[Bors]] in the later ones. |
| - | ==Archetypes of kings== | + | Many later works have two wounded "Grail Kings" who live in the same castle, a father and son (or grandfather and grandson). The more seriously wounded father stays in the castle, sustained by the Grail alone, while the more active son can meet with guests and go fishing. For the purposes of clarity in the remainder of this article, where both appear, the father will be called the Wounded King, the son named the Fisher King. |
| - | One mythological [[archetype]] is the "good king" (McConnel 1979), also sometimes called the "monarchical hero". The "good king" is often the [[epic hero]] who made his world safe for civilization. Two examples that scholars have identified as filling the roles and earning the reputation of "good kings" were [[King Arthur]] and [[Beowulf]], above and beyond their legendary and historic lives. | + | |
| - | Beowulf for example is a mythological king in training in the [[Epic poetry|epic]] tradition, because he fights "a strenuous battle against the disorganization of the universe." (McConnel 1979:59) Another is the great king "Oxthar", a leopard headed man that journeyed to the mythical underworld of Palulu (which is the supposed place where the sun goes to rest at night) and stole glowing stones from the bed of the sun to give light and power to his people. | + | The Fisher King legends imply that he becomes unable to father or support a next generation to carry on after his death (a "thigh" wound has been interpreted by many scholars in Arthurian literature as a genital wound). There are slight hints in the early versions that his kingdom and lands suffer as he does, and modern scholars have suggested his impotence affecting the fertility of the land and reducing it to a barren [[Wasteland (mythology)|wasteland]]. |
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| - | ==Mythemes of kings== | + | |
| - | Some [[mytheme]]s and cultural belief systems that are explored through myths about kings include: what is the source of the king's power, what is the training he must go through, what tests of courage does he pass, what are the battles he must fight, and what are the effects of taking power. | + | |
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| - | In [[epic poetry|epics]] of war, source of power is often having physical skills above ordinary men, owning "magical" weapons and political alliances. | + | |
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| - | In spiritual mythologies the king's power may come from a spiritual source and also spiritual weapons. In romantic and contemplative myths his power and success may from internal personality traits, such as from courage, wisdom and self-restraint. | + | |
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| - | Another common theme is the king's wounds, sacrifice and (sometimes) death for the betterment of the people. The [[Fisher King]] is an example of theme of the "wounded king." | + | |
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| - | One other theme to be aware of in [[storytelling]] and mythology is that the king's health is often symbolic of the health of the kingdom or society: For example a sick king means a weakened and vulnerable society, a healthy king means a healthy society, an emotionally or physically distant king means the society is in danger. Also, the installation of kings at the New Year was believed to renew the [[cosmos]]: "The king becomes in a manner responsible for the stability, the fecundity and the prosperity of the entire Cosmos." (Eliade 1963:41) | + | |
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Great King]] | + | *[[The Fisher King]] |
| - | * [[Sacred king]] | + | |
| - | * [[Great Catholic Monarch]] | + | |
| - | * [[Katechon]] - Eschatological King | + | |
| - | * [[Golden Bough]] | + | |
| - | * [[King in the Mountain]] | + | |
| - | * [[King Arthur's messianic return]] | + | |
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"A common theme among mythological kings are the king's wounds, sacrifice and (sometimes) death for the betterment of the people. The Fisher King is an example of theme of the "wounded king.""--Sholem Stein |
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In Arthurian legend, the Fisher King, also known as the Wounded King or Maimed King (Roi blessé, in Old French Roi Méhaigié, Welsh: Brenin Clwyfedig), is the last in a long bloodline charged with keeping the Holy Grail. Versions of the original story vary widely, but he is always wounded in the legs or groin and incapable of standing. All he is able to do is fish in a small boat on the river near his castle, Corbenic, and wait for some noble who might be able to heal him by asking a certain question. In later versions, knights travel from many lands to try to heal the Fisher King, but only the chosen can accomplish the feat. This is achieved by Percival alone in the earlier stories; he is joined by Galahad and Bors in the later ones.
Many later works have two wounded "Grail Kings" who live in the same castle, a father and son (or grandfather and grandson). The more seriously wounded father stays in the castle, sustained by the Grail alone, while the more active son can meet with guests and go fishing. For the purposes of clarity in the remainder of this article, where both appear, the father will be called the Wounded King, the son named the Fisher King.
The Fisher King legends imply that he becomes unable to father or support a next generation to carry on after his death (a "thigh" wound has been interpreted by many scholars in Arthurian literature as a genital wound). There are slight hints in the early versions that his kingdom and lands suffer as he does, and modern scholars have suggested his impotence affecting the fertility of the land and reducing it to a barren wasteland.
See also
