The myth that inspired the animation ‘The Sword in the Stone’

In 1963, Disney released its newest animation, “The Sword in the Stone”, a film that presents the story of young Arthur, an orphan boy who becomes an apprentice to a wizard called Merlin, who helps him participate in a competition. where the person who managed to pull out the magic sword stuck in a stone could become the new king of England.

Made by Walt Disneythe film was based on the novel of the same name by TH White released in 1938 with the same name, which in turn was inspired by popular British folk tales about the King Arthur of Camelotlegendary British king who assumed the reign after removing the sword of Excabulir from a rock, ruling during the High Middle Ages, between the 5th and 6th centuries.

But who was King Arthur?

According to legend, Arthur He was the son of the king of the Britons Uther of Pendragonmonarch who had a council of knights, who always met at the famous round table, a word used in ancient times to refer to a round table, responsible for originating the name “Knights of the Round Table”.

After falling in love with IgraineO King Pendragon was transformed into Gorlois, however, his new form did not hinder his love. The couple had a night together, and the woman became pregnant. When she was born, the baby Arthur was handed over to Merlinwizard responsible for the spell on his father, who created it in secret.

When the king died, a huge dispute began among the Breton nobility to decide who would assume the throne. That way, Merlin revealed to the knights about the existence of a sword, Excalibur, which was stuck in a rock, and which could crown the man who removed it from the stone as the new sovereign.

Although many tried, none were successful. One day, while Arthur He was walking along the road, noticed the item stuck in the rock and decided to remove it. Unaware of the prophecy, the boy managed to remove it, and began to rule Camelot Castle, with the Knights of the Round Table as his faithful helpers.

Legend still states that, during his reign, Arthur led the British defense against Saxon invaders, as well as uniting different Breton clans, bringing great prosperity and being known as the Age of Camelot.

Although their stories are known worldwide, as pointed out by the Superinteressante portal, there are no official traces of their existence, other than mentions in books. According to the website Aventuras na História, the name of the famous king first appeared in the monk’s work Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons). Neniofrom the 9th century, where he mentions a series of battles that the sovereign fought.

However, Arthur gained popularity only in the 12th century, in the book Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Britain), by the cleric Geoffrey of Monmouthwhich mentions some of his great achievements.

Even though no evidence of its existence has yet been found, many historians have not ruled out the hypothesis of the legendary King Arthur to have actually lived between the 5th and 6th centuries, and research continues in search of any remains that can prove the veracity of this popular legend.