Explorations in Arthurian
History
The Importance of Geography
Part 9: Carmarthen
The story of Merlin
in connection with Arthur begins with Vortigern,
probably in Dinas
Emrys, in Snowdonia, in
Wales. But the story of Merlin itself begins in Dyfed, in
Carmarthen.
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Carmarthen is, in Welsh,
"Myrddin's Town." Was the town named after the seer? Perhaps
not. The Roman name for the town was Moridunum, from which
it is fairly easy to get Myrddin's Town. It could have been
that the seer was just a "man from Myrddin." Whatever the
case, echoes of Myrddin,
or Merlin, abound. Merlin's Wood (Bryn Myrddin) is just
outside of town; Myrddin's Tree, an ancient tree, used to
stand in the center of town.
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Also from Carmarthen comes the
Black Book of Carmarthen, a collection of Welsh folk tales,
some of which make mention of Arthur. He is mentioned as having been
at the Battle of Llongborth,
which can be historically traced. He is mentioned as having a
dialogue with a castle guard named Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr.
Tantalizingly, he is mentioned in the "Stanzas of the Graves," which
says that the location of his grave is not known. This might have
served as a jumping-off point for chroniclers who wanted to assert
that Arthur would return.
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