The Lady of the Lake in popular
conception is the high priestess of an older
religion and the woman who gave Arthur
Excalibur
and then took it back when Bedivere
threw it back into the lake. She is also said to
have intervened when Morgan
Le Fay gave Excalibur to
Accolon,
who tried to kill the king with it.
Many traditions, chief among
them Marion Zimmer Bradley, say the Lady was
responsible for educating Lancelot.
Bradley also presents the Lady, whom she names
Viviane, as the high priestess of a very old
religion, centered in Avalon.
She is known by many names,
including Vivien and Nimue; she is also said to
be
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