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The Holy Grail: Its Origins, Secrets and Meaning Revealed
The Holy Its Origins, Secrets and Meaning Revealed Godwin, Malcolm
255 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 23, 2014
This book surprised me. While it is generally an overview and doesn't go all that deeply into any of the topics presented, it is a good start.
It follows three main 'branches' (Gaelic myth, Christian monasticism and Near Eastern thought - alchemy, astrology, etc.) that have influenced the stories about the Grail.
For example, W. B. Yeats observed a parallel between the Four Treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan and the four Aces of the Rider Waite deck. It continues:
"...And when we compare the four isolated aces from the Waite tarot pack with the four hallows of the Grail we do find that they have an uncanny resemblance to each other." The hallows and corresponding cards are Sword (Sword,) Paten (Pentacle,) Grail (Cup) and Spear (Wand.)
The book also tells how the best known version of the Grail story was probably influenced by the 'courts of love' in twelfth century France.
A good overview of the Grail stories. While there were a few dry spots, it certainly did it's job and sparked my interest to dig a little deeper into a few new areas as well.
It follows three main 'branches' (Gaelic myth, Christian monasticism and Near Eastern thought - alchemy, astrology, etc.) that have influenced the stories about the Grail.
For example, W. B. Yeats observed a parallel between the Four Treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan and the four Aces of the Rider Waite deck. It continues:
"...And when we compare the four isolated aces from the Waite tarot pack with the four hallows of the Grail we do find that they have an uncanny resemblance to each other." The hallows and corresponding cards are Sword (Sword,) Paten (Pentacle,) Grail (Cup) and Spear (Wand.)
The book also tells how the best known version of the Grail story was probably influenced by the 'courts of love' in twelfth century France.
A good overview of the Grail stories. While there were a few dry spots, it certainly did it's job and sparked my interest to dig a little deeper into a few new areas as well.
January 10, 2018
There is much information on the origin of the Grail stories and the development of their various threads. The presentation is at times confusing but facilitates a casual read, since there is one page per chapter. This information seems researched and comes across as accurate. After the information on the origin of the Grail stories is presented, however, the author falls off a cliff with unfounded speculation that really doesn’t even amount to anything profound. It is amazing that anyone can present as if it were fact a bit of truth followed by an extension that is only speculation or just plain wrong, and just continue to follow a thesis into even more absurd conclusions.
June 15, 2009
I would almost give Godwin's effort a second star for the gorgeous photography, but as it seems to want to support the supposition put forward in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the best I can muster is one star. The photography, however, is exceptional. The text--what little of it I could stand--is fantasy, the author's. Legends themselves usually have some basis in fact.
October 13, 2019
This is a very interesting book which stays to the facts pretty much. It shows how the legend of the Holy Grail changed considerably when Christianity took over from the original non-Christian people. Some of the main points of the book include:
The Church of Rome subsumed all local myths and stories into its own grand scheme.
There was a weird hated of Eve by the Church.
The original oral tradition was one of romances.
There is no one single absolute concept of what the Grail actually is. It could be a physical object such as a platter or a cup. It could be a person. It could be something else. (Maybe it actually doesn't even exist.)
There are several branches to the story including the original Celtic Branch, the Christian Branch and the Chymical Branch.
The book points out where one thing became another such as in the Celtic Blessed Horn of Plenty being changed in the Blessed Body of Christ.
Christian Grail texts hate women.
The book also discusses the Knights Templar and what happened to them.
The Christian Church also hated the gnostics.
Peter hated Mary Magdalene.
The people of the Neolithic period were more oriented towards Goddess worship and they were more peaceful than those who came after them.
The book also discusses the tarot.
Among old artifacts found (some 30,000 of them) around the time where the Goddess was being worshiped none of them were actually weapons of war.
The Castle of the Fisher King is discussed along with the idea of the wounded King and any attempts to heal him.
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are also covered.
There's a lot more in the book. If you are interested in the historical origins of the Grail myth and the belief systems that were involved then this is a book you will want to read/
The Church of Rome subsumed all local myths and stories into its own grand scheme.
There was a weird hated of Eve by the Church.
The original oral tradition was one of romances.
There is no one single absolute concept of what the Grail actually is. It could be a physical object such as a platter or a cup. It could be a person. It could be something else. (Maybe it actually doesn't even exist.)
There are several branches to the story including the original Celtic Branch, the Christian Branch and the Chymical Branch.
The book points out where one thing became another such as in the Celtic Blessed Horn of Plenty being changed in the Blessed Body of Christ.
Christian Grail texts hate women.
The book also discusses the Knights Templar and what happened to them.
The Christian Church also hated the gnostics.
Peter hated Mary Magdalene.
The people of the Neolithic period were more oriented towards Goddess worship and they were more peaceful than those who came after them.
The book also discusses the tarot.
Among old artifacts found (some 30,000 of them) around the time where the Goddess was being worshiped none of them were actually weapons of war.
The Castle of the Fisher King is discussed along with the idea of the wounded King and any attempts to heal him.
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are also covered.
There's a lot more in the book. If you are interested in the historical origins of the Grail myth and the belief systems that were involved then this is a book you will want to read/
July 5, 2013
I rarely give a book five-stars, but this fully deserves it. Thoroughly covers the history of Grail literature (all three traditions: Celtic, Christian and alchemical) in a volume beautifully illustrated. Also takes the time to explain why the Grail story is relevant to the present day. Recommended for Grail enthusiasts, of course, but also to those only vaguely familiar with the tradition. You will be inspired. (Only drawback: not sure how easy it is to get. Only available in hardcover. Amazon has a few.)
September 4, 2023
An interesting tome published in the 1990s and a very heavy hardback given that it is printed on high quality photographic paper. The chief interest is in the illustrations which include a lot from medieval manuscripts and the like.
The first part of the book traces the development of the Grail legend from the original Celtic stories which came from Ireland and then Wales, to the stories documented by monks principally the Cistercians, and the final flowering in the troubadour culture. Once the stories became European artefacts they were blended with elements from Moorish Spain and the Holy Land via the Knights Templar among others. The summary of the stories are a bit repetitive and dry but there is also some interesting commentary on the subversive content derived from Gnostic ideas, probably via the Cathars and Albigensians who were eventually brutally suppressed by the Catholic church.
Part Two deals with the relevance of the legends in modern times especially their 'restoration of paradise' aspect, and also discusses the anti-women aspect of the Christian Church. It is very clear that the author has an axe to grind on this subject, as in his view Christianity is more women-hating/anti female than various other religions - personally, I don't think it has a monopoly on that. Anyway, there is an assumption that Europe was once a paradise of women-led agriculturalists and pastoralists who knew no weapons and were subsequently crushed by an invasion of male chauvinist warriors who imposed a culture that the world has been stuck with ever since for the last five millennia. This is put across as a matter of proven fact.
So given the lack of balance in places, but the more useful information in part one and the plentiful illustrations I would rate this at 3 stars overall.
The first part of the book traces the development of the Grail legend from the original Celtic stories which came from Ireland and then Wales, to the stories documented by monks principally the Cistercians, and the final flowering in the troubadour culture. Once the stories became European artefacts they were blended with elements from Moorish Spain and the Holy Land via the Knights Templar among others. The summary of the stories are a bit repetitive and dry but there is also some interesting commentary on the subversive content derived from Gnostic ideas, probably via the Cathars and Albigensians who were eventually brutally suppressed by the Catholic church.
Part Two deals with the relevance of the legends in modern times especially their 'restoration of paradise' aspect, and also discusses the anti-women aspect of the Christian Church. It is very clear that the author has an axe to grind on this subject, as in his view Christianity is more women-hating/anti female than various other religions - personally, I don't think it has a monopoly on that. Anyway, there is an assumption that Europe was once a paradise of women-led agriculturalists and pastoralists who knew no weapons and were subsequently crushed by an invasion of male chauvinist warriors who imposed a culture that the world has been stuck with ever since for the last five millennia. This is put across as a matter of proven fact.
So given the lack of balance in places, but the more useful information in part one and the plentiful illustrations I would rate this at 3 stars overall.
February 13, 2026
Quite a fascinating read.
The book explores the lore of the Holy Grail and its connection to Arthurian legend, Celtic myths and legends, and its role in the early Church. It explores the possibility that the Grail might have been the cup of Jesus during the Last Supper, a magical cauldron from Celtic legend, a treasure of the Cathars, or even its connection to Mary Magdalene. It provides a discourse analysis of Chrétien de Troyes's Le Conte du Graal, comparing it with archaeological evidence from the geographical sites the Grail and King Arthur were purported to have existed.
The book explores the lore of the Holy Grail and its connection to Arthurian legend, Celtic myths and legends, and its role in the early Church. It explores the possibility that the Grail might have been the cup of Jesus during the Last Supper, a magical cauldron from Celtic legend, a treasure of the Cathars, or even its connection to Mary Magdalene. It provides a discourse analysis of Chrétien de Troyes's Le Conte du Graal, comparing it with archaeological evidence from the geographical sites the Grail and King Arthur were purported to have existed.
June 3, 2010
A survey of the myth of the Holy Grail. Godwin examines the history of the Celtic, Christian and Alchemical origins of the grail myth and its ties to Tarot symbolism, suppression of the feminine in the modern world and the Wasteland.
December 21, 2007
This was the first book I read where it dealt with an alternative meaning for the holy grail. I really enjoyed it
October 6, 2008
A very interesting grail history.
January 28, 2017
Wonderful images and decent information. It doesn't go into much depth and has some bias, but worth the look.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews