Page 13 - Italian-American Herald - April 2024

became the basis for many of the stories and films of today.
With the introduction of these literary figures and their works in place, it was not until about 1200 that the legend of the sword in the stone in his epic poem “Merlin” was first introduced by Robert de Boron. In his literary work, it was known that whoever pulled the sword from the stone would be the next King of Britain as King Uther Pendragon had just died. It is mainly this addition to
the Arthurian legend from de Boron that resembles the life-changing events of San Galgano in Italy and from which we can make a similarity.
We can speculate that because San Galgano died in 1181, which is already some years after he was known to thrust the sword into the stone, the work of Robert de Boron’s version of the sword in the stone is nearly 20 years later. Are we to believe that the legend of the sword in the stone evolved from Italy’s version? Could the news of the canonization of the knight have made it possible to spread it far and wide to Britain? It has been even said that the Round Table in the Arthurian
The San Galgano Abbey was built between 1218 and 1288 by Cistercian monks to honor San Galgano. Its ruins are situated between the villages of Chiusdino and Monticiano and are a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. | PIXABAY PHOTO
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HISTORY
Galgano: Legend of the sword in the stone may have begun in Italy Continued from page 10
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