Who is Nimue or Vivien and how is she important to Merlin?
Who is Nimue or Vivien and how is she important to Merlin?
Vivien may very well have been the true Lady of the Lake that is talked about in most Arthurian legends and stories. Vivien, sometimes called Nineve, Nimue, or Niniane is best known as the woman who sealed Merlin in a cave or a tree and put him under a spell.
Are Vivian and Nimue the same person?
Vivian is the mortal, but powerful Lady of the Lake, who lives on Avalon and who obtained Excalibur for Merlin and Arthur. Nimue is a witch and priestess who lives on Avalon with Vivian. It is Nimue who has the ambiguous relationship with Merlin.
What is the Lady of the Lake’s name?
Nimue
Lady of the Lake
| Lady of the Lake (Nimue / Viviane) | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Enchantress |
| Family | Dyonas (father) |
| Spouse | Pelleas |
| Significant other | Merlin, sometimes others |
How does Nimue become Lady of the Lake?
She is described as a fairy godmother type of character and the mother of Lancelot. She earned the nickname Lady of the Lake as she was described as living in an enchanted realm which gave the illusion of a lake. Nimue raised Lancelot on the lake, following the death of his father King Ban.
Was the Lady of the Lake evil?
Often depicted as a water deity or nymph, the Lady of the Lake was also said to have seduced Merlin, learning his most powerful spells, imprisoning him, and, in some legends, killing him. And despite her loyalty to King Arthur, she was often depicted as morally ambiguous (if not completely evil).
Was the Lady of the Lake real?
Just like King Arthur, there is no evidence an enchantress by the name of Lady of the Lake or Nimue existed. However, there could well have been a woman like Lady of the Lake, who aided King Arthur during his reign. However, another Lady of Lake first appeared in French chivalric romances, known as Nimue.
Is the Lady of the Lake a goddess?
The Lady of the Lake, though later adopted by French authors of Arthurian legend, appears to be based on older Celtic goddesses associated with water. Ceridwen (pronounced kuh-RID-wen) was a Celtic goddess who possessed a magic cauldron or kettle.
Is the Lady of the Lake real?
Does Nimue become the lady in the lake?
In most versions of King Arthur’s story, Nimue ultimately becomes the Lady of the Lake, a mysterious water enchantress whose main purpose is to emerge from a lake in order to give Arthur his destined sword, Excalibur.
Is Freya the Lady of the Lake?
Freya was a Druid girl who fell in love with Merlin, who she met when he helped her to escape from the bounty hunter Halig. She later died on the shores of the Lake of Avalon, after which she became the Lady of the Lake.
Who is the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend?
Vivien may very well have been the true Lady of the Lake that is talked about in most Arthurian legends and stories. Vivien, sometimes called Nineve, Nimue, or Niniane is best known as the woman who sealed Merlin in a cave or a tree and put him under a spell.
Why do we love Arthurian women?
While the desires of Arthurian women often led to unflattering depictions (depictions that feminist retellings of the legends strive to rehabilitate or explain with a backstory), they also make them some of the legends’ most compelling characters. This is particularly true when magic is involved!
Who are the most magical women of Arthuriana?
This is particularly true when magic is involved! With this in mind, today we offer a discussion of our top five most magical women of Arthuriana. The princess Isolde also goes by Isuelt, Yseult, Isotta, and many other names besides, but perhaps her most famous incarnation is “Isolde of Ireland.”
What is at the heart of Arthurian legends?
A brilliant professor once told us that desire always lurks at the heart of Arthurian legends. Desire for glory, for love, for kingdoms, for power over one’s own life.