Holy Grail Research Paper

For nine hundred years, the enigmatic Holy Grail has intrigued millions worldwide. Popularized by European poets, the story of the Grail is one of the most fascinating legends of its time. The Grail has been portrayed as a cup, serving dish, and even a magical stone with many powers that range from the different variations of the legends. The mythology surrounding the Holy Grail has impelled many to begin the search for this ancient relic. Though the fact is, there is no way to know if the Grail legends are true or if this sacred chalice even exists. Traditional stories from cultures around the world consistently suggest that at one point in time, an actual Grail existed. The legend of the Holy Grail, according to Celtic myths, legends, and

The idea that the Grail is “Holy” derives directly from its connection with Christ himself. In the early thirteenth century, Arthurian poet Robert de Boron further Christianized and popularized the story of the Grail. He depicts the Grail as the vessel that Jesus of Nazareth used at the Last Supper and later, the receptacle that Joseph of Arimathea used to catch the drops of blood from Jesus Christ’s wounds as he hung from the Cross. Boron goes on to tell of Joseph’s imprisonment after giving up his own tomb for the burial of Christ. While in prison, Joseph was visited by an apparition of Christ and was given guardianship of the Grail after being told of the powers and importance of the cup. As soon as Joseph was freed, he and a small group of Christians carried the Grail with them through the Holy Land and eventually to Britain. During his journey, Joseph was instructed to create a table in commemoration of the Last Supper. In the legend, one seat was left vacant. Called the Siege Perilous, the seat could only be occupied by the destined Grail knight. Because of Boron’s poem, Europeans knew the legend of the Holy Grail to hold a remarkable connection to the days of