Caleb Howells
@calebhowells.bsky.social
Historian, focused on Archaic Greece, Celtic history, Post-Roman Britain, Arthurian legends
King Arthur: The Man Who Conquered Europe (2019)
The Trojan Kings of Britain: Myth or History? (2024)
Writer for The Collector, Greek Reporter, and Timeless Myths
King Arthur: The Man Who Conquered Europe (2019)
The Trojan Kings of Britain: Myth or History? (2024)
Writer for The Collector, Greek Reporter, and Timeless Myths
What he said about its location is actually incredibly consistent with Minoan Crete, along with various other details (some of them very specific) in his account of Atlantis.
August 30, 2025 at 2:57 AM
What he said about its location is actually incredibly consistent with Minoan Crete, along with various other details (some of them very specific) in his account of Atlantis.
It does, yes. But the context of the discussion is: In the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, is it the same as Excalibur, or was it only later that they were combined into one sword?
Hence, an account that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone doesn’t come into it.
Hence, an account that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone doesn’t come into it.
August 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It does, yes. But the context of the discussion is: In the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, is it the same as Excalibur, or was it only later that they were combined into one sword?
Hence, an account that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone doesn’t come into it.
Hence, an account that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone doesn’t come into it.
Indeed, but that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone at all.
August 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Indeed, but that doesn’t mention the Sword in the Stone at all.
“And it was the same swerde
that he toke oute of the ston; and the letteres that were write on the swerde seide
that the right name was cleped Escaliboure.”
that he toke oute of the ston; and the letteres that were write on the swerde seide
that the right name was cleped Escaliboure.”
August 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
“And it was the same swerde
that he toke oute of the ston; and the letteres that were write on the swerde seide
that the right name was cleped Escaliboure.”
that he toke oute of the ston; and the letteres that were write on the swerde seide
that the right name was cleped Escaliboure.”
And yes, I can indeed show you the source itself. Here’s a link to the Prose Merlin, the earliest surviving version of the tale:
metseditions.org/read/lbP7YY4...
The relevant quote:
metseditions.org/read/lbP7YY4...
The relevant quote:
The Baron's Revolt
METS is a diverse, ever-growing collection of edited medieval texts. Our editions represent the medieval literary traditions and cultures that flourished in what is the modern British Isles. It is com...
metseditions.org
August 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
And yes, I can indeed show you the source itself. Here’s a link to the Prose Merlin, the earliest surviving version of the tale:
metseditions.org/read/lbP7YY4...
The relevant quote:
metseditions.org/read/lbP7YY4...
The relevant quote:
What do you mean? Wikipedia has the correct information.
August 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
What do you mean? Wikipedia has the correct information.
It is only in the Post-Vulgate Cycle that the Sword in the Stone is made separate from Excalibur.
August 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It is only in the Post-Vulgate Cycle that the Sword in the Stone is made separate from Excalibur.
Already on it: youtu.be/r0jpba09m4I?...
I explain in that video, the earliest surviving version of the Sword in the Stone tale is the Prose Merlin, a version of Robert de Boron’s mostly lost Merlin poem (possibly also written by Robert himself). In that source, the sword is identified as Excalibur.
I explain in that video, the earliest surviving version of the Sword in the Stone tale is the Prose Merlin, a version of Robert de Boron’s mostly lost Merlin poem (possibly also written by Robert himself). In that source, the sword is identified as Excalibur.
Was Excalibur the Sword in the Stone?
YouTube video by Caleb Howells
youtu.be
August 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Already on it: youtu.be/r0jpba09m4I?...
I explain in that video, the earliest surviving version of the Sword in the Stone tale is the Prose Merlin, a version of Robert de Boron’s mostly lost Merlin poem (possibly also written by Robert himself). In that source, the sword is identified as Excalibur.
I explain in that video, the earliest surviving version of the Sword in the Stone tale is the Prose Merlin, a version of Robert de Boron’s mostly lost Merlin poem (possibly also written by Robert himself). In that source, the sword is identified as Excalibur.
Your second fact, which is the pertinent one to this discussion, is incorrect. In the earliest version of the tale of the Sword in the Stone, it is identical to Excalibur. It is only later that they are separated into two different swords.
August 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Your second fact, which is the pertinent one to this discussion, is incorrect. In the earliest version of the tale of the Sword in the Stone, it is identical to Excalibur. It is only later that they are separated into two different swords.
Yes, Excalibur the sword is mentioned (as Caliburn and Caledfwlch) before the story of the Sword in the Stone appears.
However, in the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, it is identified as Excalibur. It is not a separate sword.
However, in the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, it is identified as Excalibur. It is not a separate sword.
August 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Yes, Excalibur the sword is mentioned (as Caliburn and Caledfwlch) before the story of the Sword in the Stone appears.
However, in the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, it is identified as Excalibur. It is not a separate sword.
However, in the earliest version of the story of the Sword in the Stone, it is identified as Excalibur. It is not a separate sword.
It’s actually the other way around. The earliest version of the legend has Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone as the same sword, and then later versions split them into two different swords.
August 16, 2025 at 9:43 AM
It’s actually the other way around. The earliest version of the legend has Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone as the same sword, and then later versions split them into two different swords.