To: alt.mythology
From: jcpaulson@aol.com (JCPaulson)
Subject: Merlyn (Was Re: Arthurian Lore.. (still)) (9409.myrddin.var)
Date: 499409xx
Quoting: |emrys@ibbs.com 

|need to know exatly who this Emrys person was, and how he was
|involved with Merlyn. Please please help if you can. Thanks

Geoffrey's figure of Merlin is based on a combination of parts of several
historic (and some not so historic) figures, among whom are: Lailoken, a
legendary madman and poet-prophet of the Scottish lowlands, wanderer in
the forests of Celydon, whose story is tangled up with that of  St.
Kentigern (mentioned in two extant fragments in British Museum ms.);
Merddyn Wyllt (or Merddin the Wild), a 6th century poet-bard (mentioned in
the "Red Book of Hergst" one of the "Four Ancient Books of Wales"); the
5th century, MERDDIN BARDD EMRYS WLEDIG (or Merddin, bard of Prince
Emrys), surnamed Ambrosius (a modification of the name of his patron,
Emrys) -- a name which may have lead to this Merlins's identification with
the Roman-British leader, Ambrosius Aurelius 
--------------------------------------------

From: kender@next06cville.wam.umd.edu (Lady Death)]

 according to Geoffrey of Monmouth's _the history of the kings of britain_,
which was finished about 1136 (which i am checking right now, hang on a sec..)
 ..ah here he is, page 169
in my Penguin edition, "Merlin, who was also called Ambrosius..."  He also
calls him "Ambrosius Merlin". don't ask me why. Merlin is also called
"Merlin Llallogen", (which means 'strange' or 'different')  which is similar
to the Scottish figure associated with the same tradition as Merlin, Lailoken.
 pg 167 says that Merlin had no father- his mother, daughter of a king of
Demetia (in SW Wales), was a nun, who was visited by  "some one... in the
form of a most handsome young man." she said he often disappeared, or
talked with or touched her while invisible. some take him to be a demon,
giving Merlin a balance between good & evil.
 yes, Arthur's father's brother is also called Ambrosius, or Aurelius
Ambrosius, or just Aurelius.

-kender