Monday, March 19, 2007

The Chivalrous and Brave Knights of the Round Table

The Knights of the Round Table are part of the legends surrounding Camelot and King Arthur. The legends at the time were meant to give the citizens of Britain a moral code to live by, and inspiration to become brave and gentle warriors. The stories succeeded in creating a romantic view of war and knighthood. The Knights of the Round Table were the knights whose bravery had led them to the highest promotions. Some stories put the number as low as 12, and some cited over 150. The table itself was round to signify that King Arthur viewed the knights as equal.

In those days, chivalry was the most valued trait that you could look for in a person. Therefore the Knights of the Round Table were always the best example of what every man should strive to be. According to legend, there was a very strict code that they all had to live by. It included things such as loyalty to the king, respect to women, and not being overcome with greed for worldly goods. They were good rules back then, and they still bring up images of men who have their priorities set truly straight. These stories were told to children of the time in order to teach them morals.

There were many different authors that contributed to the overall legacy of the knights who resided in Camelot, but most of them built upon the previous ones. Therefore, the round table and its occupants show up quite a bit. Every time a quest needs done or a citizen needs saved, the Knights of the Round Table were able to save the day. This seems to be a romantic idea for almost anyone who hears it, and this is probably part of the reason why the stories have survived so long and have been told so many times.

While the Knights of the Round Table might be a legend that is hundreds of years old, you will still find references very prevalent today. There have been many movies based on the stories, as well as modern story adaptations. If you want to find out about some of the adventures that they became so famed for, you can get huge tomes from the library that contain modern-day interpretations of the old poems and legends.

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