Brother of 'Garlon', father of 'Elaine of Corbenic' (See Elaine of Corbenic) who was known to be the mother of 'Galahad' (See Galahad) by 'Lancelot' (See Lancelot). Reputed to also be the father of 'Eliazar' (See Eliazar).

Pelles was said to have been dealt the 'Dolorous Blow' (See Hallows) wounded by 'Balin' (See Balin) with 'The Spear of the Hallows' (See Hallows) which led to 'The Wasteland' (See Wasteland). Galahad is said to have healed his wounds with blood from 'The Grail' (See Grail).

In the Welsh legends of the Mabinogion Pelles is represented in the character of 'Pwyll' (See Pwyll), of 'Caer Sidi' (See Caer Sidi) in the 'Otherworld' (See Otherworld).

In later Grail romances Pelles is developed into a character who is the father of Pellam and brother of Pellinore.

Pelleas

Pellinore

Believed to have spent much of his life searching for the 'Questing Beast' (See Questing Beast), a quest that was later taken up by 'Palomides' (See Palomides) after his death.

Reputed to have killed the 'King of Lothian and Orkney' (See Lot).

Killed by Lot's son 'Gawain' (See Gawain).

Also said to be the father of the illegitimate 'Amide'.

Percad

Perceval

'Peredur' and 'Percevelle' of the 'Perceval & Le Conte du Graal', and 'Perceval' or 'Conte del Graal' are believed to be the earliest written versions of this character by 'Chrétien de Troyes' (See Chrétien de Troyes). Written in the twelfth-century Perceval is described as a single man living alone with his mother. In these legends it is said that the character accidentally meets Arthur's Knights (See Arthur) and decides to follow the same way of life. Unfortunately he does not seem to have found the life of a Knight to be one to which he was best suited, suffering many disappointments and defeats. This it seems is when the pseudonym of fool was attached to the character, together with the failure to later obtain information from the Grail King. Later romances reveal Perceval to be the father of a son named 'Lohengrin'.

This reputation developed further to exhibit the traditional 'Peredur' (See Peredur) in the guise of the new Perceval as a failed 'Grail Knight' not asking the 'Grail Question' (See Grail Question).

In many of the later Christian legends he was described as the youngest son of 'Sir Pellinore' (See Pellinore) and a Knight of the Round Table (See Aleine).

He was also the brother of 'Sir Lamerocke' a revered Knight, and 'Blanchfleur' (See Blanchfleur), his sister. In 'Malory's' (See Malory) 'Le Morte d'Arthur' and 'Tennyson's' (See Tennyson) 'Idylls of the King' it was Perceval who was seen as chaste, pure of heart and body. As a result we learn that he is acknowledged as having seen the 'Holy Grail' (See Grail).

In Celtic legend and the Mabinogion Perceval is not associated with The Grail, but is said in Christian Grail romances to have seen the severed head in the 'Hallowed Grail Dish' surrounded by blood and to have seen the Hallowed Lance dripping with the same blood (See Hallows). Perceval appears to be the a later development of 'Peredur' (See Peredur) of Welsh legend.

One legend tells that Perceval is said to be the son of 'Alain le Gros' (See Alain le Gros) aka 'Fisher King' (See Fisher King).

In the Christian guise of Perlesvaus, 'Perd les vals' meaning 'lost the valleys' Perceval is the son of a king who is described as having lost his lands. As Perlesvaus he achieves the quest and becomes a Grail King. This hybrid Christian legend provides much detail on his life and deeds.

In the guise of Parzival (c.AD1200-10) as written by Wolfram von Eschenbach, the character follows the main traits of Perlesvaus and 'Amangons' (See Amangons), initially appearing as a fool, becoming a Grail Guardian and a Grail Knight of great passion and fearless dedication. The character undergoes considerable sacrifice to protect The Grail as a guest of the 'Anfortas, the Fisher King' (See Fisher King) and has been suggested to be a hybrid version of a Knight associated with the Cistercian Order of the Knights Templar (See Arthur). Eschenbach's work is thought to have largely been based on the work of Chrétien de Troyes. Perceval is depicted as a Knight who fails to ask the Grail Question in order to heal the 'Wounded King' (See Wounded King).

The initial foolishness of this character is gradually eroded and he becomes able to heal the Wounded King is the medieval high romances but in the Norman Grail romances, Perceval succeeded in defeating 'Aguigrenons' (See Aguigrenons) whilst defending the maiden Blanchfleur, his sister. In some legend he is also said to have been beloved of 'Demoiselle Blanchefleur' (See Demoiselle Blanchfleur), who was the sister of 'King Mark of Cornwall' (See Mark) and mother of 'Tristan' (See Tristan),but there is little evidence to support this suggestion, although it is presumed that it would have been a pure love and not to be confused with many of the fallen relationships described in Arthurian legend.

Galahad was a character that was introduced to replace the main attributes and achievements of Perceval in defending the 'Sovereignty' (See Sovereignty) of Britain during the writing of the Grail romances, including the 'Siege Perilous' (See Siege Perilous).

Perceval and 'Galahad' (See Galahad) are said in some legends to have been the only two Knights who were successful in answering the 'Grail Question' (See Grail Question), but later stories tell of the three Grail Knights achieving the quest of The Grail and we are introduced to 'Bors de Ganis' (See Bors de Ganis). The Grail was believed to have been found according to some of the romances in the city of 'Sarras' (See Sarras), the place where the three Knights took the body of Perceval's sister. Tennyson's idyll 'The Holy Grail' reveals Perceval to be knowledgeable of the quest and the Grail in his role as narrator of the story.

Peredur

aka 'Perceval'(See Perceval). Husband of 'Anghard' (See Angharad) according to the later Christian Grail romances.

From the Welsh 'Seint Greal', he kills the monster known as 'Addanc', also known as 'Avanc of the Lake'. Reputed to be a gigantic beaver that was encouraged to leave the lake by 'Hu' as referred to by 'Cadair Ceridwen', The Chair of Keridwen. (See Ceridwen). The story of Peredur is seen to be the first form of what we now know as 'The Grail Legend', mentioned in the thirteenth-century 'Red Book of Hergest'.

He visits the 'Castle of the Grail' where the 'Fisher King' (See Fisher King) lives, otherwise known as 'Caer Sidi' (See Caer Sidi). Peredur is said to have met the lame Fisher King, who we learn is his uncle, and who advises Peredur not to say of what he sees to anyone when he leaves the castle and not to ask the reason for anything happening whilst he is there to.

In the later Christian Grail legends the character of Peredur is transformed into 'Perceval', a character who is blamed for not seeking the answer to any questions. Yet in the mythology of pre-Christian British legends this desire to obtain answers would have been the action only of a fool, one who was willingly resigned to the consequence to himself for asking questions of those who inhabit other realms but that of the mortal. Asking would invite reprisal; why would such a king give away freely his knowledge? This would have been seen to be a weakening of his control and power over the kingdom, and so invite challengers to take his place or overthrow him.

Peredur is associated with the 'Chessboard of Gwenddolau' which he throws into the lake having lost the game/battle. The chessboard, referred to as the 'Chessboard of the Empress' in the story of Peredur was traditionally considered to be one of the 'Thirteen Treasures of Britain' (See Hallows of Britain) for which Arthur later travelled to 'Annwn' (See Annwn) to recover as told in the 'Spoils of Annwn' by 'Taliesin' (See Taliesin).

Perilous Bed

Petroc

Phelot

Pig

In Arthurian legend 'Arthur' (See Arthur) is said to have attempted to steal pigs from 'King Mark of Cornwall' (See Mark).

Porrex

Potter Thompson

'Potter Thompson, Potter Thompson
If thou hadst drawn the sword or blow the horn,
Thou hadst been the luckiest man e'er born.'

Prester John

Said to be the father of 'Anglitora' who marries 'Tom O'Lincoln' (See Tom O'Lincoln) according to a collection of edited prose romances by 'WJ Thomas'. The story parallels that of 'Arthur' (See Arthur) and 'Guinevere' (See Guinevere) to a large degree.

Pryderi

Under an enchantment he was trapped in the Otherworld, when he became stuck to the golden bowl. Rescued by 'Manawyddan' (See Manawyddan).

According to the legend of 'Math' (See Math) 'Gwydion' (See Gwydion) stole Pryderi's pigs and employed arcane crafts to kill Pryderi.

It has been suggested that the legends of Pryderi are very closely associated to those of 'Mabon' (See Mabon).

Prydwen

Pulzella Gaia

Pwyll

Believed to be the first husband of 'Rhiannon' (See Rhiannon), and father of 'Pryderi' (See Pryderi). He became Rhiannon's husband after defeating 'Gwawl' (See Rhiannon).

Pwyll encounters 'The Hounds of Annwn' (See Hounds of Annwn) when he meets with 'Arawn's Hunt' (See Arawn) and Arawn himself. In order to avoid further trouble for his hasty insults thrown at the King of the Otherworld (See Otherworld) Pwyll manages to appease Arawn by suggesting that they exchange places for a year in order that he fights 'Hafgan' (See Hafgan), Arawn's enemy. Fortunately Pwyll is successful in defeating Hafgan and is awarded the honour of the title a 'Lord of Annwn'. Pwyll is said to have received a gift of pigs from Arawn also for his success.

He is the main focus of many of the legends told with the 'Mabinogion' (See Mabinogion).

All documents, in part, in section or whole, are copyrighted and the sole property of Mystical World Wide Web. The work may not be duplicated in any form for private or public use including all electronic forms without the prior permission of the Producer (copyrighted).
Mystical World Wide Web - http://www.mystical-www.co.uk

Producer mellpaul@mystical-www.co.uk