Merlin was a magician and prophet who was an adviser to the legendary King Arthur. Various stories about Merlin appear in medieval literature. According to some narratives, Merlin educated Arthur as a youth. Merlin also helped establish the Round Table at which King Arthur’s knights sat. He foresaw events of Arthur’s reign, including the quest for the Holy Grail and the destruction of King Arthur’s castle, Camelot. In addition, Merlin was said to have created the ancient British monument known as Stonehenge.
The story of Merlin probably originated in legends of a Celtic poet and prophet who lived in the 500’s. The earliest detailed account of the Arthurian legends describes Merlin as a wizard and prophet whose father was a devil. In later stories, Merlin falls in love with Vivian, also known as the Lady of the Lake. She uses her magic to imprison him forever.
