The Round Table first appears in Wace's Roman de Brut, a Norman language adaptation of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae finished in 1155. Wace says Arthur created the Round Table to prevent quarrels among his barons, none of whom would accept a lower place than the others. Though the Round Table itself is not mentioned until Wace the concept of Arthur having a marvellous court made up of many prominent warriors is much older. Geoffrey of Monmouth says that after establishing peace throughout Britain Arthur "increased his personal entourage by inviting very distinguished men from far-distant kingdoms to join it.
During the Middle Ages festivals called Round Tables were celebrated throughout Europe in imitation of Arthur's court. These events featured jousting, dancing, and feasting, and in some cases attending knights assumed the identities of Arthur's knights.The earliest of these was held in Cyprus in 1223 to celebrate a knighting.
The Round Table takes on new dimensions in the romances of the late 12th and early 13th century, where it becomes a symbol of the famed order of chivalry which flourishes under Arthur. In Robert de Boron's Merlin, written around the 1190s, the wizard Merlin creates the Round Table in imitation of the table of the Last Supper and of Joseph of Arimathea's Holy Grail table. This table, here made for Arthur's father Uther Pendragon rather than Arthur himself, has twelve seats and one empty place to mark the betrayal of Judas. This seat must remain empty until the coming of the knight who will achieve the Grail. The Didot Perceval, a prose continuation of Robert's work, takes up the story, and the knight Percival sits in the seat and initiates the Grail quest.
"Arthur's Round Table" still pointed out at various locations in the British landscape:
*Arthur's Round Table Stone Circle, Mayburgh (Cumberland)
*Arthur's Table, Caerleon (Monmouthshire)
*Bwrdd Arthur, Llanddona (Anglesey)
*King's Knot, Stirling (Stirlingshire)
*Pen y Fan, Brecon (Brecheiniog)
Perhaps these were all ancient meeting places for post-Roman Royal councils in scattered Celtic kingdoms. The most intriguing is 'Arthur's Table' at Caerleon: a local name for the vast amphitheatre at the old Roman town. Even when ruinous, this formed a grass-covered oval hollow, ideal for gatherings in what is, traditionally, a strongly Arthurian region.
Caerleon is one of the possible sites of the well-known hidden cave where King Arthur and all his knights are said to sleep, waiting to be called upon to rescue their country in its hour of need. A local Caerleon farmer once met a mounted man in a three-cornered hat who took him to the middle of a large wood, promising to show him an amazing site. The man stopped at a sheer rock face where he pushed a great boulder aside to reveal the entrance to a long dark passage. The two entered within and followed the path to a series of steps above which hung two huge bells. From here they descended into a large underground cavern. All around them slept upwards of a thousands ancient knights and, at their head, the guide pointed out King Arthur himself. On leaving this solemn scene, the farmer accidentally knocked one of the great bells. Its loud clang awoke the sleepers, who immediately asked, "Is it time?". "Not yet," replied the stranger, "sleep on." The knights returned to their slumber and the two companions left for the surface. The stranger mounted his horse and departed without a word. The farmer often searched for the cave, in the years to come, but was never able to find it again.
I have to tell that it was kind of King Arthur to have that table round. The idea is great! Which King does not want to point himself as the leader and have a better seat? People probably felt more comfy without being lowered according to where they sat. This table must have affected other people so much that festivals were being held under the name of Round Table.This kind of festivals are of great help to remember the past and make traditions come alive. It's also surprising to see the table's exact shape completely covered with grass in Caerleon Area. If the myths are true, it's such a good idea to have a hidden cave where knights can sleep and get out of it when in need. But some curious people can nearly ruin everything as seen.
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