13. Jesus and the legend of King Arthur and His Knights
Arthurian legends – that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table – began to emerge in the twelfth century, based on legends and stories which had survived (with embellishments over time) since before the Dark Ages. Many were and are based on stories of Jesus, and bear many similarities. The Arthurian Round Table is similar to that of the Last Supper in that both contained seating for 13; in the case of Arthur himself and his twelve knights, while Jesus was joined at the table by his twelve disciples. Both contained a traitor in their midst. Both, according to some, contain the central character surrounded by twelve images reflecting the twelve signs of the zodiac.
This has led many scholars, students, and theorists to postulate that the Arthurian legends were based on earlier tales relating Jesus’ residence, albeit temporary, in the British Isles. The myths are inconsistent, some present Jesus in England at the start of his ministry, later carried to Judea. Others claim he returned to Great Britain he visited as a boy after escaping Judea in the aftermath of his crucifixion, which he either survived or avoided altogether, in each case aided by his great-uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. As in the case of the four gospels of the Bible, hard evidence, such as archaeological evidence, of Jesus’ life is hard to come by, whether in Capernaum or Glastonbury.