Round Table

The Round Table is a part of the legend of King Arthur. According to the legend, King Arthur elected the best knights of his kingdom to be his personal lifeguards and warleaders. These knights lived together with Arthur in his castle, Camelot. In order for the knights to feel equally in status, trustworthiness and prowess, Arthur created a table that is round instead of rectangular. This ought to have prevented any quarrels between the knights.

Winchester Round Table

The Winchester Round Table is an imitation of the legendary Round Table of King Arthur and his knights. It was built in the 13th century by Henry III and currently hangs in the Great Hall of the Winchester Castle. The tabletop measures 5.5 metres in diameter and weighs over 1,200 kilograms. The artwork that is depicted in the middle of the table shows Henry VIII as King Arthur on his throne. On the outer part of the tabletop all 24 names of Arthur's knights are carved in.

Literature

Ashe, Geoffrey. "Winchester." In Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.), The New Arthurian EncyclopediaNew York: Garland, 1991.

Kibler, William W. "Round Table." In Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.), The New Arthurian Encyclopaedia, New York: Garland, 1991.

Wells, Emma. Pilgrim Routes of the British Isles. Crowood Press, Limited, The, 2017.