Round Table

Round Table, table at which the medieval King Arthur and his knights sat. The actual table is claimed as an artifact that can be seen in the remains of a castle in Winchester, England. The 15th-century author Sir Thomas Malory wrote about the Round Table knights in his book Le Morte d'Arthur. The Round Table knights also were mentioned in the 12th-century French history Le Roman de Brut by Wace of Jersey. The shape of the table (with 12 positions) supposedly allowed for equal status of all the knights. A position left purposely vacant (Siege Perilous) was left for the knight who would eventually recover the cup—holy grail—from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper. Sir Galahad became the occupant of that seat and, according to the legend, captured the holy grail along with Sir Bors and Sir Perceval. The knights of the Round Table included, among others, Sir Gawain, Lancelot, Ban, Gareth, Bedevere, Ector, Launfal, Palomides, and Sagramore. One of the major figures in the legends of the knights of the Round Table was the sorcerer Merlin who, according to one legend, had the table constructed for Uther, King Arthur's father.

See also: Arthur, King.