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Arthur's Seat
Edinburgh, Scotland
This huge crag, which rises to a height of 822 feet above sea-level
above the city of Edinburgh, has been known as Arthur's Seat since
the fifteenth century. Part of Holyrood Park, it offers a tremendous view
of the surrounding country and of the sea to the east. The 'seat' itself
is said to be the notch between the highest point of the peak and a secondary
point a little way to the south. In fact, it is probably named after a
local hero who happened to bear the name Arthur. It has been said that
the association of the hill with Arthur may be a matter of its being a
base for military action in the 6th century.
Interestingly enough, Edinburgh is identified with the Castle of Maidens
in several Arthurian tales, which is probably because one of its medieval
names was Castellum Puellarum (Castle of Women). In the stories it is sometimes
a place where a number of female prisoners are kept; at other times it
seems to be occupied by seductive women who tempt knights passing by. In
at least one version, Arthur's half-sister, the renowned 'enchantress'
Morgan le Fay, is its mistress.
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