Sunday, November 16, 2008

Masks , Body Paint and Ritual

I found this on a friend's facebook page. For all that went wrong with the Mists of Avalon miniseries, this part went just about right. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf4DHpKC87M

Update: Jenn pointed out that not everyone has read/watched Mists of Avalon, so here's a very condensed backstory: Arthur has to undergo a rite of kingship in order to claim his throne, the Priestess personifies the Goddess, the king personifies the Horned God, their mating symbolizes the creation of the world and the blessing of the land, and makes the king once with the land, thereby solidifying his kingship. Beltane is the Celtic festival of fertility.
There is also a subplot going on with Arthur, Guenivere and Lancelot, and a subplot with Morgainne and Acteon, both of which happen much later in the novel, but tie into the theme of the video.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Interesting. I have this book on my shelf too, another that has been sitting up there paitiently waiting for me to crack open to even the first page, but I had no idea they made a movie out of it. I guess to understand this scene and its significance I would have to know who is who and why they are doing what they are doing.

pastrywitch said...

Um, yeah, that would help. Short version, it's the Great Rite, where the priestess symbolizes the Goddess, and the king symbolizes the Horned God, and their mating symbolizes the creation of the world and the blessing of the land. And there were a couple of subplots going on. Read the book before you watch the miniseries, which is available on Netflix.