logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
31m 49s

Myths of King Arthur: Origins, Creepy Se...

History Hit
About this episode

King Arthur. Merlin. The Knights of the Round Table and the Sword in the Stone. We think we know these stories but they've changed a lot since they were first told... In this episode, Maddy and Anthony are joined by History Hit's very own Dr. Eleanor Janega, host of the Gone Medieval podcast, to tell us about the rather creepy origins of the Arthurian legend.


Edited by Tom Delargy, Produced by Freddy Chick, Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.


Discover the past with exclusive history documentaries and ad-free podcasts presented by world-renowned historians from History Hit. Watch them on your smart TV or on the go with your mobile device. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code AFTERDARK sign up now for your 14-day free trial http://access.historyhit.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?code=afterdark&plan=monthly

Up next
Today
The Dark Side of Medieval England
This episode contains descriptions of execution and torture.To be Hanged, Drawn & Quartered. Put on the Rack. Impaled on a spike. This list paints a very dark picture. What was the reality of execution and torture in the Medieval world? Was it as bad as we think? Worse?Guiding us ... Show More
42m 26s
Aug 21
The Darkest Scandal in Victorian Britain
Today we step into the shadowy world of W.T. Stead—a Victorian journalist whose life was as controversial as it was groundbreaking. Hear how he uncovered a sex scandal which shocked the nation, dabbled in the supernatural, and also… predicted the Titanic disaster (and ultimately, ... Show More
41m 31s
Aug 18
New York's Wildest Murder Case
This 1897 New York murder case that has it all - a villain, an incredibly useless police force, and a duck who saves the day. The incredible Dr Cat Byers (@heymorguegirl) joins Maddy and Anthony to tell this story.Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer ... Show More
38m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
The Real King Arthur
If King Arthur never existed, why does he loom so large in England's history? Dan traces the real-life figures who could have been the legendary King Arthur- the medieval king who pulled the sword from the stone and led the English against the Anglo-Saxons who arrived in England ... Show More
1h 18m
Dec 2023
King Arthur's Sex Life
The words "the man, the myth, the legend" can easily apply to King Arthur. Today we're looking past the round table, the sword in the stone, and his magician mate Merlin to explore what his love life can tell us about this man. Did his love Guinevere really do the dirty on him wi ... Show More
47m 58s
Aug 2023
Queen Guinevere & The Women of Arthurian Legend
Queen Guinevere, Morgan le Fey and Nimue, the mystical lady of the lake have been cast as heroins, virtuous women and wicked femme fatals by the many people who have retold the legend of King Arthur over 1500 years. I'll sketch the highlights of the story, galloping past the oft ... Show More
31m 17s
Nov 2018
King Arthur
Around 6th-century AD, legendary tales began circling of a great warrior king that defended Britain against invaders. The man in question? King Arthur. The stories don’t stop there. A thousand years later, King Arthur’s conquests involving the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and the Knigh ... Show More
45m 32s
Sep 2023
The Middle Ages in Five Facts
Where is the grave of King Arthur? What was the worst year in human history? Who were the most fractious royal siblings? What were the origins of humble pie? Which monsters pre-occupied Medieval minds? In this episode, Gone Medieval’s co-hosts Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega de ... Show More
39m 34s
May 2021
The Truth About King Arthur
The legend of King Arthur has been reworked many times, but is there any historical truth behind the tales? Dr Miles Russell believes there is and in this podcast he highlights how elements of King Arthur’s story derive from five key ancient figures. From British warlords that op ... Show More
53m 8s
Aug 2023
Eleanor Aquitaine: The Life of a Medieval Badass
You would think that a woman who was queen several times, commanded armies and was possibly the most powerful woman in medieval Europe would need no introduction…yet here we are. On today’s show we’re joined by author and new co-host of the History Hit podcast Gone Medieval, Elea ... Show More
43m 53s
Jun 2023
Ragnar Lothbrok: The Viking Legend
The ninth century Danish king and warrior Ragnar Lothbrok became notorious again most recently through the TV series The Vikings. But what do we know about the real Ragnar Lothbrok? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis finds out from Professor Carolyne Larrington, author ... Show More
51m 13s
Oct 2023
Kings of Medieval Ethiopia
Overseeing a rich and diverse kingdom, Ethiopia’s medieval monarchs consolidated their power by claiming descent from the Biblical King Solomon. But why did they pursue long-distance diplomatic contacts with Latin Europe?  In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega meet ... Show More
38m 22s
Oct 2022
The Grisly Deaths of Kings & Queens
Did Henry VIII really have syphilis? Who died from a red hot poker up the bum? And which king was taken down by a school of fish? To learn about the often gruesome ways that our royals have met their doom, Kate gets Betwixt the Sheets with Suzie Edge, TikTok historian and author ... Show More
47m 4s