The Fisher King
Summary of evidence presented. Need of a ‘test’ element. To be found in
central figure. Mystery of his title. Analysis of variants. _Gawain_
version. _Perceval_ version. Borron alone attempts explanation of
title. _Parzival. Perlesvaus. Queste. Grand Saint Graal_. Comparison
with surviving ritual variants. Original form King dead, and restored
to life. Old Age and Wounding themes. Legitimate variants. Doubling of
character a literary device. Title. Why _Fisher_ King? Examination of
Fish Symbolism. Fish a Life symbol. Examples. Indian—Manu, Vishnu,
Buddha. Fish in Buddhism. Evidence from China. Orpheus. Babylonian
evidence. Tammuz _Lord of the Net_. Jewish Symbolism. The Messianic
Fish-meal. Adopted by Christianity. Evidence of the catacombs. Source
of Borron’s Fish-meals. Mystery tradition not Celtic Folk-tale.
Comparison of version with _Finn_ story. With Messianic tradition.
_Epitaph of Bishop Aberkios. Voyage of Saint Brandan_. Connection of
Fish with goddess Astarte. Cumont. Connection of Fish and Dove. Fish as
Fertility Symbol. Its use in Marriage ceremonies. Summing up of
evidence. Fisher King inexplicable from Christian point of view.
Folk-lore solution unsatisfactory. As a Ritual survival completely in
place. Centre of action, and proof of soundness of theory.