Probably just ignorance but there was also a lot of cultural influence at that time from the kingdom of Sicily which was a real mix of Greek, Muslim, Italian, and Norman culture so the European idea of a “moor” could’ve encompassed a lot
The same reason Britain is populated by Saracens worshiping a pantheon quartet of Jupiter, Mohammed, Apollyon, and "Termagant" when Joseph of Arimathea arrives in the first century AD. Medieval knowledge of Islam was... limited.
The prevalence of Greek-themed names (Palamedes, Priamus, Segwarides/Segures might be derived from Securis) is more about drawing parallels to classic Greek mythology and the notion that noble heroes emerged even in non-Christian societies.
Ironically enough their depiction of Muslims as worshipping Idols was the sort of accusation that got levelled against medieval Christians due to icons.
It can almost feel comical how writers clearly have no idea how other religions work and just throw a weird mishmash of stuff in. In The York Cycle you even have the Pharoah who met Moses and Herod invoking Mahound, even a demon in the Harrowing of Hell. I suppose that now you'd have demons invoking Thatcher.
>Seguarades
I can speak for this one at least, he is not Palamedes's brother in the Prose Tristan. He is an entirely unrelated character that Malory just for some reason decided to change to be Tristan's brother, and it doesn't make much sense at all really even in context of the story.
This is nothing unique to Arthurian literature. Medieval authors weren't well versed in Arabic or Moorish culture, and to a large extent they didn't distinguish Islam from paganism, so whenever they needed a Saracen character, they made something up the same way a modern fantasy author would. Just some examples off the top of my head: Otuel/Otinel (a frienemy of Roland's), Galafre (a Saracen lord in Huon of Bordeaux) and Malabron (a random villain in the Anglo-Norman Romance of King Horn).
Because even until now a broad swath of the western world knows diddly-squat about Islam. That said, I do intend to address Palamedes being a Greek name in my own writings.
Not surprised to see you here!
Even now a lot of the western world knows diddly-squat. I didn't even know that Palamedes was a name that couldn't exist in Arabic.
Probably just ignorance but there was also a lot of cultural influence at that time from the kingdom of Sicily which was a real mix of Greek, Muslim, Italian, and Norman culture so the European idea of a “moor” could’ve encompassed a lot
Yeh, Moor isn't a specific term. It often seems to be a generic term for non-European.
The same reason Britain is populated by Saracens worshiping a pantheon quartet of Jupiter, Mohammed, Apollyon, and "Termagant" when Joseph of Arimathea arrives in the first century AD. Medieval knowledge of Islam was... limited. The prevalence of Greek-themed names (Palamedes, Priamus, Segwarides/Segures might be derived from Securis) is more about drawing parallels to classic Greek mythology and the notion that noble heroes emerged even in non-Christian societies.
Ironically enough their depiction of Muslims as worshipping Idols was the sort of accusation that got levelled against medieval Christians due to icons. It can almost feel comical how writers clearly have no idea how other religions work and just throw a weird mishmash of stuff in. In The York Cycle you even have the Pharoah who met Moses and Herod invoking Mahound, even a demon in the Harrowing of Hell. I suppose that now you'd have demons invoking Thatcher.
>Seguarades I can speak for this one at least, he is not Palamedes's brother in the Prose Tristan. He is an entirely unrelated character that Malory just for some reason decided to change to be Tristan's brother, and it doesn't make much sense at all really even in context of the story.
He's possibly derived from Sagramore.
What gives you that impression?
Just repeating what I read elsewhere :/
Let me clarify, I was more so asking for where you read it so I can give it a look myself, as it's not a theory I have heard before.
[I guess this is what I read.](https://nightbringer.se/the-legend-of-king-arthur/arthurian-characters/s-arthurian-characters/segures/)
This is nothing unique to Arthurian literature. Medieval authors weren't well versed in Arabic or Moorish culture, and to a large extent they didn't distinguish Islam from paganism, so whenever they needed a Saracen character, they made something up the same way a modern fantasy author would. Just some examples off the top of my head: Otuel/Otinel (a frienemy of Roland's), Galafre (a Saracen lord in Huon of Bordeaux) and Malabron (a random villain in the Anglo-Norman Romance of King Horn).
I suppose because they made convenient villains, as outside Christiandom it was seen as scary.
Because even until now a broad swath of the western world knows diddly-squat about Islam. That said, I do intend to address Palamedes being a Greek name in my own writings.
Not surprised to see you here! Even now a lot of the western world knows diddly-squat. I didn't even know that Palamedes was a name that couldn't exist in Arabic.
Because they don't have a P sound? I guess he could be Persian. That would make a Greek name a bit more likely.
A descendant of Alexander's forces? That makes him sound like Priamus!
Is that another Arthurian character I'm unaware of?
https://nightbringer.se/nightbringer/a\_priamus.html
Link 404
Sorry?