From Scythia to Camelot: A Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the Holy Grail Book

"Radical" hits it on the head, as L & M join Barber & Pickett, and the incredible Wilson & Blackett. Here, we find refences/notes citing "private correspondence" from the same individual who wrote their introduction. A hefty batch of notes refer to postulations from mid-20th-century (or earlier) authors who were exactly that-- postulators.

We find a hefty reliance on Continental matter, not much from historical Britain, either during the late Roman or post-Roman periods. But worst of all, the book falls short of thorough research. Littleton & Malcor are unaware of the two Equites Taifali units sent into Britain in 396, or even the modern reenactment unit by the same name. This Alano-Gothic connection could have helped discover such items as Alanic hauma cups (grails) with bear-shaped handles. In fact, the bear (a "protective" figure, and on the Equites Taifali Seniors' shield)was known as "artos."

Instead, we are given the wickedly hilarious prognosis that a character named Lucius Artorius Castus led a group of socalled "Sarmatians" known as the Iasyges throughout the British countryside. In truth, Iasyges were Saraumatae, not related to Alans or Sarmatians. Artorius Castus had the rank of "praefectus castrorum" while stationed in Britain, that of an old vet, an officer who no longer commanded alas but puttered around as "keeper of the castle." So much for Artorius.

All of these facts, not speculations, were available, especially in the official Notitia Dignitatum, an illustrated Roman record still extant. But then again, evidently it's more fun to speculate and be a little radical:)