Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

who is Merlin??

i keep reading or coming across this name in many british books that i read.. and it's been used in Harry Potter a lot too..

who is this Merlin????

12 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    "Merlin is best known as the wizard featured in Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures. Geoffrey combined existing stories of Myrddin Wyllt (Merlinus Caledonensis), a northern madman with no connection to King Arthur, with tales of Aurelius Ambrosius to form the figure he called Merlin Ambrosius.

    Geoffrey's version of the character was immediately popular, and later writers expanded the account to produce a fuller image of the wizard. His traditional biography has him born the son of an incubus and a mortal woman who inherits his powers from his strange birth.[1] He grows up to be a sage and engineers the birth of Arthur through magic. Later Merlin serves as the king's advisor until he is bewitched and imprisoned by the Lady of the Lake."

    I found this in its entirety at Wikipedia.

  • 1 decade ago

    Merlin is supposed to be one of the greatest wizards of all times.... he was king Arthur's tutor and he was a wizard of great wisdom....

    Merlin is a name mentioned in many books.... there are also some that say that Merlin had lost his sight as a child (due to his inability to use his powers with wisdom) and had acquired the second sight as a gift from God....[as said in the lost years of merlin- the series by T.A. Barron on the childhood of merlin]

    there are many popular stories of merlin too.... and Merlin's a story vivid and enchanting as he is one that has lived for many years through various kinds of hardship

  • John B
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Sorcerer in the King Arthur tales and friend to King Arthur. It is unknown if a person by this name or even if King Arthur ever existed. In the legend of King Arthur he is the one who takes control of the baby Arthur and puts him with Sir Kay to be raised. Some have suggested a Druidic connection, but this isn't sure. Also, Merlin may not be a name, but rather a title, therefore sometimes you see it listed as he is "the Merlin", or the wizard, the priest, the magician, the leader and wise man.

  • 1 decade ago

    Merlin was the lead wizard in the story of King Arthur.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    Merlin is the wizard/sorcerer found in the Kind Arthur tales.

  • 1 decade ago

    The wizard from King Arthur Lore...thats why he is referenced in a lot of other works because King Arthur legends are a popular basis for many modern fary tales and other stories as well.

  • 1 decade ago

    MERLIN IS A GREAT WIZARD OF THE OLDEN TIMES. HE USED TO WORK WITH KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE.

  • 1 decade ago

    well if you are talking about King Arthur...

    Merlin is the wizard who helped king arthur become the king.

    Idk about in HP though.

  • Anonymous
    7 years ago

    Hey,

    Check here http://j.mp/1qXIt8U if you want to get for free: King Arthur Gold

    With this link you can get the full version completely free.

    Players of the King Arthur’s Gold title are required to construct siege machines for the destruction of their enemies, buildings for the production of military units and resources, and of course mines for gold.

    It's amazing.

  • Tim H
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Merlin is the guy on the corner down at the Quik-Lube that does my oil changes.

    Nice guy.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.