Galahad, Perceval, and the Holy Grail: Crash Course World Mythology #28

In which Mike Rugnetta quests for knowledge of the Holy Grail of Mythology. Which is the actual, literal Holy Grail! The cup of Christ! Legends about the Holy Grail are often connected to the British legends of King Arthur, and this episode is definitely about this. Except we’re not talking much about Arthur, since he never actually found the grail. Instead, we’re going to talk about a couple different versions of the Grail legend, the stories of Perceval and Galahad. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy learning Grail lore. You have chosen wisely!
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[@bfnv9972]

Gilgamesh and King Arthur met each other in two Holy Grail Wars

[@Eireannade]

Well, that's Fate

[@devonsimpson7122]

Did you really miss the chance at saying, "Percival wasn't the sharpest lance of the lot"! Really!?

[@magebro01]

Thank you. I thought it was coming, but nope.

[@devisankhla4788]

Your profile pic was my response to your Joke 😑😁

[@johnrathee]

hahah

[@Anti-HyperLink]

Well, 1. The story isn't about Lancelot 2. It's not Lance of the lot, it's Lancelot 3. Ur mom gay

[@thales6790]

@@Anti-HyperLink you too aren't the sharpest lance of the lot, are you?

[@TomSistermans]

We're knights of the round table. We dance whene'er we're able. We do routines and chorus scenes With foothwork impeccable. We dine well here in camelot. We eat ham and jam and spam a lot We're knights of the rounds table. Our shows are formidable, But many times we're givin rhymes That are quite unsingable. We're opera mad in camelot. we sing from the diaphragm a lot. In war we're tough and able. Quite indefatigable. Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable I have to push the pram a lot

[@recon441]

On second thought , let's not go to Camelot. 'Tis a silly place.

[@ferociousmaliciousghost]

@@recon441 Indeed, such foolishness should be avoided.

[@Pfhorrest]

Fun fact: depending on when in history you ask, a "grail" is either a cup, a bowl, a plate, or a rock.

[@rainydaylady6596]

Pfhorrest A rock?

[@yourikhan4425]

An incandescent rock.

[@kingpopaul]

That's not false.

[@Pfhorrest]

Darcy: a flat rock makes a primitive plate; a curved plate makes shallow bowl; a tall, narrow bowl makes a cup.

[@koundinyakuppa]

It means they are all homeomorphic

[@xmaple1x]

The question that they should have ask "African swallow or European swallow"

[@zhaoyj2000]

A swallow can't carry a coconut anyways.

[@Anti-HyperLink]

Well, as soon as I get head from one of them (and in general), I'll let you know.

[@meowlentine3342]

The sword that Arthur pulls from the stone is called Caliburnus. Excalibur is the sword given him by the Lady of the Lake.

[@JustGrowingUp84]

3:50 Ahh, the classic pommel throw! The ultimate weapon of medieval times, and the best way to end your opponent rightly! Well played Crash Course, well played...

[@lauracorum9775]

TheFilthyCasual You forgot the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch

[@JustGrowingUp84]

+Laura One can actually use that in the Worms videogame series... ;D

[@TheOtherNeutrino]

9:30 Well that explains Saber's insatiable appetite.

[@liamerguiza5835]

Replying to a 2 years old comment Hahahahaha you're right XD

[@OrionPaxG4]

I thought this was just a typical hungry anime character trope. Turns out this has actual basis in mythology

[@MegaChickenfish]

Ah yes, all the familiar knights of the round table. Lancelot, Percival, Gawain, Galahad and.... *Bort?*

[@jman-nl4st]

We are the knights who say...... NI!

[@TomSistermans]

Ecky ecky ecky patow zoop boing

[@lauracorum9775]

NO!!! NOT THE KNIGHTS WHO SAY NI!!!!

[@jman-nl4st]

The Knights Who Say NI demand.... A SACRIFICE!

[@sohambanerjee6343]

'It!'

[@Benernefer]

We need... a shrubery!

[@redkazero]

It's time for the Holy Grail War

[@AndyMcKeeFanForLife]

I call dibs on Moe-dred.

[@justanotherpoweraddict7918]

Lemme just grab my mapo tofu really quick

[@Oban2006]

Saber

[@patrickjenkins2482]

Gil

[@angramainyu676]

Hello Humans

[@artemiostriantafyllou7986]

*_'TIS BUT A SCRATCH!_*

[@rchuso]

"Brave Sir Robin ran away, (No!) Bravely ran away, away. (I didn't) When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. (No!) Yes Brave Sir Robin turned about, (I didn't) and gallantly he chickened out Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very brave retreat. (I never did) Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin (I never!)" Did I miss this part of the story?

[@CloudyObsession]

9:22 in most Arthurian legends the sword Arthur pulled from the stone was NOT Excalibur, that was given to him by the Lady of Lake well after the sword was pulled from the stone.

[@koolkanman123]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Perceval seems to have a lot of blame placed on him for unjustified reasons- he only left his mother because he wanted to become a knight (which considering what happened to his siblings and being kept in ignorance for years, justifies his curiosity) , he was blamed for the death of the king by not asking about a grail he never heard of before then, his cousin he never knew existed imposed a quest on him which he happily accepted, and after 5 years of adventuring a hermit tells him that it is ultimately his fault. Poor guy. Great Video, CrashCourse.

[@goodfood722398]

I was waiting for my monty python reference and have been satisfied

[@howeslife2718]

Ethan Salinas near the beginning, tote has coconuts

[@Animotion1000]

The real holy grail was the friends we made along the way

[@pineapplelord6738]

"and there is alot of incest" me: ohhai Mordred

[@PharaohofCulture]

8:46- *Sir Lances a lot of woman* I'll see myself out now. And yes, this is an FGO reference.

[@superdark336]

3:46 picture: E N D H I M R I G H T L Y

[@schwermetall666]

I'm so glad someone else saw it!

[@MaxTheGamingMan]

*quickly

[@ContinualImprovement]

My friend told me to never trust stairs... As they're usually up to something.

[@magicbluewolf94]

Even when they're not, they'll always let you down.

[@ibrahimmudassar6563]

You took great steps to make that pun...

[@bexyaw4811]

This is on a whole other level.

[@emeraldemperor2601]

SPAM

[@roosh5149]

Don't search what stairs are in Dutch, it's a trap!

[@BlueSugarMaple]

Watch out, the Fate nerds are coming!

[@19920607atanqing]

Last week Crash Crouse had made Gilgamesh, many nerd responded "zashu"

[@justanotherpoweraddict7918]

So? Join them or stay out of the way. Easy, simple. Or do you take pride and derive pleasure from looking down at others because of their different preferences? In which case, stay and rejoice.

[@ferociousmaliciousghost]

Here is a simple question. Do you like to play go?

[@enricopozon9861]

I'm a Fate fan.

[@mrrandomentertainment7151]

First no one cares, but want to thank crash course for perhaps the best and definitely the most useful channel on youtube!!

[@zac8033]

Mr Random Entertainment agreed

[@bullrun2772]

Yep

[@M1017242]

Let's ask Saber about this

[@fraincross8644]

LOOOORRRRDD CAMEEELLLOOOTTTT!!!!

[@richardshort2001]

You forgot the part where Zoot alights the grail-shaped beacon. Wicked, naughty Zoot!

[@LorrTube]

Ah, Ancient Mythology; making incest cool before Game of Thrones did!

[@donsample1002]

Maradukh GoT is Arthurian fanfic, with the serial numbers filed off.

[@rmsgrey]

The royal houses of York and Lancaster would like a word about the origins of GoT :P

[@rejoicesenu2436]

Maradukh , I know right!

[@prussiabielschmdt7485]

8:34 Mash Kyrielight

[@micaandrews5568]

This episode is great. The comedy is really well done, and the stories are interesting. The stories in lots of the other episodes are interesting too, but I really like the script and delivery for this one.

[@0ld_Scratch]

We're knights of the round table We dance whene'er we're able We do routines and chorus scenes With footwork impeccable. We dine well here in Camelot We eat ham and jam and spam a lot. We're knights of the Round Table Our shows are formidable But many times we're given rhymes That are quite unsingable We're opera mad in Camelot We sing from the diaphragm a lot. In war we're tough and able. Quite indefatigable Between our quests we sequin vests And impersonate Clark Gable It's a busy life in Camelot. SINGLE MAN I have to push the pram a lot.

[@lauracorum9775]

TheRickestDavid On second thought let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.

[@0ld_Scratch]

it's only a model

[@ryanbrown7440]

I'm in Spamalot right now!!

[@foxxxtheworst]

The graphics in this one episode are particularly good!! Would be very nice to have an RPG game made like this!

[@chrisvellner3922]

Obi-Mom-Kenobi Didn't want Percy to go on some Damned Fool Idealistic Crusade like his Brothers did.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Fate stay night UBW / Fate Zero flashbacks. Papa bless.

[@justanotherpoweraddict7918]

Carnival Phantasm for me SEIHAI-KUN!!!!

[@jazzisbadatnames]

More like FGO Camelot PTSD. V_V

[@thatmotivatedchris6749]

Minh Bui 👍👍

[@thatmotivatedchris6749]

Fate/stay night and fate/UBW for me.

[@MrGksarathy]

That One Guy I was looking for this.

[@whatsinadeadname]

I was sure you were going to say, "Not the sharpest lance of the lot."

[@kameelabdellatif4954]

This 13-minute video felt like it was five. Good job as always.

[@connormccormick9178]

Best series on Crash Course. Keep 'em coming.

[@angeluslupus]

Was expecting Monty Python references... was not disappointed. :)

[@famielxing687]

"The grail, the ultimate wish granting devic-" Plottwist: Angra corrupted the Grail

[@justanotherpoweraddict7918]

Hol' up!!!!

[@angramainyu676]

Sorry about that..

[@MaxHDAvenger]

The Einzbern family unknowingly sabotage the grail since they summoned Angra Manyu during the 3rd grail war in original Fate. (Zero>Stay Night) (however that never happened in apocrypha because they summoned shirou amakusa instead)

[@ferociousmaliciousghost]

Plott twist: You find 6 versions of King Arthur.

[@schwermetall666]

3:44 The glorious pommel throw!

[@willdgol7501]

Stephan Barbarian A pommel to end him rightly

[@Megalesios]

Do an episode on King Arthur

[@MwaelG]

tis but a scratch 5:34

[@ConriDubhghail]

Arthurian Legend time? I will be thoroughly wroth if there is not mention of Sir Gawain at some point.

[@Udontkno7]

:(

[@AndyWelsh94]

The mysticism around the "Holy Grail" reminds me of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality and so meeting Utnapishtim. Just like in the Gilgamesh epic, there is an absence of understanding of the original story. It is the celebration in drinking the wine symbolizing his blood on the appointed day that gives you life not the cup itself. Also, it isn't called communion but Passover as it is the reality of the old covenant Passover. They wouldn't know this considering the actual regulation had been abolished and many Christians had to keep it in secret. As time goes on people distort these things for their own opinion but the scriptures on this hadn't changed.

[@Darwaxion]

I love Arthurian myths and legens, especially the quest for the Holy Grail!

[@horizon241]

Just wanted to say these have been so good and thank you for making them!!!

[@dehavillandvampire]

Rubbish! Where are the Shrubberys? Where are the Killer Rabbits? Where is Tim and the Anarcho-syndicalist autonomous collective with Reg the peasant? It just isn't a grail quest without them!

[@lauracorum9775]

De Havilland Vampire Yeah! Where is the French Taunting, the Black knight, Castle Antrax, The Knights who say Ni, The 3 headed man. Help help! They're being repressed.

[@tonysladky8925]

"Percy takes this to heart, and you should too. It's gonna come back and bite him." Thanks for the… advice?

[@matthewdockter2424]

OMG OMG OMG, I didn't know until you guys just posted the video but this is my FAVORITE Mythological story and I'm amped you guys did an episode on it!

[@serge00storms]

when do we see the violence inherent in the system ?

[@josephmatthews7698]

serge00storms did you miss all the killing? Killing=Awesome! Sex=BAD EVIL BOY

[@timothymclean]

Perceval learns a lesson about the _true_ meaning of...Good Friday? Okay, that's kinda hilarious. From now on, I'm imagining medieval Europe as having old-timey versions of those saccharine Christmas specials for every holiday in the Christian calendar.

[@twistedtachyon5877]

Timothy McLean I can totally believe that was a thing.

[@DuranmanX]

Isn't the story of the Holy Grail just a ripoff of Fate/Stay Night?

[@sirkowski]

Hollywood never gets anime right.

[@d3vilmaycry25]

I will slap you to the face if it was possible

[@kimaniwright2605]

Aime

[@placeholdername3818]

Didn't know shitposting existed on KZbin

[@fadelpw511]

camelot chapter in f/go

[@doctorgumby]

What about Sir Robin: The not quite as brave as Sir Lancelot?

[@chewchewpark4786]

DoctorGumby I’m more interesting in Sir Not Appearing in this Film.

[@lauracorum9775]

Bravely bold Sir Robin, rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, o Brave Sir Robin. He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways. Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin! He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp, Or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken. To have his kneecaps split, and his body burned away, And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin! His head smashed in and his heart cut out, And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged, And his nostrils ripped and his bottom burned off, And his penis--

[@lauracorum9775]

Brave Sir Robin ran away.Bravely ran away away. When danger reared its ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled.Yes Brave Sir Robin turned about. And gallantly he chickened out Bravely taking to his feet. He beat a very brave retrat.Bravest of the brave Sir Robin

[@lauracorum9775]

Packing it in and packing it up And sneaking away and buggering up And chickening out and pissing about Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.

[@doctorgumby]

Laura Corum: thanks for the complete lyrics

[@fraincross8644]

Well Mashu's Senpai be proud.

[@nudgificator]

Thoth as Tim the Enchanter makes me happy.

[@aaronpederson8685]

My favorite lesson I've learned in life is that one MUST be the hero of one's own journey. Be your own hero.

[@Onychoprion27]

3:53 Wait a minute, that's the illustration from the "end him rightly" text! Throw that pommel, Mr. Knight!

[@Siberius-]

So good lol.

[@maxfieldjoyner5244]

Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

[@ryanbrown7440]

I'm in the Monty Python musical right now and that's my line!!

[@Ikiratuki]

With Thoth as my guide, a questing I shall go!

[@dallasluce]

Crash Course host rockin' the comb over

[@javec7697]

“Danger...danger...danger” xD Mike is the best!!

[@SAMURIADI]

0:47 good there was a monty python reference. id be ashamed of you guys if you didnt make one

[@saftytorch4435]

Grail... Grail never changes.

[@dollarama5142]

By far my favorite CC of all!

[@ericprobinson]

Instead of saying "he is not the sharpest lance in the armory" he should have said "he is not the sharpest lance in the lot."

[@lauracorum9775]

This new learning amazes me, Sir Bedemir. Explain again how sheeps' bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes.

[@mojosbigsticks]

One of the best Crash Course series.

[@terrybradford3727]

My daughter was asking about the Grail stories last week. awesome episode

[@cubsgirl101]

Percy's old wise man quote basically is "talk less, smile more." I'm living for it.

[@Al3xIsTaYl0r]

Thank you for the Monty python reference. I greatly appreciate it 😂

[@celticwolff5429]

"The Seat of Danger?" I was waiting for the "Siege Perilous" and I get "The Seat of Danger?"

[@StoryOwl250]

Sorry to be pernickety, but I thought Excalibur was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake? The sword he pulled out of the stone was just a random sword

[@dragon12234]

In one version that I've read it's basically this: Uther (King arthurs dad) recieves Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. and upon Uthers death Merlin sticks the sword in the stone

[@ShawnRavenfire]

There are like a million different versions of the story.

[@anacousticwalrus]

N O D I G N I T Y I heard it thst Excalibur and Caliburn were different names for the same sword just at a different time period. The names are almost too similar to be different swords. EXcalibur and caliburN. Language was not standardized until much later so I assumed they were the same. The sword in the Stone I've heard called clarent though

[@lauracorum9775]

Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

[@rmsgrey]

There are two stories of Arthur getting a sword - there's the one he pulls out of a stone, and there's the one that he is given by the Lady of the Lake. There are also two stories of him losing a sword - the better known one is the one where, dying on the field at Camlann, he asks Bedevere to cast the sword into the nearby lake, where it's caught by the Lady and Arthur is free to be taken to Avalon for medical assistance. The other is of Arthur, as a young king, attempting to use his magic sword unjustly, causing it to shatter. Some versions have all 4 of those stories; some only have one or two; some link the two swords and have the shattered blade be renewed as Excalibur of the Lake. There's not really a consistent narrative. The one constant is that Arthur's sword is special - both in origin and nature - though the details vary.

[@Groaker]

3:20 This entire sequence: ahahahahaah! AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! *AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!* Oh Percival, you dear sweet summer child.

[@thim0]

Your content is just insanely good. thank you.

[@lauracorum9775]

Song Chain!!! We're knights of the round table. We dance when'er we're able. We do routines and palour scenes with foot work im-pec-able

[@rexiuadeus]

I love the Monty Python reference in the intro.

[@zac8033]

Monty python anyone?

[@otharluin4998]

Kaamelott

[@zedirich7]

What is your Quest?

[@PeterP_]

Who lives in that castle? No one. Then, who is your Lord? we don't have a Lord. what? We are anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take turn being the executive on a weekly basis. Every executive order must be approve by the people in a bi-weekly meeting. Simple majority in case of purely domestic matter, but 2/3 majority in case of external matters. BE QUIET! I AM YOUR KING

[@thomasscaife6867]

Ni!

[@otharluin4998]

A model but also a french serie about the incapable knights of the round table ^^ (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaamelott)

[@therookie4901]

"Hungry, hungry Arthur" European sure is lacking of carbs by eating bread instead of rice. So King Arthur visited Japan instead

[@bidaubadeadieu]

The only version of the Parsifal story I've ever heard he _does_ ultimately ask the Fisher King "What ails you?" Interesting difference.

[@JoaoPessoa86]

Galahad, is there a perilous castle anthrax?

[@otharluin4998]

The arthurian legend of the "On en a gros !" guy

[@christianlapointe7796]

So easy seeing Percival not being the sharpest after Kaamelot :D

[@Xerxes2005]

Sirop!

[@nathanalgren288]

5:47 It was but expected that the commandment to stay quiet wasn't going to be applicable everywhere and in all cases. I feel that irrespective of where we come from, the lack of generality in how we ought to respond to situations has been a recurring theme in our stories.

[@darksword9237]

Saber is best Arthur!!!!!

[@MaxHDAvenger]

Dark Sword both King Arthur Sabers? Unless your refering to Proto-Saber (King Arthur)

[@ferociousmaliciousghost]

Which Arthur? I believe there are three Saber Arthurs.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

These two really had great adventures...

[@joshgrib]

Hello CrashCourse, awesome videos! Just letting you know the playlist for this course only has up to #27 if you see this

[@vojtechpikal183]

We already have one!

[@lucbrien9237]

Woke up this morning From the strangest dream I was in the biggest army The world had ever seen...

[@bingo784]

So would you say that The Seat is a Danger Zone?

[@carolinedeitch1065]

FINALLY I've been so confused on this for so long. Humanities is hard

[@rei_cirith]

LOL! the end note!

[@redsparks2025]

Nice summary on an anthology of legends all swished around in a cup. If you ever get the chance, then watch the film Excalibur produced by John Boorman. Best wedding scene ever.

[@kausamsalam8543]

Euphonic style. Thank you.

[@cubsgirl101]

We're the knights of the round table. We dance when e'er we're able...

[@1987MartinT]

You can't really blame Perceval for the whole Fisher King debacle. He was told not to talk by the wise old man.

[@novachrono1341]

I hope you guys do more king Arthurian legends

[@musicgirl3668]

4:25 "Talk less." *What?* "Smile more." *Heh* "Don't let me know what your against or what your for."

[@coconutshampoo9025]

Ha. Because Monty Python. Thanks Thoth, you are one of my favorite characters. 😊

[@rebekahnunes8480]

How did I manage to miss this episode?! Danger, danger danger.....

[@mathieuleader8601]

Percival had learning difficultes

[@achurch2430]

You tell the story well. Thank you

[@catanddog3374]

I died when Thoth dressed up like Tim the Enchanter. There are some who call me.. Tim? Best movie in the world