Ancient history

Aballo (Avalon)

From aballos, apple and fruit par excellence.

Celtic toponym preserved in particular in the name of Avallon (department Yonne, France) and in that given to one of the Blessed Islands of the Other World of the island tradition, where King Arthur, wounded at the battle of Camlann, heals his wounds, thanks to the help of Morgane, his sweat, while waiting for the moment to deliver the Bretons from the Saxon yoke. A passage from Pliny the Elder (H.N., IV, 95) suggests that this mythological island was also confused with the more or less legendary island where amber was supposed to come from, a material considered to be of supernatural origin. and to which were attributed magical virtues.

The island of Avallon was artificially assimilated at the end of the 12th century. at Glastonbury Abbey, following the alleged discovery there of Arthur's tomb, identified by an inscription.