Glastonbury Cross
Glastonbury Cross is the name given to a leaden funerary cross reportedly discovered in 1191. Monks claimed to have found the grave of King Arthur.
Introduction#
Glastonbury Cross refers to a leaden funerary cross reportedly discovered in 1191 during the excavation of what was claimed to be King Arthur’s grave at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England.
Epithets | —
Alternative Names | Lead Cross from Arthur’s Tomb, Lead Cross Found at Glastonbury Abbey
Description#
According to medieval chroniclers, the cross was found buried beneath a stone slab in the abbey’s cemetery. Its inscription explicitly named King Arthur (and in some versions also Guienevere), which medieval audiences took as evidence that the legendary king – whose burial place had been unknown – was interred here.
Drawings of the cross survive from later sources such as William Camden’s Britannia (1607), but the artefact itself has not been seen since at least the early modern period.
The cross was said to bear a Latin inscription typically rendered as:
Hic iacet sepultus inclitus Rex Arturius in insula Avalonia
En English: “Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon”
The cross itself has been lost for centuries, but it became widely reproduced in antiquarian sources and helped solidify Glastonbury’s association with the legendary Isle of Avalon.
Excavation and Historical Context#
In 1191, monks at Glastonbury Abbey announced that they had unearthed a burial site in the abbey’s cemetery. According to figures like Giraldus Cambrensis, the site lay between two stone “pyramids”, and beneath a large stone slab they found a lead cross with the Arthur inscription. Beneath this, they reportedly uncovered a hollow oak coffin containing the bones of a large man and a woman – interpreted as Arthur and his queen, Guinevere.
Other chroniclers, such as Ralph of Coggeshall, offered different accounts of how the grave was found, ranging from chance discovery to guided digging, but all agree that a cross and human remains were uncovered.
Shortly afterward, the bones were relocated within the abbey and were still regarded as significant centuries later – reportedly opened again during the visit of King Edward I and Queen Eleanor in 1278.
Historic and Modern Interpretation#
Medieval audiences largely believed the discovery to be genuine. The inscription seemed to provide tangible confirmation that Avalon – the mythical place where Arthur was said to have been taken after his final battle – was identifiable with Glastonbury.
However, modern historians and archaeologists almost universally regard this finding as a likely medieval fabrication or manipulation rather than an authentic 5th-6th-century grave. By 1191, Avalon had already become linked to Arthurian legend through works such as Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136), and the abbey was seeking funds to recover from a devastating fire in 1184. Increased pilgrim interest was a practical way to attract donations and prestige.
Analysis of the inscription’s lattering suggests it is more consistent with later medieval epigraphy – possibly 10th century or even a deliberate stylistic imitation – rather than something contemporary with the traditionally dated life of Arthur.
Because the original cross is lost, later depictions and inscriptions vary in the exact wording, and scholars continue to debate the reliability of sources.
Information Today#
The story of Glastonbury Cross persists in both folklore and scholarly literature. Physical reconstructions and descriptions are accessible through historical texts and local heritage projects – for example, virtual exhibits and apps by Glastonbury Abbey showcase the legend.
Modern archaeological research at the abbey also contextualizes the 1191 claim within wider medieval traditions of myth-making, monastic interests, and the evolving Arthurian cult. While no artefacts from the purported discovery survive, the narrative remains significant in understanding how Arthurian legend was shaped and located in specific medieval sites.
Timeline of the Glastonbury Cross and Arthur’s Tomb#
Before 1191 – Arthurian Legend Develops#
- c. 1136
Historia Regum Britanniae spreads the story that King Arthur was taken to the Isle of Avalon after his final battle, but it does not say where Avalon is. This becomes a central part of Arthurian tradition.
1191 – Reported Discovery at Glastonbury Abbey#
- Monks at Glastonbury Abbey announce they have uncovered a burial site in the cemetery south of the Lady Chapel. Guided by tradition and, according to later accounts, hints from a Welsh bard, they dig deeply between two stone “pyramids” previously recorded at the site.
- Cleric Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales) records that at about 16 feet (approx. 5 m) down they find a large oak coffin and a lead funerary cross under a flat stone. The cross is reported to bear a Latin inscription.
- According to Giraldus, two skeletons – a tall man and a woman – were found in separate compartments, interpreted as the remains of Arthur and Queen Guenevere. These remains were later reinterred with ceremony.
Early 1200s – Chronicles and Antiquaries Report the Find#
- Ralph of Coggeshall and other medieval chroniclers write additional versions of the 1191 discovery, varying in detail but consistently tying the burial to Arthurian legend.
- John Leland, a 16th-century antiquary, claims to have seen both the tomb and the lead cross during his visit to Glastonbury, adding credibility to later audiences.
- William Camden (1607) includes a drawing of the cross and its inscription in the sixth edition of his Britannia, though it is unclear whether he saw the actual artifact.
16th-17th Centuries – Reformation and Loss#
- During the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1530s-1540s) under Henry VIII, Glastonbury Abbey falls into ruin, and the physical tomb and its contents disappear.
- The lead cross was reportedly preserved into the 17th century and held at the parish church of St John the Baptist, Glastonbury, but was later lost.
Modern Scholarship#
- In the 20th century, archaeologist Ralegh Radford attempted to locate the 1191 burial site based on the medieval descriptions, but modern analysis shows the excavation likely uncovered a pit rather than an identifiable grave from the 6th century.
- Historians now generally regard the discovery as a medieval fabrication or reinterpretation created to boost pilgrimage and funding for the abbey following its fire in 1184. The inscription’s letter forms and references to Avalon are inconsistent with 5th-6th century practice, suggesting later origins.
