Turnance
A legendary island that revolved upon the sea above a giant lodestone. It was one of the most mysterious locations in Arthurian romance.
Introduction#
Turnance was a mysterious island associated with Merlin, the Holy Grail, and several Arthurian adventures. According to medieval romance, the island perpetually revolved upon the sea, its motion caused by a vast lodestone beneath the ocean floor.
Alternative Names | l’Isle d’Or, Ille Tornoiant, d’Isle Torneant, Isle Tournoiant, Isle of Turnance, Turnaunce, Turning Isle, Turning Island
The Turning Island#
The island appears in a number of Arthurian sources, including the Vulgate Estoire del Saint Graal, the Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal, the Livre d’Artus, and Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur.
According to the Grail romances, Turnance was formed from the remnants left behind when God separated the four elements during the creation of the world. Rich in iron, the island rested above an enormous lodestone at the bottom of the sea, whose magnetic force caused it to turn continually.
This perpetual motion gave rise to many of the island’s names, including Turning Isle and Turning Island.
Nascien and the Ship of Solomon#
One of the earliest known visitors to Turnance was Nascien, a descendant of Joseph of Arimathea. According to the Grail tradition, Nascien spent eight days on the island some forty years after Christ’s Passion.
After enduring a series of trials and visions, he departed aboard the Ship of Solomon, continuing his sacred journey.
Merlin’s Island#
During the reign of Arthur, Turnance became associated with Merlin.
After abducting the daughter of Duke Abinors, an enemy of Uther Pendragon, Merlin imprisoned her on the island. She remained there under the protection of her lover, Formis of Arms.
The island was also home to Merlin’s Tower, one of several places linked with the enigmatic wizard in Arthurian romance.
The imprisonment of Abinors’ daughter eventually drew the attention of King Arthur and Sir Gawain. The two knights travelled to Turnance and succeeded in freeing her from captivity. Their adventure further established the island as a place of marvels, enchantments, and perilous quests.
Turnance and the Grail Quest#
Some traditions suggest that Turnance may be the same island visited by Perceval during the Grail Quest. If this identification is correct, the island was a place where visions, temptations, and spiritual trials could be encountered by those seeking the Holy Grail.
The Vulgate Cycle contains the most extensive accounts of Turnance and its wonders.
Possible Location#
A number of modern writers have attempted to identify Turnance with real-world locations. One possible candidate is Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel, though no historical evidence confirms this association.
Like many Arthurian locations, Turnance is best understood as a legendary place whose geography blends imagination, symbolism, and romance.
Sources#
Le Livre d’Artus | Early 13th century
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470
Vulgate Estoire del Saint Graal | 1220-1235
Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal | 1215-1230
