Nightbringer | The Arthurian Online Encyclopedia

Tree of Life

Arbre de Vie

According to the Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal, when Eve took the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, she also took one of the tree’s branches. After the expulsion from paradise, she planted the branch, and it grew into a new tree, called the Tree of Life (distinct from the Tree of Life in the book of Genesis that provided eternal life to those who ate its fruit).

The Tree of Life, and others grown from its seeds, weathered the great flood and survived until the time of Solomon. Solomon used wood from the Tree of Life to make spindles for the Ship of Solomon, and to create the scabbard for the Sword with the Strange Hangings. The ship and sword eventually came into Galahad’s possession during the Grail Quest.


Sources
Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal | 1215-1230
Vulgate Estoire del Saint Graal | 1220-1235
Post-Vulgate Queste del Saint Graal | 1230-1240