Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake (French: Dame du Lac, Demoiselle du Lac, Welsh: Arglwyddes y Llyn, Cornish: Arloedhes an Lynn, Breton: Itron al Lenn, Italian: Dama del Lago) is a name or a title used by several either fairy or fairy-like but human enchantresses in the Matter of Britain, the body of medieval literature and mythology associated with the legend of King Arthur. She plays several important roles in many stories, including providing Arthur with the sword Excalibur, eliminating Merlin, raising Lancelot after the death of his father, and helping to take the dying Arthur to Avalon. Different sorceresses known as the Lady of the Lake appear concurrently as separate characters in some versions of the legend since at least the Post-Vulgate Cycle and consequently the seminal Le Morte d'Arthur, with the latter describing them as a hierarchical group, while some texts also give this title to either Morgan or her sister.
| Lady of the Lake (Viviane / Nimue) | |
|---|---|
| Matter of Britain character | |
The Lady of the Lake in Lancelot Speed's illustration for James Thomas Knowles' The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights (1912) | |
| First appearance | Vulgate Cycle |
| Based on | Disputed origins, earlier and unnamed versions of the character in Lanzelet and Lancelot |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Fairy or human |
| Title | Lady of the Lake |
| Occupation | Enchantress |
| Family | Dyonas (father) |
| Spouse | Pelleas |
| Significant other | Merlin, sometimes others |
| Children | Bors, Lancelot, Lionel (all adopted) |
| Home | The lake, Brocéliande, Avalon |