It may be the resting place of the Holy Grail, or simply home to many varied historical sites. Either way, it's a dramatic sight on the horizon.
Britain, Ireland and Scotland are filled with sites of great historical and mythological importance. One that many people have heard of is Glastonbury Tor, though some people may not immediately know where it is or even what a “Tor” is?
First of all, a Tor is the Celtic name for a cone-shaped hill. So Glastonbury Tor is a hill in Glastonbury, England. There are a number of other historical sites in Glastonbury, not just this one.
The hill is in the Somerset region, surrounded by land that used to be frequently flooded by the River Brue in ancient times which would have made the hill an island most of the time. The land has been somewhat reclaimed, and it no longer floods completely around the hill.
The very top of the hill is home to the partially restored ruins of St. Michael's Church, though there was once a 5th century fort also on the same site. In fact, Neolithic tools have also been found on the Tor, showing some sort of human habitation for far longer than written records even exist. Various relics from the Dark and Middle Ages have been found on the Tor and in the surrounding countryside.
The church on the Tor should not be confused with the nearby Glastonbury Abbey, which is not located on the hill. But it is of great historical significance itself, as it was supposedly founded by Joseph of Arimathea after the crucification of Christ. It was also at Glastonbury Abbey where the Holy Grail was hidden away at that time.
Terraces on the Tor
There are steeply carved terraces on the sides of the hill that have not been fully explained by historians, adding to the mystery of the area. Though they could have been dug for agriculture or pasture uses, the position and form of the ridges don't match with known styles of the period. They could even be remnants of an ancient labyrinth, possibly dug for spiritual purposes.
Ties with King Arthur
Though the legend of the Holy Grail already ties the Tor to the King Arthur mythos, there have been archaeological remains that perhaps provide a more concrete link. In the early 12th century, graves of King Arthur and his queen, Guinevere were supposedly discovered near the hill. The authenticity of the remains have often been questioned, though the discovery did revive the interest in the mythical and historical figure of King Arthur. Glastonbury Tor itself may have been the “Isle of Avalon”.
Crossing of Ley Lines
One further mystical feature of Glastonbury Tor is that is seems to be located right where there is a great crossing of ley lines. Ley lines are lines of magnetic power and psychic energy that criss-cross the planet, though their existence and importance are considered “New Age” thinking. There have been many reports of odd lights around the hill and throughout the Glastonbury countryside.
