The ancient world was extremely confined with the concerns of everyday life, brigands, and simply the unknown keeping a vast majority of the population from roaming much beyond the villages of their particular civilization. For that reason, there were always lands just beyond their knowledge whose people, customs, and even the land were left to the imagination. That’s why Odysseus and his men landed on a shore where everyone fell asleep, and an island inhabited by a sorceress.
Traders and sailors realized this early on. Maybe out of some strange sense of humor or perhaps because they were telling their customers what they wanted to hear, they often told tales of islands beyond their sphere of knowledge where life was easy and good. Islands were especially easy to spread stories about. Those unaccustomed to the sea believed that they floated somewhat, while even trained pilots had a difficult time precisely locating anything out in the middle of the ocean with no visible background to use as a landmark.
Perhaps that’s why islands were so common when speaking of a land of the dead. The Elysian Fields were thought to lie in the Western Ocean (Atlantic), perhaps the Azores, Cape Verde, or even Bermuda. Mag Mell or Tir na nOg had the same function for the Irish, who believed their heaven was an island to the west or something under the water. The Avalon of the British was often linked to Sicily or other unnamed islands of the Mediterranean.
The common ground for all these places of the dead was that they were distant islands well beyond the reach of an ordinary person of which next to nothing was known and that was all rumor and innuendo.
Which brings us to the British land of the dead. It’s been said that Glastonbury was the land of the dead for the ancient Celts because a twelfth century writer named Gerald of Wales had once said as much. He even gave the area a name that relates to Avalon through it’s root of apple. However, the connection is not to be believed just because Gerald said it. If a person believed everything that has been written about Glastonbury he would have to start off by accepting that Jesus Christ himself founded the monastery there after his resurrection and that Joseph of Arimathea later visited it.
It is possible that Gerald of Wales spoke the truth about Glastonbury’s etymology. If he did, though, it means nothing. Apples are a common fruit in Britain because of the climate; it seems only natural that someone might have named the area after them.
Perhaps most convincing is the simple fact that Glastonbury has never been distant let alone inaccessible to the inhabitants of Britain. Islands in the Mediterranean have been, islands west of Ireland would have been, but the Glastonbury area was as easily reached as every other area of the island all through the historical period. The only reason why that truth has never been pointed out is prestige; Glastonbury spent the latter part of the Middle Ages trying to gain enough of a reputation that it could sustain itself through the income of pilgrims. Apparently, the monastery was so successful in that regard that even a blatant lie from that time is still accepted as truth.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o3HAIdFy6Is
http://www.legendofkingarthur.co.uk/arthurian-places/avalon.htm
Cei 
Have you been to Glastonbury, nearby Avbury and the Tor? I have. It’s the strangest place I’ve ever visited. Other people have felt the same way, but no one can explain why. It isn’t Avalon … but it isn’t nothing, either.
I’ve not. The monks have a history of being flim-flams, I’m surprised you feel anything apart from the sensation of being in the presence of an oil salesman.
There are no monks on the Tor. Just the shell of the old church of St. Michael’s … And a wind so strong it almost blew me off the hill. It never stops blowing. It is some kind of anomalous “thiing,” that wind. No wind down below, but atop the tor, there’s this gale-force wind trying to blow you off. No monks. Not even other tourists. Just an empty stone shell of a church and a powerful wind that always blows.
I should mention I never actually talked to any of the monks, though I did visit the cathedral to see their copy of the Magna Carta.
Britain was amazing for me, too. I didn’t deal with the wind up in Scotland. I was tempted to go down there, though. Glastonbury, London, Haye-on-Wye, Aberystwyth, and Dunadd were the spots I wanted to take in.
It’s amazing there. It’s enough to make you believe in magic. It just feels magical and Avbury is much more impressive than Stonehenge.
Well one day when I have a professorial job and am giving speeches on my groundbreaking approach to history I will definitely have to visit. Till then, I am just happy to get my kitty tuna once in a while.
That’s one of the places I would love to revisit. It is not only full of ancient ruins, earthworks, stone circles and stuff, but it is absolutely beautiful. But I’m not going anywhere either. At least I have a few memories š
Hunt is convinced it is “Aballava” on the Wall and that Arthur was transported their by boat down the Irthing and the Eden.Apparently there is a reference to a water goddess their too.(Roman).
That may be, but if it was it would go against that traditional underworld. On an island, on the very edge of the accessible range. Our mutual Arthur site has occasionally suggested Hunt is not the strongest scholar, I would guess this is an area where he is lacking.
I myself believe Dacre was the setting for Avalon , where Arthur convalesced but did not die .an archeological friend of mine is convinced it was also the royal compound for the Kings of Rheged , The monastery has been dated to circa 500 AD and the Yew trees (Celtic symbol for warrior burials) are up to 1500 years old , but at the very least “Brunnaburh age”. 4 stone bears without inscription portray Arthurs life.It is also not far from “BlenKarthure” where tradition has it Arthurs men lie and wait for his return.