Dindrane
Encyclopedia
In Arthurian Legend, Dindrane is the sister (sometimes the half-sister) of Percival
. Though she is frequently not given a name, Percival's sister is a major character in many of the Holy Grail
stories and is sometimes claimed as the "Grail heroine".
Dindrane first meets her brother after his return to his mother's castle, where Dindrane explains to him about his mother's death after his departure. In some sources he leaves Dindrane in the care of their hermit uncle; in others he leaves her behind in the Castle of Maidens. She later meets up with Galahad
, Bors
, and Percival, telling them who she is (she does not mention her name prior to that). She proceeded to inform them about the Sword of the Strange Belt, the magical ship, and the Tree of Life
and other aspects of her destiny.
The travellers boarded the ship, intent to complete the task of finding the Holy Grail. After leaving the ship, they encounter a castle with a leprous
mistress. Dindrane decides to give her own blood to the lady in order to heal the lady's leprosy, and dies in doing so. She left directions that her body was to be set adrift in a boat (without a crew) to float to the holy city of Sarras
. Lancelot finds the ship that carried her corpse and Dindrane is buried in Palais Esperitel. Galahad, along with Bors, later find the vessel containing her body when they land on the port of Sarras (after which they proceed to find the Grail).
Percival
Percival or Perceval is one of King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table. In Welsh literature his story is allotted to the historical Peredur...
. Though she is frequently not given a name, Percival's sister is a major character in many of the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
stories and is sometimes claimed as the "Grail heroine".
Dindrane first meets her brother after his return to his mother's castle, where Dindrane explains to him about his mother's death after his departure. In some sources he leaves Dindrane in the care of their hermit uncle; in others he leaves her behind in the Castle of Maidens. She later meets up with Galahad
Galahad
Sir Galahad |Round Table]] and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend. He is the illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine of Corbenic, and is renowned for his gallantry and purity. Emerging quite late in the medieval Arthurian tradition, he is perhaps the knightly...
, Bors
Bors
Bors circa 540s-580s, is the name of two knights in the Arthurian legend, one the father and one the son. Bors the Elder is the King of Gaunnes or Gaul during the early period of King Arthur's reign, and is the brother of King Ban of Benoic. Gaunnes is the Fredemundian dynastic kingdom of Neustria...
, and Percival, telling them who she is (she does not mention her name prior to that). She proceeded to inform them about the Sword of the Strange Belt, the magical ship, and the Tree of Life
Tree of Life
The tree of life in the Book of Genesis is a tree planted by God in midst of the Garden of Eden , whose fruit gives everlasting life, i.e. immortality. Together with the tree of life, God planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . According to some scholars, however, these are in fact...
and other aspects of her destiny.
The travellers boarded the ship, intent to complete the task of finding the Holy Grail. After leaving the ship, they encounter a castle with a leprous
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
mistress. Dindrane decides to give her own blood to the lady in order to heal the lady's leprosy, and dies in doing so. She left directions that her body was to be set adrift in a boat (without a crew) to float to the holy city of Sarras
Sarras
Sarras is a mystical island to which the Holy Grail is brought in the Arthurian legend. In the Lancelot-Grail Cycle, Joseph of Arimathea and his followers visit the island on their way to Britain; while there Joseph's son Josephus is invested as a bishop and shown the mysteries of the Grail by...
. Lancelot finds the ship that carried her corpse and Dindrane is buried in Palais Esperitel. Galahad, along with Bors, later find the vessel containing her body when they land on the port of Sarras (after which they proceed to find the Grail).