By The National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The Quest for the Holy Grail
The quest for the Holy Grail is a centuries old tale of an object with miraculous powers that provides happiness, eternal youth or sustenance in infinite abundance. In many stories the Grail belonged to Jesus Christ himself. In others, it was forged from his crucifix. The Grail serves as an important motif in Arthurian literature. Arthur himself has strong connections with Wales.
Nanteos Cup (1300/1500) by UnknownThe National Library of Wales
The Nanteos Cup is one of hundreds of items which has been associated with the Holy Grail, so what's the story behind this sorry looking bowl?
Strata Florida Abbey
Despite the lack of any compelling evidence, it is likely that the Nanteos Cup was of some importance to the Monks of Strata Florida Abbey in Mid Wales. The Abbey was once a place of great learning, a place where manuscripts were written and where warring Welsh princes came to parlé. The cup later found its way to the nearby Nanteos Mansion sometime after the dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530's.
Nanteos, co. Cardigan the seat of W.E. Powell, Esq. M.P (1852) by Stannard and Dixon lithographerThe National Library of Wales
At Nanteos the cup became a curiosity, a relic to entertain the many guests who stayed in the grandeur of the old Mansion. By the 19th century the owners of Nanteos were making big claims about this small vessel
Magical healing properties
The cup is thought to have been first exhibited by the estate’s owner George Ernest John Powell at a meeting of the Cambrian Archeological Society held at St David’s College, Lampeter, in 1878.
Report of a meeting of the Cambrian Archeological Society (1878) by George Ernest John PowellThe National Library of Wales
At the meeting claims that the cup had healing powers and was formed from a portion of the True Cross were recounted, and made public in the society's journal; Archeologica Cambrensis
Nanteos Cup (1300/1500) by UnknownThe National Library of Wales
In recent years the 'cup' has been studied more closely by experts. It's actually made from Wych Elm, a tree native to Britain and Europe and it is most likely a Mazer Bowl. There is evidence that Monks in British monasteries often had their own Mazers. They were popular between the 11th and 16th century.
Since the 19th Century it has been claimed that the Cup possesses a supernatural power to heal. The Cup would be lent to the unwell in exchange for a valuable deposit such as a gold watch or coin, as to ensure its safe return to Nanteos. One sickly bearer decided to 'nibble' at the cup in the hope of benefiting from its healing properties, going someway to explaining the current condition of the item.
The Nanteos Cup is still owned by the descendants of the Powells of Nanteos, and is currently housed here at the National Library of Wales, where it has lost none of its appeal to the curious traveler.
