Priestess of Avalon
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''Priestess of Avalon'' is a 2000 novel by American writer
Marion Zimmer Bradley Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels, and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel ''The Mists of Avalon'' an ...
, completed posthumously by
Diana L. Paxson Diana Lucile Paxson (born February 20, 1943) is an American author, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has ...
. It follows detailing the life of Helena, first wife of Western Roman Emperor
Constantius Chlorus Flavius Valerius Constantius "Chlorus" ( – 25 July 306), also called Constantius I, was Roman emperor from 305 to 306. He was one of the four original members of the Tetrarchy established by Diocletian, first serving as caesar from 293 ...
and mother of
Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
.


Plot summary

The novel begins by showing her birth, with a druid giving a prophecy of her life. It proceeds to show her as a young girl named Eilan, who becomes a priestess on the Isle of
Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...
. As a young woman, the British priestess Eilan, known to the Romans as Helena, falls in love with the charismatic Roman Constantius. The Roman noble takes her away from Avalon as she is banished for this forbidden love and, before long, Helena bears him a son, who will become Constantine the Great. Helena's position in Roman society now gives her the freedom to travel about in the empire. When her son Constantine becomes Emperor, she slowly discovers brand-new roles. She faces the spread of the new Christian religion and seeks to understand the old knowledge of the goddess in light of the new religion. As Empress-Mother, Helena travels on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to find the answers to questions that arise between the old religion and the new.


Characters

*Eilan Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta.html" ;"title="Helena_(Empress).html" ;"title="ulia Coelia
Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html"_;"title="ulia_Coelia_Helena_(Empress)">Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta–_the_priestess_of_the_story,_protagonist._She_is_the_daughter_of_Prince_Coelius,_consort_of_Constantius,_mother_of_
Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html"_;"title="ulia_Coelia_Helena_(Empress)">Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta–_the_priestess_of_the_story,_protagonist._She_is_the_daughter_of_Prince_Coelius,_consort_of_Constantius,_mother_of_Constantine_I">Constantine_ Constantine_most_often_refers_to: *_Constantine_the_Great,_Roman_emperor_from_306_to_337,_also_known_as_Constantine_I *Constantine,_Algeria,_a_city_in_Algeria Constantine_may_also_refer_to: __People_ *_Constantine_(name),_a_masculine_given_name_...
,_and_priestess_of_Avalon_ Avalon_(;__la,_Insula_Avallonis;__cy,_Ynys_Afallon,_Ynys_Afallach;__kw,_Enys_Avalow;_literally_meaning_"the_isle_of_fruit_r_appletrees";_also_written_''Avallon''_or_''Avilion''_among_various_other_spellings)_is_a_mythical_island_featured_in_the_...
*Constantius_–_the_Roman_noble_she_marries *Constantine_I.html" "title="Constantine_I.html" "title="Helena (Empress)">Helena, later, Flavia Helena Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html" ;"title="ulia Coelia Helena (Empress)">Helena, later, Flavia Helena Augusta– the priestess of the story, protagonist. She is the daughter of Prince Coelius, consort of Constantius, mother of Constantine I">Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
, and priestess of
Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...
*Constantius – the Roman noble she marries *Constantine I">Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I *Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
 – Eilan's (Helena's) son, Emperor AD 306-37 *Aelia – a young priestess, trained with Helena *Arganax - Arch-Druid during Helena's youth. *Atticus – Constantine's Greek tutor *Ceridachos – Arch-Druid when Dierna becomes High Priestess *Cigfolla – a priestess of
Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...
*Julius Colius [King Coel] – Prince of Camulodunum, father of Helena *Corinthius the Elder – Helena's tutor *Corinthius the Younger – master of a school in Londinium *
Crispus Flavius Julius Crispus (; 300 – 326) was the eldest son of the Roman emperor Constantine I, as well as his junior colleague ( ''caesar'') from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of the ''augustus'' Constantius I ...
– Constantine's illegitimate son by Minervina *Cunoarda – Helena's Alban slave *Dierna – Helena's second cousin, later Lady of Avalon *Drusilla – cook in Helena and Constantius's household * Fausta – daughter of Maximian, wife of Constantine, and mother of his legitimate children *Flavius Pollio – a kinsman of Constantius *Ganeda – Helena's aunt, Lady of Avalon *Gwenna – a
maiden Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
being trained on Avalon *Haggaia – Arch-Druid when Helena returns to Avalon *Helena the Younger ("Lena") – a noblewomen of
Treveri The Trēverī ( Gaulish: *''Trēueroi'') were a Celtic tribe of the Belgae group who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle from around 150 BCE, if not earlier, until their displacement by the Franks. Their domain lay within the southern fri ...
, wife of
Crispus Flavius Julius Crispus (; 300 – 326) was the eldest son of the Roman emperor Constantine I, as well as his junior colleague ( ''caesar'') from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of the ''augustus'' Constantius I ...
*Heron – a maiden being trained on Avalon *Hrodlind – Helena's German maid *Katiya – a priestess of Bast in Londinium * Lactantius – a
rhetorician Rhetoric () is the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic), is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate parti ...
and Christian apologist, tutor to Crispus *Lucius Viducius - a pottery merchant trading between
Gallia Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during Rep ...
and
Eburacum Eboracum () was a fort and later a city in the Roman province of Britannia. In its prime it was the largest town in northern Britain and a provincial capital. The site remained occupied after the decline of the Western Roman Empire and ultimate ...
* Macarius -
Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
of Jerusalem *Marcia -
midwife A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery. The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughout their lifespan; co ...
who delivers Constantine *Martha - a Syrian slave, healed by Helena * Maxentius - son of Maximian, Augustus in Italy and North Africa * Minervina - Constantine's Syrian
concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal and sexual relationship between a man and a woman in which the couple does not want, or cannot enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive. Concubi ...
, mother of
Crispus Flavius Julius Crispus (; 300 – 326) was the eldest son of the Roman emperor Constantine I, as well as his junior colleague ( ''caesar'') from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of the ''augustus'' Constantius I ...
*Philip - Constantine's Servant *
Quintillus Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus (died 270) was a Roman emperor. He was a brother of Emperor Claudius Gothicus, whom he succeeded after Claudius' death in 270. Quintillus' claim to be emperor was challenged by Aurelian, who was proclaimed e ...
- brother of the Emperor
Claudius II Marcus Aurelius Claudius "Gothicus" (10 May 214 – January/April 270), also known as Claudius II, was Roman emperor from 268 to 270. During his reign he fought successfully against the Alemanni and decisively defeated the Goths at the Battle ...
, Constantius's great uncle *Rain - High Priestess of Avalon, Helena's mother *
Severus Severus is the name of various historical and fictional figures, including: ;Emperors of the Roman empire *Septimius Severus (145–211), Roman emperor from 193 to 211 (rarely known as ''Severus I.'') *Severus Caracalla (188–217), Roman emperor f ...
- Caesar appointed by
Galerius Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus (; 258 – May 311) was Roman emperor from 305 to 311. During his reign he campaigned, aided by Diocletian, against the Sasanian Empire, sacking their capital Ctesiphon in 299. He also campaigned across th ...
, executed by Maximian *Sian - daughter of Ganeda, mother of Dierna and Becca *Suona - a young priestess of Avalon *
Victorinus Marcus Piavonius VictorinusSome of the inscriptions record his name as M. Piavvonius Victorinus, as does the first release of coins from the Colonia mint. A mosaic from Augusta Treverorum (Trier) lists him as Piaonius. was emperor in the Gallic ...
- rebel Emperor in the West, AD 268-70 *Vitellia - a Christian
matron Matron is the job title of a very senior or the chief nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and other Commonwealth countries and former colonies. Etymology The chief nurse, in other words the person ...
living in Londinium *Wren - a maiden being trained on Avalon


Release details

*2000, UK, Voyager , Pub date 6 November 2000, hardback (First edition) *2001, USA, Viking Books , Pub date ? May 2001, hardback *2001, USA, Penguin Group , Pub date ? May 2001, audio cassette *2001, UK, Voyager , Pub date 21 May 2001, paperback *2002, USA, Roc , Pub date ? July 2002, paperback


Reception

''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' praised the novel, and wrote that "Paxson's own skill at bringing historical characters and places to vivid life enriches Helena's story. This final book in the Bradley canon is sure to please her devotees and win her more."


References


Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Priestess Of Avalon 2000 American novels 2000 fantasy novels American fantasy novels American historical novels Avalon Series Voyager Books books Collaborative novels Modern Arthurian fiction Novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley Novels published posthumously Helena, mother of Constantine I