Legend: Six of Spears, The Return of Ambrosius

Sophie-David

In the Legend Six of Spears, Aurelius Ambrosius enters an unknown castle after victory over the Saxons. Wearing the purple robe of both nobility and victory, the succesful king doesn't look nearly as happy as the crowds shouting accolades from the floor and ramparts of the castle. Perhaps Ambrosius is counting the inevitable costs of war, considering the troubled future ahead, or he may simply be physically and emotionally exhausted.

Ambrosius wears gold coloured armour and gauntlet, and his intelligent looking white horse is also trimmed in gold with purple pendants. To the victor goes the gold! One of his standards displays a golden dragon on a white field, perhaps forshadowing of the reign of Uther Pendgragon his brother. Further away another standard pictures what may be a wild boar on an orange field, an intelligent, powerful and virile animal.

Pages 98 and 99 of A Keeper of Words tell the story of Ambrosius in a bit more detail than the text accompanying the Six of Spears. We read that Ambrosius was a wise ruler who began to bring stability to Britain. His reign was cut short when he was poisoned, as his father Constantine had been. Ambrosius' brother Uther then succeeded him, and eventually Uther's son Arthur gained the throne. One wonders how the story would have played out if Ambrosious had survived.

Aurelius is a Latin name meaning golden, which is certainly reflected in his armour, the horse's trappings and in the dragon pendant. Ambrosius is another Latin name meaning immortal, and certainly his name and deeds have been perpetuated in the Arthurian legends.
 

WalesWoman

This is another differing view of 6 Spears...he may have triumphed but it took it's toll. The horse has more vitality and animation than Ambrosius. The man looks completely exhausted, like the only thing he is looking forward to is a hot bath and falling in bed. He's quite relaxed in the saddle, not sitting up and beaming, or throwing his chest out in pride...he knows he's succeeded, perhaps he had some precognition of what awaited him. His neck is so vulnerable looking and it does seem like he sees something waiting for him, that isn't filling him with anticipation.

I usually see the 6 Spears as stepping stones to something else, that it isn't reaching the final goal, but is on the road to getting there. That it is a time of feeling good about overcoming obstacles and winning some hard fought battles, but there is still an atmosphere of more to come, anticipation of better things yet to be. Here there is celebration but he is very much removed and isolated from it.

I like the bells on golden chains on the horse's mane thingy. Is it some sort of snood? I have no idea what to call it, but it certainly would announce the coming of the King. What's that old saying...coming with bells on?
 

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Lyones

Originally posted by Sophie-David
In the Legend Six of Spears, Aurelius Ambrosius enters an unknown castle after victory over the Saxons. Wearing the purple robe of both nobility and victory, the succesful king doesn't look nearly as happy as the crowds shouting accolades from the floor and ramparts of the castle. Perhaps Ambrosius is counting the inevitable costs of war, considering the troubled future ahead, or he may simply be physically and emotionally exhausted.

That's what I thought too. One would think that coming through the gates and being home would be a happy enough ocassion in itself, but the fact that he is returning in victory should at least bring a glimmer of relief to his expression.

Originally posted by WalesWoman
His neck is so vulnerable looking and it does seem like he sees something waiting for him, that isn't filling him with anticipation.

Perhaps he feels a bit like our present day film stars, the price of fame, that everyone owns a piece of him, or wants to. He has other horsemen all around him and flags declaring who he is and what has transpired, but it could be that he has not singled himself out as the victor in his own mind, that he sees himself as just part of the war band returning - his victory would not have been so sweet if not for the valour, sacrifice and faithfulness of those he faught alongside.
 

GloriJ

To me, this feels like it could be about it having achieved something, and yet not feeling festive enough to celebrate. It could be a warning to remain aware and ready even after a triumph.