Post by foresthermit on Jan 11, 2023 18:49:34 GMT
I've been thinking about this interesting item from the the Robin of Sherwood series, and decided I'd write down some of my thoughts here.
We first see the Silver Arrow at the very start of the series. At the start of Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, Ailric of Loxley retreats to Rhiannon's Wheel. On arriving at the Wheel, Robert de Rainault, appears, and says in best Bond Villain style "I've been expecting you, Ailric." The Sheriff then says Ailric is "the Guardian" and orders that Ailric tells him "Where's the Arrow?" When Ailric refuses, he is killed by de Rainault's Norman soldiers. De Rainault then goes to Ailric's corpse, empties his quiver, and takes out the Silver Arrow with delight. At the very start of the series, we learn that this item is important in the conflict between the Sheriff of Nottingham and his enemies.
EDIT:
When Simon speaks to the Azael-possessed Little John, the demon warns Simon "‘Beware the Hooded One. Herne’s Son will seek the Arrow. It is near." Thus we learn someone else, with supernatural powers, is after this Arrow.
Later in Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, Hugo expresses alarm at the new outlaw, who calls himself "Herne's son." The Sheriff offers to explain this to Hugo, and takes the Silver Arrow out of a box. He then explains to Hugo:
The Sheriff adds that the deceased Ailric was "the Guardian of the Arrow".
So we now know that this artifact is very old, and is an object of veneration for the native English. It's specifically identified as being the property of Herne the Hunter, the "Forest God" worshipped by some of the RoS characters. How old is the Silver Arrow? Was it made in the Anglo-Saxon era, the Romano-British era, the Celtic/Iron Age era, or even the Bronze Age?
The "a sceptre or a cross" statement is interesting, as the first is the symbol of royal power and the second is the symbol of the Christian religion. It may be that the Sheriff is saying that the Arrow is a source of political power, and can command people's loyalty like a sceptre does with a monarch's subjects, and a cross does with Christian believers. Maybe the Sheriff's comment also means that the Silver Arrow represents a symbolic threat to both the power of the Anglo-Norman monarchy and the Established Christian church.
Which is what Robin and his followers ultimately become.
Now, Gildas the Monk is a real person, a British monk of the fifth century who wrote a book, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, about Britain after the collapse of the Roman Empire, and the subsequent Anglo-Saxon invasions. In the fictional world of Robin of Sherwood, why would a Christian monk write a description of a pagan symbol? Answer: the Silver Arrow must have been important to the people who lived at Gildas' time. Perhaps there was a large religious movement centred about the Silver Arrow ("a cult object") in this period, and Gildas wrote about this movement disapprovingly.
The Sheriff also says there are symbols on the Arrow that no-one can read. Interestingly, this mystery is never solved- neither the TV series, nor the various RoS novels and audios, ever explained what was written on the Arrow.
The Sheriff then plans to hold a rigged archery content, with the Silver Arrow as the purported prize, in order to trap Robin of Loxley. Prior to the contest, he also tells Hugo the Arrow is "a secret symbol of England." Robin takes part in the contest in disguise, after being warned by Herne to not to let Simon de Belleme gain the arrow. Turns out the Bad Baron does attend the contest with Nasir, and tries to win the Arrow. Robin wins the contest and escapes with the Arrow after being discovered.
Interestingly, there's some background about the Silver Arrow in the first Robin of Sherwood novelisation by Richard Carpenter, on page 48.
So some of the Saxons/English are angry that their Norman rulers are using it as a prize. Interesting that the Sheriff always calls the Silver Arrow a symbol "of England" and not "of Britain". Maybe he regards the Arrow as especially connected to the Saxon/English people.
Also, the fact that Herne warns Robin not to let Belleme have the Arrow means that the Arrow has powers that can be used either for good or for evil. Indeed, when Belleme speaks to the Sheriff after the contest, he's angry that Robin has the Silver Arrow, saying Robin having the Arrow "will increase his power."
Robin then offers the Arrow to Herne, but Herne told him to retain it, saying "The Arrow is your protection." Robin conceals the Silver Arrow in his clothing when he goes to Castle Belleme. Belleme stops Robin with his magic, apparently hypnotizes Robin, and then orders Robin to kill Marion with a ceremonial knife. However, the Silver Arrow materialises in Robin's hands, protecting him from Belleme's magic and enabling Robin to kill Belleme.
Now it's revealed that that the Silver Arrow is a magical talisman in addition to a political symbol. It shields Robin from Belleme's magic and enables Robin to defeat him. Without the Arrow's powers, Robin's rescue attempt would have failed.
We first see the Silver Arrow at the very start of the series. At the start of Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, Ailric of Loxley retreats to Rhiannon's Wheel. On arriving at the Wheel, Robert de Rainault, appears, and says in best Bond Villain style "I've been expecting you, Ailric." The Sheriff then says Ailric is "the Guardian" and orders that Ailric tells him "Where's the Arrow?" When Ailric refuses, he is killed by de Rainault's Norman soldiers. De Rainault then goes to Ailric's corpse, empties his quiver, and takes out the Silver Arrow with delight. At the very start of the series, we learn that this item is important in the conflict between the Sheriff of Nottingham and his enemies.
EDIT:
When Simon speaks to the Azael-possessed Little John, the demon warns Simon "‘Beware the Hooded One. Herne’s Son will seek the Arrow. It is near." Thus we learn someone else, with supernatural powers, is after this Arrow.
Later in Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, Hugo expresses alarm at the new outlaw, who calls himself "Herne's son." The Sheriff offers to explain this to Hugo, and takes the Silver Arrow out of a box. He then explains to Hugo:
It’s the Silver Arrow. Herne’s Arrow. You really should read more, Hugo. This was described by Gildas the Monk over five hundred years ago, but it’s even older than that. Much older...It’s a cult object, Hugo. Like a sceptre or a cross. An English thing. Magic.
So we now know that this artifact is very old, and is an object of veneration for the native English. It's specifically identified as being the property of Herne the Hunter, the "Forest God" worshipped by some of the RoS characters. How old is the Silver Arrow? Was it made in the Anglo-Saxon era, the Romano-British era, the Celtic/Iron Age era, or even the Bronze Age?
The "a sceptre or a cross" statement is interesting, as the first is the symbol of royal power and the second is the symbol of the Christian religion. It may be that the Sheriff is saying that the Arrow is a source of political power, and can command people's loyalty like a sceptre does with a monarch's subjects, and a cross does with Christian believers. Maybe the Sheriff's comment also means that the Silver Arrow represents a symbolic threat to both the power of the Anglo-Norman monarchy and the Established Christian church.
Which is what Robin and his followers ultimately become.
Now, Gildas the Monk is a real person, a British monk of the fifth century who wrote a book, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, about Britain after the collapse of the Roman Empire, and the subsequent Anglo-Saxon invasions. In the fictional world of Robin of Sherwood, why would a Christian monk write a description of a pagan symbol? Answer: the Silver Arrow must have been important to the people who lived at Gildas' time. Perhaps there was a large religious movement centred about the Silver Arrow ("a cult object") in this period, and Gildas wrote about this movement disapprovingly.
The Sheriff also says there are symbols on the Arrow that no-one can read. Interestingly, this mystery is never solved- neither the TV series, nor the various RoS novels and audios, ever explained what was written on the Arrow.
The Sheriff then plans to hold a rigged archery content, with the Silver Arrow as the purported prize, in order to trap Robin of Loxley. Prior to the contest, he also tells Hugo the Arrow is "a secret symbol of England." Robin takes part in the contest in disguise, after being warned by Herne to not to let Simon de Belleme gain the arrow. Turns out the Bad Baron does attend the contest with Nasir, and tries to win the Arrow. Robin wins the contest and escapes with the Arrow after being discovered.
Interestingly, there's some background about the Silver Arrow in the first Robin of Sherwood novelisation by Richard Carpenter, on page 48.
The Sheriff’s archery contest attracted a great crowd to Nottingham, and bowmen came many miles to shoot for the Silver Arrow. A few of them knew it was Herne’s Arrow and were angry that such a sacred symbol should have fallen into the hands of their conquerors. To offer such a thing as a prize showed the contempt their masters felt for them.
So some of the Saxons/English are angry that their Norman rulers are using it as a prize. Interesting that the Sheriff always calls the Silver Arrow a symbol "of England" and not "of Britain". Maybe he regards the Arrow as especially connected to the Saxon/English people.
Also, the fact that Herne warns Robin not to let Belleme have the Arrow means that the Arrow has powers that can be used either for good or for evil. Indeed, when Belleme speaks to the Sheriff after the contest, he's angry that Robin has the Silver Arrow, saying Robin having the Arrow "will increase his power."
Robin then offers the Arrow to Herne, but Herne told him to retain it, saying "The Arrow is your protection." Robin conceals the Silver Arrow in his clothing when he goes to Castle Belleme. Belleme stops Robin with his magic, apparently hypnotizes Robin, and then orders Robin to kill Marion with a ceremonial knife. However, the Silver Arrow materialises in Robin's hands, protecting him from Belleme's magic and enabling Robin to kill Belleme.
Now it's revealed that that the Silver Arrow is a magical talisman in addition to a political symbol. It shields Robin from Belleme's magic and enables Robin to defeat him. Without the Arrow's powers, Robin's rescue attempt would have failed.