Interesting thread. I am studying the Tristan and Isolde story at the moment (why I found this thread) and I would like to ask Susan if she thinks Tristan is the first appearance of the two-plants-gtowing-from-the-grave-and-entwining motif, or whether we can go further back.

The reason I ask is this: All sorts of earlier stories are suggested as sources for T and I but the links all seem weak. It seems increasing likely to me that T and I is an original story, created at one time by one writer/storyteller/singer and all later versions come from that single act of creativity.

Mark

Mark