======Avalon======
=====Location Information=====
  * **Type:** Legendary [[Island]]
  * **Location:** Unknown; associated with Arthurian legend in [[Britain]]
  * **Owner/Residents:** [[Merlin]] (legendary)
  * **Key Features:** Mythical nature; a place of eternal rest or magical sleep
=====Description and History=====
Avalon is a legendary [[island]] from [[Muggle]] Arthurian mythology that also holds a significant place in the folklore of the [[wizarding world]]. Its primary connection to wizarding history is through the legend of [[Merlin]], considered by many to be the most famous [[wizard]] of all time.
While one version of [[Merlin]]'s history suggests he was imprisoned in a cave, another widely circulated legend within the [[wizarding world]] claims he is "sleeping in the Isle of Avalon, from which he will return when his country needs him most" (video game), (Pottermore). This information originates from [[Merlin]]'s [[Famous Wizard Card]]. This belief implies that for [[wizards]] and [[witches]], Avalon is a real, though perhaps magically concealed, location where [[Merlin]] lies in a state of suspended animation, rather than being truly deceased.
This integration of Arthurian myth serves to deepen the historical tapestry of the [[wizarding world]], suggesting that many famous [[Muggle]] legends have factual, magical origins.
=====Role in the Story=====
Avalon plays no direct role in the main narrative of the [[Harry Potter]] series. The [[island]] is never visited, nor does its existence have any bearing on the central plot concerning [[Harry Potter]]'s conflict with [[Lord Voldemort]].
Its function is entirely for world-building. The mention of Avalon enriches the historical context of the [[wizarding world]], adds depth to the legacy of [[Merlin]], and reinforces the theme that the magical and [[Muggle]] worlds have a shared, albeit often misunderstood, history.
=====Known Areas Within=====
As a mythological location that is not physically explored within the series, there are no known or described areas within Avalon.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
J.K. Rowling's use of Avalon is a direct incorporation of real-world mythology. In traditional British legend, popularized by Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th-century //Historia Regum Britanniae//, Avalon is the mystical isle where [[King Arthur]]'s sword, [[Excalibur]], was said to be forged. It is also famously known as the place where the gravely wounded [[King Arthur]] was taken after his final battle, the Battle of Camlann, to be healed of his wounds, or to await his return.
The specific detail linking Avalon to [[Merlin]]'s slumber comes not from the original seven novels but from supplementary materials written by J.K. Rowling, such as the text for the [[Famous Wizard Cards]] which appeared in licensed video games (video game).