Avalon

• 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

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.

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.

As a mythological location that is not physically explored within the series, there are no known or described areas within Avalon.

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).