''Priestess of Avalon'' is a 2000 novel by American writer
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley (June 3, 1930 – September 25, 1999) was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels, and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel ''The Mists of Avalon'' an ...
, completed posthumously by
Diana L. Paxson
Diana Lucile Paxson (born February 20, 1943) is an American author, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has ...
. It follows detailing the life of
Helena, first wife of
Western Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus
Flavius Valerius Constantius "Chlorus" ( – 25 July 306), also called Constantius I, was Roman emperor from 305 to 306. He was one of the four original members of the Tetrarchy established by Diocletian, first serving as caesar from 293 ...
and mother of
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
.
Plot summary
The novel begins by showing her birth, with a
druid giving a prophecy of her life. It proceeds to show her as a young girl named Eilan, who becomes a priestess on the Isle of
Avalon
Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...
.
As a young woman, the British priestess Eilan, known to the Romans as Helena, falls in love with the charismatic Roman Constantius. The Roman noble takes her away from Avalon as she is banished for this forbidden love and, before long, Helena bears him a son, who will become Constantine the Great.
Helena's position in Roman society now gives her the freedom to travel about in the empire. When her son Constantine becomes Emperor, she slowly discovers brand-new roles. She faces the spread of the new Christian religion and seeks to understand the old knowledge of the goddess in light of the new religion. As Empress-Mother, Helena travels on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to find the answers to questions that arise between the old religion and the new.
Characters
*Eilan
Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta.html" ;"title="Helena_(Empress).html" ;"title="ulia Coelia
Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html"_;"title="ulia_Coelia_Helena_(Empress)">Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta–_the_priestess_of_the_story,_protagonist._She_is_the_daughter_of_Prince_Coelius,_consort_of_Constantius,_mother_of_
Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html"_;"title="ulia_Coelia_Helena_(Empress)">Helena,_later,_Flavia_Helena_Augusta–_the_priestess_of_the_story,_protagonist._She_is_the_daughter_of_Prince_Coelius,_consort_of_Constantius,_mother_of_Constantine_I">Constantine
_
Constantine_most_often_refers_to:
*_Constantine_the_Great,_Roman_emperor_from_306_to_337,_also_known_as_Constantine_I
*Constantine,_Algeria,_a_city_in_Algeria
Constantine_may_also_refer_to:
__People_
*_Constantine_(name),_a_masculine_given_name_...
,_and_priestess_of_
Avalon_
Avalon_(;__la,_Insula_Avallonis;__cy,_Ynys_Afallon,_Ynys_Afallach;__kw,_Enys_Avalow;_literally_meaning_"the_isle_of_fruit_r_appletrees";_also_written_''Avallon''_or_''Avilion''_among_various_other_spellings)_is_a_mythical_island_featured_in_the_...
*Constantius_–_the_Roman_noble_she_marries
*Constantine_I.html" "title="Constantine_I.html" "title="Helena (Empress)">Helena, later, Flavia Helena Augusta">Helena_(Empress).html" ;"title="ulia Coelia Helena (Empress)">Helena, later, Flavia Helena Augusta– the priestess of the story, protagonist. She is the daughter of Prince Coelius, consort of Constantius, mother of Constantine I">Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...