Scene from the manuscript of the epic poem of Parzival, written in the 1200s. (Wolfram von Eschenbach. “Parzifal, Titurel und Tagelieder.” Source: Munich DigitiZation Center)

The Middle Ages wasn’t just full of jousting knights and hard-working peasants, there were also artists and poets like Wolfram von Eschenbach.

Wolfram wrote the epic poem of “Parzival,” or Percival in English. Yes, that Percival. Sir Percival of round table fame. In this German version of the Arthurian legend, Parzival is a flawed figure who eventually goes on a successful quest for the Holy Grail. Written in the early 1200s, it’s one of the numerous expanded-Arthur-universe stories popular in the Middle Ages. There are over 80 original manuscripts or “Parzival” in existence today, and the center four pages have illustrations depicting scenes from the story.

Scene from the manuscript of the epic poem of Parzival, written in the 1200s. ()