Avernus, a miasmatic lake close to the promontory between Cumae and Puteoli, filling the crater of an extinct volcano, by the ancients thought to be the entrance to the infernal regions. Avicenna, celebrated Arabian physician and philosopher. Aya, mother of Rinaldo. Aymon, Duke, father of Rinaldo and Bradamante. B Baal, king of Tyre. Babylonian River, dried up when Phaeton drove the sun chariot. Bacchanali a, a feast to Bacchus that was permitted to occur but once in three years, attended by most shameless orgies. Bacchanals, devotees and festal dancers of Bacchus. Bacchus (Dionysus), god of wine and revelry. Badon, battle of, Arthur's final victory over the Saxons. Bagdemagus, King, a knight of Arthur's time. Baldur, son of Odin, and representing in Norse mythology the sun god. Balisardo, Orlando's sword. Ban, King of Brittany, ally of Arthur, father of Launcelot. Bards, minstrels of Welsh Druids. Basilisk SEE Cockatrice Baucis, wife of Philemon, visited by Jupiter and Mercury. Bayard, wild horse subdued by Rinaldo. Beal, Druids' god of life. Bedivere, Arthur's knight. Bedver, King Arthur's butler, made governor of Normandy. Bedwyr, knightly comrade of Geraint. Belisarda, Rogero's sword. Bellerophon, demigod, conqueror of the Chimaera. Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, represented as the sister or wife of Mars. Beltane, Druidical fire festival. Belus, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and Libya or Eurynome, twin brother of Agenor. Bendigeid Vran, King of Britain. Beowulf, hero and king of the Swedish Geats. Beroe, nurse of Semele. Bertha, mother of Orlando. Bifrost, rainbow bridge between the earth and Asgard Bladud, inventor, builder of the city of Bath. Blamor, a knight of Arthur. Bleoberis, a knight of Arthur. Boeotia, state in ancient Greece, capital city Thebes. Bohort, King, a knight of Arthur. Bona Dea, a Roman divinity of fertility. Bootes, also called Areas, son of Jupiter and Calisto, changed to constellation of Ursa Major. Boreas, North wind, son of Aeolus and Aurora. Bosporus (Bosphorus), the Cow-ford, named for Io, when as a heifer she crossed that strait. Bradamante, sister to Rinaldo, a female warrior. Brademagus, King, father of Sir Maleagans. Bragi, Norse god of poetry. Brahma, the Creator, chief god of Hindu religion. Branwen, daughter of Llyr, King of Britain, wife of Mathclch. Breciliande, forest of, where Vivian enticed Merlin. Brengwain, maid of Isoude the Fair Brennus, son of Molmutius, went to Gaul, became King of the Allobroges. Breuse, the Pitiless, a caitiff knight. Briareus, hundred armed giant. Brice, Bishop, sustainer of Arthur when elected king. Brigliadoro, Orlando's horse. Briseis, captive maid belonging to Achilles. Britto, reputed ancestor of British people. Bruhier, Sultan of Arabia. Brunello, dwarf, thief, and king Brunhild, leader of the Valkyrie. Brutus, great grandson of Aeneas, and founder of city of New Troy (London), SEE Pandrasus