roundtable

Roundtable refers to a circular table that appears in Arthurian legend, and more broadly to any gathering arranged so that no participant sits at a head of the table. The concept is used in historical myth, literary tradition, and modern discourse to emphasize equality and shared purpose.

In Arthurian legend, the Round Table is the symbol of an equal fellowship among King Arthur’s knights. The round shape eliminates hierarchical seating, reinforcing ideals of knighthood, justice, and unity. The table and its fellowship appear in various medieval romances; its origin is attributed differently across texts, with variants invoking Merlin or a royal gift.

Descriptions of the table vary in size and number of seats, with counts that range widely in different sources. It is depicted as hosting legendary quests, counsel, and feasts, and serves as a setting for the knights’ code and adventures at Camelot.

In modern usage, a round-table conference is any meeting designed to promote equal participation, and the term has spread to business, diplomacy, and education. The phrase is used metaphorically to describe collaborative deliberation and consensus-building, regardless of seating arrangement.

Round Table also appears in popular culture and in branding, such as the Round Table Pizza chain in the United States.