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LEGENDARY MYTHICAL WEAPONS WHICH SHAPED HISTORY

Added on: 20th May 2016

 

 

HARPE

Persus-with-the-head-of-meduse and Harpē sword

The harpe sword comes from Greek mythology where Cronus,

son of Uranus, used it to castrate his father. The sword is

recognizable by the curved sickle protruding near the tip of

the blade. Perseus also used a harpe to decapitate Medusa.

 

 

GRAM

Sigmunds_Schwert_(1889)_by_Johannes_Gehrts - the sword Gram

The legendary sword Gram was forced into the tree Barnstokkr by

Odin, one of the most persistent and highly regarded gods in both

Norse and Germanic mythology. Sigmund the Völsung pulled the

sword from the tree and used it to defeat the dragon Fáfnir.

Though it broke in battle, after the sword was reforged, it was

sharp enough to split an anvil cleanly in half.

 

 

CARNWENNAN

Boys_King_Arthur_-_N__C__Wyeth

Legends exist of King Arthur in English storytelling but rarely is

King Arthur’s place considered in Welsh storytelling. In it,

King Arthur wielded a magical weapon named Carnwennan: a

dagger which was reputed to cast its master into shadow.

Arthur used it to slice the witch Orddu in half. Welsh legend

lists two other objects given to Arthur by the gods, the spear

Rhongomiant and the sword Caledfwich

(the Welsh name for Excalibur).

 

 

EXCALIBUR

The Boy's King Arthur

The better-known weapon of King Arthur, Excalibur, is often

associated with the Sword of the Stone, the sword lodged

in a boulder which was only able to be pulled out by the

true king of England. The sword Excalibur had the power to

blind its enemies and its scabbard could prevent the wearer

from bleeding caused by wounds inflicted in battle.

 

 

SWORD OF ATTILA

Invasion of the Barbarians or The Huns approaching Rome - Color Painting

The legendary Hun warrior Attila is said to have been given a

weapon by the gods themselves. The Sword of Attila was used

by the great military commander in battle and as a symbol of

divine favour. A sword some claim is the legendary weapon

is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, though

this sword seems to have been made at least a half

millennia after Attila died.

 

 

PASHA

Ganesh_chaturthi

Turning to Hindu storytelling, we find the Pasha, a mythical

weapon used by multiple Hindu deities. Ganesha used it to bind

and remove obstacles and Yama used it to extract a soul from

the body upon death. Often seen as a noose-like loop, the

Pasha signifies worldly attachment and the power of the

gods to contain and control evil.

 

 

VARUNASTRA

Rama-Varuna

Created by Varuna, the god of water and the ocean, the

Varunastra is a mythological weapon able to assume any shape.

Made from water, the versatile weapon was said to instantly

kill any inexperienced warrior who used it incorrectly.

 

 

JOAN OF ARC'S SWORD

Joan_of_Arc_by_Rossetti

Saint Joan of Arc had many visions from saints and from

Michael the Archangel, one of which told her to find a holy

sword behind the altar of the Church of Saint Catherine of Fierbois.

Upon finding it, the rust was easily wiped off the sword and five

crosses were revealed. Saint Joan later used the sword in battle,

though it is debated whether she actually killed anyone.

 

 

FRAGARACH

Manannán mac Lir sculpture in Gortmore

The Celtic sword Fragarach was said to be forged by the gods

themselves and used by Manannan mac Lir, the guardian of

the Otherworld and pilot of the boat ferrying souls to the afterlife.

The sword was reputed to cut through any armour, give the

user control of the winds, and force the truth out of

whoever’s throat it was on.

 


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