LEGENDARY MYTHICAL WEAPONS WHICH SHAPED HISTORY
Added on: 20th May 2016
HARPE
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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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