![]() ![]() Zeus’ mother Rhea birthed him in secret and placed a stone in swaddling cloth. The same thing would happen to the next generation of Gods: Kronos ate all of his children, except the youngest one, Zeus. It was a short, curved blade with a sickle-like protrusion, originally used by Kronos to kill his father Ouranos for his cruelty, at the behest of Gaea. This Greek weapon had several wielders: Kronos, Zeus, and Perseus. Harpe: The Sword That Killed Medusa Perseus holding Medusa’s head, Benvenuto Cellini, 16th century, via Villa Campestri Astute Tolkien readers might see the inspiration for Boromir.ĥ. Roland carried this blade along with his signaling-horn Oliphaunt. This legendary sword was said to have the power to cut through solid rock, similar to the Zulfiqar. Roland was equipped with Durendal, a blade infused with - according to The Song of Roland - several sacred Christian relics: a tooth of Saint Peter, a tassel from the shroud of Mary, and the hair of Saint Denis. 768 – 814 CE) His most notable excursion was the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778.Īfter a failed invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, Roland held the rear, allowing the Frankish forces to retreat through the pass. This military general was in service of the Frankish/Lombard ruler Charlemagne (r. This legendary sword features prominently in the stories of the legendary warrior Roland. Durendal: The Sword of Roland The Roncevaux Pass, photo via Guide du Pays Basque The weapon is depicted on many flags and insignia as a scissor-like blade, but a more plausible variant is a simple scimitar that has its tip split into two pieces.Ĥ. The saying “ lā sayfa ʾillā Ḏū l-Faqāri wa-lā fatā ʾillā ʿAlīy” (There is no sword but the Zulfiqar, and there is no hero but Ali), an invocation from the Prophet, often appears on talismans, in praise of both the legendary sword and Ali himself. Some mountain passes bear the name Zulfiqar because the Prophet Muhammad is said to have used the sword to carve them. The sword is said to have similar powers to Excalibur (extra strength, an extraordinarily sharp edge, and divine light), though only when wielded by a devout Muslim warrior, and in fact, it was given to the Prophet as a weapon to defend the Islamic faithful. Ali had struck both the helmet and shield of Talhah ibn Abi Talhah al-Abdari, the best warrior from Mecca during the Battle of Uhud, breaking his own weapon in the process. This legendary sword, given to the Prophet Muhammad by the Archangel Gabriel, passed to Ali ibn-Abi Tahib, the Prophet’s first cousin/successor according to Shia Islam. Zulfiqar: A Gift to the Prophet Muhammad Persian Replica of the Zulfiqar, 18th century, via Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney In contemporary media, it is usually depicted as a greatsword, but if it has any historical basis it would have been a shorter seax-like weapon, or a single-handed straight sword.ģ. There are other stories about Gramr, but this is the most well-known one. Sigurd found Fafnir and slew him with a single thrust. Anyone familiar with Tolkien’s work will see where the inspiration for The Hobbit came from (although of course Bilbo was not asked to kill Smaug). ![]() During this time, Regin told Sigurd about the dragon Fafnir and asked him to slay the dragon to retrieve its treasure. A dwarven smith/warrior named Regin came to stay with Sigurd to train him. Signy kept the two pieces of the legendary sword and passed them down to her son Sigurd, who became a renowned figure in his own right. Sigmund used the sword in several battles until it was broken in two. The king wished for the sword, but Sigmund refused to part with it because it was a gift from Odin. All the guests tried and failed to remove the sword, all save Sigmund. He declared that anyone who could remove the blade would find no better weapon in all his days. At his sister Signy’s wedding, Odin appeared as he was wont to do and thrust a sword, Gramr, into a tree. The Volsunga Saga of Icelandic lore tells of a warrior named Sigmund. Gramr: The Sword From the Volsunga Saga Artist’s impression of Sigurd facing Fafnir, by Istrandar, 2019, via DeviantArt However, during the 6th century when King Arthur supposedly lived (the earliest sources date to this period), it is more than likely he would have had a short blade, similar to a Roman gladius.Ģ. Sir Bedivere took Excalibur and returned it to the Lady of the Lake, and Arthur was bound to the island of Avalon, where according to legend he rests until the hour of Britain’s greatest need.Įxcalibur is often portrayed as a longsword. Arthur was said to have fought his nephew Mordred at the Battle of Camlann and suffered a mortal wound. ![]()
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