If you think that the pen is mightier than these swords, then you have not heard the stories of these famous mythological swords. These blades are famous for cutting, slicing, and sometimes even blinding the enemies of their wielders. From killing the Medusa monster to helping the emperors rule the world, below are some famous mythological swords from history and their stories.
1. Excalibur
Excalibur is the legendary sword that belongs to King Arthur of Britain. It is claimed to have many magical powers and is often associated with the sword in the stone. It was this sword that made him the king. Even though the swords were generally considered separate, the name was derived from the Walsh word for the cleaver.
Legends say that the lady of the Lake gave Excalibur to King Arthur when he started his reign. It is said that its blade was so bright that it blinded its enemies. It has the inscriptions “take me up” and “cast me away” on it. Even Excalibur scabbard allegedly has powers such as the ability to protect the wearer from blood loss.
2. Zulfiqar
This scimitar was brought down from heaven by the Lord of Angles Jibril and given to the Muslim’s Prophet Muhammad. He then passed it on to his cousin and son-in-law Ali Ibn ABI Talib, who used it in many great battles.
Zulfiqar features a unique split that gives it a scissor-like appearance. It also has a trademark jagged blade. This weapon is iconic to many people in the Middle East. It is so famous till now that its name is even inscribed on the other swords.
3. Nandaka
A sword is scary when its name means the source of joy. It is one of the several weapons belonging to the Hindu god Vishnu and his avatars. Though many of his other weapons have long and detailed histories, this one is more enigmatic.
Because Vishnu used Nandaka to cut through ignorance, the sword is associated with knowledge. So, if you are having a problem with an exam, just hack away at it a few times with Nandaka.
4. The Sword of Attila
When your nickname is the scourge of God, you need an awesome sword to back up your reputation. The same blade was found by a shepherd after one of his sheep accidentally stepped on it. It was then brought to the king of the Huns.
According to some accounts, Attila immediately recognized it as the sword of God, which was said to be a gift from the God of war. He also took it as a sign that he was destined to conquer the world. With this weapon in hand, Attila, the Hun, set off to invade Europe and strike fear in the decaying Roman Empire.
5. Gram
This is the legendary sword that belonged to the Sigmund of Volsunga Saga. A strange man appeared at the wedding of Sigmund’s sister and thrust his sword into the trunk of Barnstokkr. It was probably a usual occurrence the first day; however, this stranger turned out to be none other than the Norse God Odin.
He proclaimed that anyone who could remove the sword could have it and that it would bring them many victories. Sigmund was the only one who could get it out. The sword was later passed down to Sigmund’s son, who used it to slay the dragon Fafnir.
6. Shamshir-e-Zomorrodnegar
In the classic Persian epic, Amir Arsalan, the protagonist, must face down many dangers. One of these dangers was the fierce horned demon Fulad-zereh.
Shamshir-e-Zomorrodnegar was incredibly valuable and is said to have belonged to King Solomon himself. According to the legends, the slightest nick from this mighty blade meant death unless it was quickly treated by the special potion. Since the ingredients of that potion included Fulad-zereh’s brain, that’s why the demon kept the blade closely guarded.
If you want to know more about the history of Ancient Persians, you may check out our article, Discover the Rise and Fall of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, which talks about the biggest Persian Empire in history.
7. Joyeuse
The renowned Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne would want a special sword, and Joyeuse was that sword. This was the one priceless thing the king ever carried in his belt. Like every legendary sword, it is said that no blade could ever match Joyeuse.
It was rumored that the sword could turn many colors and that it was so bright that it blinded the enemies of Charlemagne on the battlefields. Too bad for the soldiers as the soldiers of the middle ages did not have sunglasses.
8. Honjo Masamune
Masamune was the priest, widely regarded as the greatest swordsmith in Japanese history. According to the legends, one of the Masamune pupils was Muramasa, whose sword was considered cursed because he wished them to be used for deadly purposes.
Muramasa challenged Masamune to a sword-making competition and created a blade that cuts everything it touched. By contrast, Masamune’s sword only cut those things that deserved cutting. Another sword, the Honjo Masamune, was perhaps Masamune’s finest achievement and represented the Shogunate during the Edo period. The sword was officially designated as a Japanese national treasure, but tragically it was lost after World War II.
9. The Glory of Ten Powers
This sword was powered by the magic of love. According to Chinese literature, the glory of Ten Powers was created by two Tibetan magicians, husband and wife. Their love was so strong that a Great Spirit deity inhabited the sword when they made it, which is why whoever wields it gains great magical powers. It was so feared by its wielder’s enemies that they burnt it and broke it down into a magical talisman when it was captured.
10. Kusanagi
Originally called the heavenly sword of gathering clouds, this legendary blade was discovered when the God Susanoo helped a grieving family by slaying an eight-headed serpent that had eaten seven of their daughters. After slaying the beast, Susanoo found this sword inside of it. It was later gifted to Yamato, who used the sword to escape by an ambush by a rival warlord.
During the fight, he chopped the grass around him to escape and discovered that the sword could control the wind. He then named it Kusanagi, “the grass cutting sword.”
11. Harpe
The story of Harpe will make you wonder that how unforgiving the spirit of vengeance can be. Legends have it that the divine Uranus would descend to earth every night to make love to Gaia, the earth goddess. Gaia and Uranus also had children together who Uranus detested. One day he punished his son Tartarus and tortured him.
This left Gaia gnashing her teeth, and she planned on taking her revenge on Uranus. Then Gaia provoked her younger son Cronus against his father. She also provided him with the Harpe. When Uranus approached them, Cronus pounced on him, castrated him, and dethroned him to take charge of the whole world. The sword later became an emblem of Cronus’ strength.
Conclusion
These amazing swords were considered a sign of power, bravery, and honor in ancient times. The different types of swords have been showcased in many series, films, and video games. Due to the development of a variety of weapons, the use of swords has decreased, but they remain one of the best weapons of war.