The sword is one of the oldest weapons known to man, and over time has evolved into a weapon that can be used for self defense, or as a symbol. There are many different types of swords in the world today, but not all of them have made their mark on history. Here we will discuss 10 famous swords in history that you may not know about.
1) The Sword of Damocles
2) The Sword That Killed Osama Bin Laden
3) John Paul Jones’ Sword
This lists three swords, and the first one is The Sword of Damocles. This sword was used in a story as an allegory for power that isn’t wielded responsibly. In this case it’s from ancient Greece when Dionysius II commissioned a painting by Philistus to depict him sitting at his throne with Dionysius I holding up the sword above him. As you can see there are also other paintings depicting Dionysios II seated below the blade (Archives). People often refer to dangerous positions or situations where someone has too much responsibility and risk without enough control as being “under the sword”, which forms another interesting connection The Sword of Damocles is a legendary weapon, which many fear will someday be let loose upon the world. The shackles it put on people who are under its influence are heavy and those feelings should not be taken lightly because they will come crashing down eventually, like unto a cloud weighing so heavily in the sky that must burst into thunder at some point- perhaps tomorrow or maybe another fifty years from now while our grand children play around during their celebrations.
The sword is the only weapon that was not in ancient times considered a secondary or tertiary armament; it had its own special functions and rules. The most famous swords in history are these:
*Excalibur – King Arthur’s legendary blade, Excalibur was said to be imbued with mystic powers as well as being able to cut through anything. In one legend, after England had been conquered by Rome, some of the countrymen fled into Wales hoping they could find safety there from the Roman invaders who were rampaging across their land. They eventually found refuge on top of Mount Snowdon where they built a fortress called Caer Idris but still continued fighting King Arthur and his Round Table Knights were at long time odds with the Romans until General Beli Mawr came to their aid.
King Arthur then defeated and killed the Roman emperor Lucius Hiberius.
*Kusanagi or Kusunagi – a legendary Japanese sword which is said to have been forged by one of Japan’s three most renowned swordsmiths, Muramasa Sengo. Legend has it that Muramasa was in love with Lady Kaede but she rejected him because he had no lands; so in his anger over this rejection he started building weapons for anyone who came and offered gold coins–without any regard for what kinds of weapons they wanted.
In time, word spread about his temper and the quality of his blades declined until they were known as cursed blades: those who wielded them would be doomed to die within a year unless assisted by
- Bark
- Anguirel (Iron of Eternity)
- Ringil (Cold-star)
- Dagmor (Dark Slayer)
- Gúthwinë (Battle Friend)
- Herugrim (Fierce Sword)
- Sting
- Troll’s bane
- Arthurian Legend:
- Excalibur
- The Adventurous Sword
- Coreiseuse
- Norse Mythology:
- Hofund, (Man-head)
- Gram (Wrath)
- Angurvadal
- Celtic Mythology:
- Caladcholg
- Claíomh Solais
- Beowulf:
- Hrunting (thrusting)
- Naegling
- French Folklore
- Durendal
- Hauteclere
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- Longclaw
- Blackfyre
- Brightroar
- Heartsbane
- Hearteater
- Widow’s Wail
- Warcraft:
- Ashbringer
- Frostmourne
- Thunderfury
- Dragonlance:
- Brightblade
- Wyrmsbane
- Wyrmslayer
- Other cool names:
- Blood-letter
- Foereaver
- Souldrinker
- Serpent’s Breath
- Dawnbreaker
- Dragonslayer
- Giant’s bane
- Orcbane
- Devilish Dicer
- Bisectinator
- Careless Whisper
- Caladbolg
- Heartseeker
- Lifeender
- Diplomacy
- Judgment
- Finality
- The Unprettier
- Hushbringer
- Shining Malice
- Reaver
- Kingmaker
- Blood Drinker
- Talon
- Stonesplitter
- Dragonsbane
- Gutter
- Beheader
- Red Fang
- Lopper
- Gleaming Death
- Pain
- The Fury
- Bleeding Heart
- Cleaver
- Grinning Night
- Unhappy Ending
- Justice
- Blinding Truth
- Oblivion
- Heaven’s Grace
- Eternal Rest
- Sacrifice
- Finisher
- Lord’s Will
- Ice Finger
- Silence of the Dawn
- Iron Steed
- Sentinel
- Peace
- Rapture’s Gate
- Elysium
- Harmony
- Hereafter
- Tranquility
- Azure Dream
- Awakening
- Torment
- Gravedigger
- Abaddon
- Apocalypse
- Fate’s Last Dance
- Final Words
- Salt edge
- Stabwing
- Loki’s horn
- Xvartslayer
- Butterknife
- Icebane
- Magnum opus
- Blackan
- Black Scarlet
- Gutspiller
- Dirgesinger
- Innocence’ End
- Tyrant’s Demise
- Mr. Pointy
- Gore
- Hell’s Afterbirth
- The Ending
- Herald of Mercy
- The Test
- Last Rites
- Gwendolyn
- The Dancing Edge
- Leg-Biter
- Deus vult
- Black Razor
- Crimson Wind
- Head Hunter
- Heart Seeker
- Scarlet Rain
- Shield Breaker
- Silence
- Soul Breaker
- Skull Splitter
- The Sun Sword
- Vengeance
- The Maw
- Curse Crusher
- Blood Spiller
- Author of Death
- Sloth’s Bane
- Backblade
- Callous Cleaver
- The Highroller