Arthurian & Chivalric
Excalibur
Excalibur
Cuts through enemy armor, and whoever wears its scabbard does not bleed.
WeaponFirst recorded 1136
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Photograph: A fourteenth-century roundel dagger, possibly British. A thin pointed blade is backed by a disk-shaped guard and pommel.
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3,000 × 1,097 PX3000×1097
ArchiveArthurian & Chivalric · Weapon
Carnwennan
Carnwennan
Thrown, it cleaves a witch in two.
- Owner
- King Arthur
- Maker
- Unknown
- First record
- Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen1100
- Gallery
- Arthurian & Chivalric
Notes on the photograph 3
Story
In Culhwch and Olwen, a Welsh tale recorded around the eleventh century, Arthur lists his most prized possessions and names the dagger Carnwennan. The name means "little white hilt" in Welsh.
At the end of the tale Arthur goes to find the Very Black Witch in the uplands of Hell. When his men fall one after another, Arthur steps forward himself and throws Carnwennan, and the dagger splits the witch in two.
Modern games and novels often say this dagger hides its wielder in shadow. In the Welsh sources, however, the power of concealment belongs to Arthur's mantle, Gwenn.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows Roundel Dagger(possibly British, 14th century), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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Long and broad-bladed, said to thirst for enemy blood.
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