Celtic
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Photograph: A Celtic sword and scabbard of about 60 BCE. The copper-alloy scabbard is covered in blue-green patina, and the end of the hilt splits into two curls.
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ArchiveCeltic · Weapon
Sword of Light
Claíomh Solais
Once out of its sheath, no one can escape it.
- Owner
- Nuada, king of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Maker
- Unknown
- First record
- Book of Invasions (Lebor Gabála Érenn)1100
- Gallery
- Celtic
Notes on the photograph 3
Story
The divine people of Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann, are said to have brought four treasures from four cities across the northern sea: the Stone of Destiny from Falias, the Spear of Lugh from Gorias, the Sword of Nuada from Findias and the Cauldron of the Dagda from Murias.
Once the sword from Findias was drawn, no one could flee from it. In later folklore it came to be called the shining "sword of light."
Nuada lost an arm at the first battle of Mag Tuired and stepped down from the throne. When the healing god Dian Cécht made him an arm of silver, he became king again as Nuada of the Silver Arm.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows Sword and Scabbard(Celtic, ca. 60 BCE), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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