Celtic
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Photograph: A Cypriot iron sword of the sixth century BCE. A hilt end survives above a straight blade thick with rust, with one silver rivet gleaming.
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1,175 × 3,000 PX1175×3000
ArchiveCeltic · Weapon
Fragarach
Freagarthach
Held to the throat, it prevents its victim from moving or lying. Wounds from it never heal.
- Owner
- The sea god Manannán, later Lugh
- Maker
- Unknown
- First record
- The Fate of the Children of Tuireann1500
- Gallery
- Celtic
Notes on the photograph 3
Story
Fragarach means "the answerer" or "the retaliator" in Irish. It was the sword of the sea god Manannán mac Lir and later passed to Lugh, god of light.
A person held at the throat by this sword could neither move nor lie. No one survived its wounds, and no armor could stop its blade.
In the later tale "The Fate of the Children of Tuireann," Lugh wore this sword to battle against the Fomorians. On the three sons of Tuireann, who had killed his father, he laid the penalty of gathering treasures from the ends of the earth.
The object in the photo
The photograph shows Iron, silver, and bronze sword(Cypriot, 6th century BCE), a real museum object that evokes the legendary artifact.
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