In The Quest of small business accounting software review the Holy Grail, a uniquely alchemical tale, the sword is seen as a fiery serpent. It is the sword of small business accounting software review King David, made by the wise Solomon (Sol Om On) with a pommel stone of small business accounting software review all the colors of small business accounting software review the earth, with two rib hilts, one made from the fish of small business accounting software review the Euphrates and the other the serpent.
It is said to resemble the sword of small business accounting software review Arthur, which itself is said to be serpentine in small business accounting software review the Dream of small business accounting software review Rhonabwy. When Arthur’s sword is drawn it was said that two flames of small business accounting software review fire burst out of small business accounting software review the jaws of small business accounting software review the two serpents, and so wonderful was the sword that it was hard for small business accounting software review anyone to gaze at it. It is necessary for small business accounting software review Arthur to maintain ownership of small business accounting software review the sword, whether it is the sword from the stone or Excalibur, as it ensures his victory and his life. Malory indicates again the brightness of small business accounting software review the sword and its fiery aspect, writing: “but it was so bright in small business accounting software review his enemies eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches.” But the sword in small business accounting software review the stone does not last long and the Lady of small business accounting software review the Lake gives Arthur his Excalibur, and also a serpent scabbard, which ensures eternal life. Malory states quite clearly “for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard always with you.” It is only when Arthur’s half sister Morgan le Fay steals the scabbard and replaces it that Arthur becomes susceptible to the deadly blows of small business accounting software review Mordred. The once prized sword is then returned to the water, the home of small business accounting software review the Lady of small business accounting software review the Lake – the serpent spirit.
There is a remarkable resemblance between the tales of small business accounting software review Arthur’s sword and an unsuspecting Chinese legend. A hero from the 6th century BC named Wu Tzu-hsu threw his sword into a river “It shot forth like a spirit-glow, sparkling brightly as it thrice sank and thrice came to the surface with a great gush and then hovered above the water. The god of small business accounting software review the river . . . heard the swords roar . . . he rolled in small business accounting software review the waters in small business accounting software review a great and frothing frenzy . . . Dragons raced along the waves and leaped out of small business accounting software review the water. The river god held the sword in small business accounting software review his hand and, frightened, told Wu Tzu-hsu to take it back.” (Mair 1983, 141 and 286.) This story, related in small business accounting software review the 8th century AD simply cannot differ from Malory’s tale of small business accounting software review the sword. In China there were tales of small business accounting software review great swords such as Dragon Spring and others still that leap into the waters surrounded by dragons, which churn up the water. Wu Tzu-hsu’s sword is also called Dragon Spring.
But is there any archaeological evidence for small business accounting software review the existence of small business accounting software review a real sword or swords, which, were seen as serpents? Well we just so happened to find such evidence in small business accounting software review the Catalogue of small business accounting software review The Fourteenth Park Lane Arms Fair. Lee A Jones authored a fascinating article entitled, “The Serpent in small business accounting software review the Sword: Pattern-welding in small business accounting software review Early Medieval Swords,” which immediately made the hairs on small business accounting software review the back of small business accounting software review our necks tingle. (see vikingsword.com/serpent.html) Error! Unknown switch argument.
The sword first appeared around 4000 years ago and immediately became the pre-eminent weapon, preferred by the warrior class. Recent metallurgical studies have shown how the complex piled structures or layers improved the sword from as early as 500 BC. Little wonder that the smithy was an important part of small business accounting software review legend and folklore, as the skill implied in small business accounting software review the making of small business accounting software review these swords is substantial. Several rods are welded together down the length of small business accounting software review the blade, joining the various levels of small business accounting software review metal together. Heated and then pounded into shape, this sword making was an awesome task. Smaller rods that were carburized (improved carbon) were introduced to increase the hardness. This formed steel, an alloy of small business accounting software review iron with small amounts of small business accounting software review carbon, which was introduced into the edges of small business accounting software review the blade as it was stronger and more effective.
Through the 5th to 10th centuries AD sword smiths actually managed to manipulate this piled structure to create wonderful designs within the blade. The method remained virtually unchanged even into the 20th century as can be seen with the daggers of small business accounting software review the Nazi’s, who utilized it extensively.
The patterns (seen above) are seen from the varying degrees of small business accounting software review trace elements within the different rods, showing alternating shades. The rods are invariably twisted down the shaft, forming a spiral effect. These “twisted” swords are seen as early as the 1st century BC in small business accounting software review the La Tene period, although more effectively used from the 3rd and 5th centuries – the very early period of small business accounting software review Arthur. Cassiodorus was a secretary of small business accounting software review Theodoric and in small business accounting software review 520 AD he wrote to a northern Germanic tribe regarding a gift of small business accounting software review words praising their skills, especially the shadows and colors seen in small business accounting software review the blades, which he likened to “tiny snakes.” In the 10th century Kormaks Saga says concerning the sword Skofnung: “a covering goes with it and thou shall leave it quiet; the sun must not shine on small business accounting software review the upper guard, nor shall thou comest to the fighting place, sit alone, and there draw it. Hold up the blade and blow on small business accounting software review it; then a small snake will creep from under the guard; incline the blade and make it easier for small business accounting software review it to creep back under the guard.” It is the considered opinion of small business accounting software review some scientists that this implies that the dew would reveal the pattern of small business accounting software review the serpent upon the sword, giving the impression that a serpent is emerging from the sheath.
This inclusion of small business accounting software review the serpent in small business accounting software review the blade was eventually replaced with iron inlaid letters and symbols, and Christian phrases such as In Nomine Domini (In the name of small business accounting software review the Lord). The remarkable archaeological fact of small business accounting software review serpents appearing in small business accounting software review the designs of small business accounting software review 5th century swords links perfectly with the time of small business accounting software review Arthur. As the Pendragon or Head/Chief Dragon Lord he would certainly have been seen with such a device and in small business accounting software review the stories mentioned above there are textual links in small business accounting software review the legend.
About the Author
Philip Gardiner is the author of small business accounting software review the best selling The Serpent Grail, The Shining Ones, and Gnosis: The Secret of small business accounting software review Solomon’s Temple Revealed. He does talks, lectures, has his own radio show and does tours across the world via powerplaces.com www.powerplaces.com
Philip has a degree in small business accounting software review marketing and 9 diplomas ranging from etymology to holistic medicine. He is hosting the Philip Gardiner’s Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK (FKCUK) in small business accounting software review July 2006.
philipgardiner.net www.philipgardiner.net
gardinerosborn.com www.gardinerosborn.com