In The Quest of benchmarking drive hard the Holy Grail, a uniquely alchemical tale, the sword is seen as a fiery serpent. It is the sword of benchmarking drive hard King David, made by the wise Solomon (Sol Om On) with a pommel stone of benchmarking drive hard all the colors of benchmarking drive hard the earth, with two rib hilts, one made from the fish of benchmarking drive hard the Euphrates and the other the serpent.
It is said to resemble the sword of benchmarking drive hard Arthur, which itself is said to be serpentine in benchmarking drive hard the Dream of benchmarking drive hard Rhonabwy. When Arthur’s sword is drawn it was said that two flames of benchmarking drive hard fire burst out of benchmarking drive hard the jaws of benchmarking drive hard the two serpents, and so wonderful was the sword that it was hard for benchmarking drive hard anyone to gaze at it. It is necessary for benchmarking drive hard Arthur to maintain ownership of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the sword and its fiery aspect, writing: “but it was so bright in benchmarking drive hard his enemies eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches.” But the sword in benchmarking drive hard the stone does not last long and the Lady of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard Mordred. The once prized sword is then returned to the water, the home of benchmarking drive hard the Lady of benchmarking drive hard the Lake – the serpent spirit.
There is a remarkable resemblance between the tales of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the river . . . heard the swords roar . . . he rolled in benchmarking drive hard the waters in benchmarking drive hard a great and frothing frenzy . . . Dragons raced along the waves and leaped out of benchmarking drive hard the water. The river god held the sword in benchmarking drive hard his hand and, frightened, told Wu Tzu-hsu to take it back.” (Mair 1983, 141 and 286.) This story, related in benchmarking drive hard the 8th century AD simply cannot differ from Malory’s tale of benchmarking drive hard the sword. In China there were tales of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the existence of benchmarking drive hard a real sword or swords, which, were seen as serpents? Well we just so happened to find such evidence in benchmarking drive hard the Catalogue of benchmarking drive hard The Fourteenth Park Lane Arms Fair. Lee A Jones authored a fascinating article entitled, “The Serpent in benchmarking drive hard the Sword: Pattern-welding in benchmarking drive hard Early Medieval Swords,” which immediately made the hairs on benchmarking drive hard the back of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard legend and folklore, as the skill implied in benchmarking drive hard the making of benchmarking drive hard these swords is substantial. Several rods are welded together down the length of benchmarking drive hard the blade, joining the various levels of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard iron with small amounts of benchmarking drive hard carbon, which was introduced into the edges of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the Nazi’s, who utilized it extensively.
The patterns (seen above) are seen from the varying degrees of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the La Tene period, although more effectively used from the 3rd and 5th centuries – the very early period of benchmarking drive hard Arthur. Cassiodorus was a secretary of benchmarking drive hard Theodoric and in benchmarking drive hard 520 AD he wrote to a northern Germanic tribe regarding a gift of benchmarking drive hard words praising their skills, especially the shadows and colors seen in benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard the upper guard, nor shall thou comest to the fighting place, sit alone, and there draw it. Hold up the blade and blow on benchmarking drive hard it; then a small snake will creep from under the guard; incline the blade and make it easier for benchmarking drive hard it to creep back under the guard.” It is the considered opinion of benchmarking drive hard some scientists that this implies that the dew would reveal the pattern of benchmarking drive hard the serpent upon the sword, giving the impression that a serpent is emerging from the sheath.
This inclusion of benchmarking drive hard the serpent in benchmarking drive hard the blade was eventually replaced with iron inlaid letters and symbols, and Christian phrases such as In Nomine Domini (In the name of benchmarking drive hard the Lord). The remarkable archaeological fact of benchmarking drive hard serpents appearing in benchmarking drive hard the designs of benchmarking drive hard 5th century swords links perfectly with the time of benchmarking drive hard Arthur. As the Pendragon or Head/Chief Dragon Lord he would certainly have been seen with such a device and in benchmarking drive hard the stories mentioned above there are textual links in benchmarking drive hard the legend.
About the Author
Philip Gardiner is the author of benchmarking drive hard the best selling The Serpent Grail, The Shining Ones, and Gnosis: The Secret of benchmarking drive hard 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 benchmarking drive hard marketing and 9 diplomas ranging from etymology to holistic medicine. He is hosting the Philip Gardiner’s Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK (FKCUK) in benchmarking drive hard July 2006.
philipgardiner.net www.philipgardiner.net
gardinerosborn.com www.gardinerosborn.com