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Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, with varying origins and attributes in different stories. It is often depicted as a greatsword with magical properties and was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake. The sword was returned to the Lady after Arthur’s death. The origin of the word Excalibur is unknown.
Excalibur is the sword that the legendary King Arthur wielded. The sword, and by proxy King Arthur, have appeared countless times in stories, poems, movies, video games, and just about every other media. As there is no historical fact regarding Excalibur, its properties, appearance and how Arthur obtained it vary greatly from story to story.
In some versions of the King Arthur story, Excalibur was a sword in the stone, which could only be drawn by the true king of England. Other stories state that Excalibur was given to Arthur by the wizard Merlin. Most stories explaining Excalibur’s origin, however, state that the sword was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, a spirit who dwells in a magical lake.
Many different descriptions and representations of Excalibur have been created. Modern “reproductions” of Excalibur commonly portray the weapon as a greatsword, with a broad blade and circular pommel divided by a cross. Alfred Lord Tennyson described the sword as encrusted with jewels. Other poets and storytellers created their own descriptions of Excalibur.
Excalibur’s attributes vary as much as the origins of the sword. In some legends, Excalibur was simply a finely crafted weapon. In other variants, the sword was magical and was able to cut steel and rock. In stories where the sword is a magical weapon, it is able to blind Arthur’s enemies and protect him from serious injury.
Some variations on the King Arthur story state that only Arthur, the true king with divine mandate, is able to wield the weapon. This is synonymous with stories where Excalibur was the sword in the stone. Other stories state that they were two separate swords and that Arthur received Excalibur shortly after he began his reign. In some versions of the Arthurian legend, other knights were able to wield the sword.
During the last battle Arthur is seriously wounded. As he lay on his deathbed, he orders one of his knights of the Round Table to return the sword to the Lady of the Lake. As the sword is thrown back into the lake, the Lady’s hand reaches out from the water, grasps the hilt and brings it back at the lake.
The origin of the word Excalibur is unknown. Some believe it is of Greek or Latin origin. Regardless of the exact origin of the word, throughout history, the sword has been called by several names, and even after Excalibur was the accepted name, spelling variations have continued.
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