I'm listening to an audiobook about Irish history (A Brief History of the Druids) and was surprised to learn that in the Iron Age, Celts would make offerings to the gods by throwing their swords (and other metal items) into lakes and rivers.
I immediately thought of the Lady of the Lake tale from Arthurian legends, and lo and behold, I'm not the only one. Check out this webpage that describes the ritual in more detail and connects the Lady of the Lake to Celtic water goddess mythology. Celtic Iron Age Sword Deposits and Arthur's Lady of the Lake
Cool stuff! I wish my English classes in college had brought in more history.
Mignon Fogarty is better known online as Grammar Girl
I immediately thought of the Lady of the Lake tale from Arthurian legends, and lo and behold, I'm not the only one. Check out this webpage that describes the ritual in more detail and connects the Lady of the Lake to Celtic water goddess mythology. Celtic Iron Age Sword Deposits and Arthur's Lady of the Lake
Cool stuff! I wish my English classes in college had brought in more history.
Mignon Fogarty is better known online as Grammar Girl
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Mignon
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Apr 25, 2012 09:27am
I've always been fascinated by the role swords play in fiction. My best paper as an undergrad was about the symbolism of swords in Beowulf.
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"Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony."
I love that quotation, Hankrose! I used it for the "mandate" entry in Grammar Girl's 101 Words Every High School Graduate Needs to Know.
