Latest news with #sword
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Mystery of Finchdale Priory sword found in tree
A sword found stuck in a tree trunk near a 13th Century priory could have been put there by a Harry Potter fan, volunteers have theorised.A walker heading for Finchale Priory in Durham from the city's bus station came across the ornate sword, embedded up to its hilt in a remains a mystery to English Heritage, which preserves the old Benedictine priory, and to Durham County Council, which owns the land the sword was found English Heritage volunteer speculated the model sword had been made by a Potter fan in a nod to the fantasy series. Walker Alan Finnegan said he stumbled across the "sword in the tree" on the way to the priory."It was on the other side of the river, up the steps towards the car park," he posted images of the mystery sword on social media, said he had discovered nothing concrete about the weapon's his appeals, people told him that the sword might not have been in the tree for a very long time. "I personally don't know much about the history but I've heard that it wasn't there for long, but with not much information on it, I'd say that it's a brilliant conversation starter," Mr Finnegan said."It makes people wonder about the history of the sword and where it has come from." The council confirmed the sword was on its land but said it did not know anything about it. It added the police had been informed, but no action needed to be taken as it was firmly lodged in the tree. Godric's sword? Finchdale Priory was founded in 1196 and became an outpost of Durham Cathedral, functioning as a holiday retreat for monks until the dissolution in Heritage spoke to its volunteers at the priory, who believe the sword must have been put there volunteer said: "I walked past the tree many times without noticing it and I only became aware of it when a visitor asked me what the story was behind it. "Following that, I was asked by some of the younger visitors where 'Godric's sword' was."In the Harry Potter book series, Godric's sword belonged to one of the founders of the Hogwarts houses, Gryffindor, and would only present itself to a worthy candidate."It's definitely not that sword, however, as it is described as having a handle that is encrusted with jewels," the volunteer said."My theory is that a Harry Potter fan made the sword and hammered it into the tree and then posted a pic on his or her social media asking 'is this Godric's sword?'" Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Arrest in Crewe over reports of man on street with sword
Police have made an arrest after armed officers were sent to reports of a man on a street carrying a attended Malbank Road in Crewe at about 16:00 BST on Thursday where a suspect was refusing to leave a negotiated with an individual before forcing entry to the address because of a fire, said Cheshire Police.A 37-year-old man remained in custody on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, affray and criminal damage, the force added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Sacrificial sword straddled Christian-Viking divide
A beautiful blade. Secret symbols. A glittering pond. It's the stuff of legends. Dredgers working on the Korte Linschoten River in the Dutch region of Utrecht made an unexpected discovery in the mud: a metre-long sword. At first glance, it appeared to be just like any other medieval weapon. It had a broad double-edged blade. The wide cross-guard was straight and simple. And the prominent counterbalance on the pommel was shaped like a Brazil nut. All were features iconic of swords made between 1050 and 1150AD. This sword was an exceptionally well-preserved example. Then, during cleaning, its true significance came to light. Exquisitely etched designs had been embedded into its blade. Both sides feature copper circles bracketed by sets of three straight lines. They were simple yet powerful symbols. But the circles contain emblems belonging to diametrically opposed worlds. One side displays a circle divided by a multiform cross. Historians have identified it as a 'Sonnenrad' (Sun Wheel), a sacred sign typically found in medieval churches. The circle on the other side contains five interlaced squares. This geometric design is an 'Endless Knot', a Viking and Germanic symbol of unwavering loyalty and the interconnectedness of all things. This poses the question: why were they on the same sword? Clash of cultures The era of the Vikings was ending. The Celtic tribes had merged into feudal states. The march of Roman Catholicism was relentless. But some were clinging to the old ways. And not all Christians regarded every nonbeliever to be a barbarian. The Linschoten Sword dates from an era when the Bishop of Utrecht ruled the region around the nearby town of Montfoort. Neighbouring Holland and Flanders were being unified under Counts. The new European nations were unified enough to mount the First Crusade, resulting in the bloodbath that was the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099. But scattered here and there were communities that still clung to the old ways. The old gods were weakened. But they were not dead yet. Archaeologists believe the Linschoten Sword was forged to straddle both worlds. 'This sword tells the story of a time when symbolism and spirituality were deeply intertwined, and when a simple design could transcend centuries,' a Montfoort district spokesperson said. 'Its refined craftsmanship and symbolic depth make it not only a historical relic, but also a work of art that reflects the cultural complexity of early medieval Europe.' But it was even more than that. Conservators comment that the sword does not appear to have been ever used. Nor was the blade sheathed. That's led to speculation it was specifically made as a sacrifice. That it was cast into the river as part of a ceremony or sacred vow. ' Medieval swords are very personal possessions,' a conservator statement reads. 'They were buried with the owner or 'sacrificed' in the water. It is, therefore, a golden opportunity when one surfaces centuries later'. Cutting-edge technology The medieval city of Utrecht was a centre of power in what is now the Netherlands. It was strategically positioned on a trade hub radiating out from a crossing of the Rhine River. It was a crossroads of culture, industry, religion and political power. And swords were the primary status symbol of the era. They were expressions of status and strength. But they were also personal jewellery items, broadcasting their owners' wealth and sophistication. Swords were labour-intensive. Especially good swords. Forging strong and flexible blades required months of effort from a master in metallurgy. Only then could the expensive artisans be hired to embellish the fully functional weapon. This is why they tended to be owned only by nobles, influential church figures, and the wealthy landholder class that produced the era's knights. A sword's significance would quickly grow beyond its expense. Noble families would treasure particularly fine examples as heirlooms, symbols of the authority and continuity of their rule. Many were even given names. It's a reverence still evident in the legends of Excalibur, Durandal, Gram, Zulfiqar and Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. The Linschoten Sword's state of preservation is attributed to the lack of oxygen in the clay soil that encased it. But it began to corrode the instant it was exposed to the air. So, it was immersed in a chemical bath for 10 weeks to remove the salts that the metal had absorbed. It was then cleaned again, dried and treated to stabilise the steel. A year later, it's ready for display. The sword has been donated to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) in Leiden, where it is now on display.
Sky News
09-06-2025
- Sky News
Hainault trial latest: Marcus Arduini Monzo accused of attempted murder van attack - as jury shown footage
Marcus Arduini Monzo is accused of using a sword to kill 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin as he walked to school. Donato Iwule, one of four people Monzo is accused of attempting to murder in the same rampage, is expected to give evidence today. Monzo denies the charges. Follow the latest.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Napoleon's Sword Sold at Auction for 4.7 Mn Euros
A sword that belonged to Napoleon and was specially ordered for the personal use of the French emperor fetched almost 4.7 million euros at auction in Paris, many times the asking price and coming close to a new record price for a Napoleonic artefact, the auction house said. The piece, which Napoleon ordered in 1802 and kept throughout his reign, was sold for 4.66 million euros ($5.27 million) late Thursday, said the Drouot auctioneers, on whose premises the auction organized by the Giquello auction firm took place, AFP said. The sword had been estimated to reach 700,000 to one million euros when it came under the hammer in Paris. The final price nearly broke the auction record for a Napoleonic artefact, set in 2007 when a sword used by Napoleon at the 1800 Battle of Marengo sold for 4.8 million euros. "It joins the very select group of the most valuable Napoleonic artifacts ever sold at auction," the Drouot auction house said. Napoleon passed the sabre on to his close ally Emmanuel de Grouchy, who the French emperor named his last marshal of the empire. The sword has been in Grouchy's family since 1815, the year of Napoleon's last defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. A second copy, identical to this one and also commissioned by Napoleon, is kept at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Napoleon memorabilia regularly comes up for sale at auction in France in a flourishing trade marked by intense interest from collectors. Two pistols that he once intended to use to kill himself were sold in France last July for 1.7 million euros, while one of his trademark "bicorne" hats was acquired for 1.9 million euros in November 2023. A hand-written letter from Napoleon denying his role in the kidnapping of Pope Pius VII in 1809 was sold in April for 26,360 euros.
