So: this sword was ritually 'killed' so that its ghost might be used by its master in the Otherworld - but many more have been found in pools, lakes and rivers, in which they seem to have been thrown by way of offering or sacrifice. (There are MASSES of them in La Tène, but they are found all over the Celtic territory.)
And the good bit: it is believed that the idea of Excalibur as the sword that has to be returned to a lake has its origins in this practice :).
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winterfish
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Date: Friday, 14 March 2014 10:05 pm (UTC)So: this sword was ritually 'killed' so that its ghost might be used by its master in the Otherworld - but many more have been found in pools, lakes and rivers, in which they seem to have been thrown by way of offering or sacrifice. (There are MASSES of them in La Tène, but they are found all over the Celtic territory.)
And the good bit: it is believed that the idea of Excalibur as the sword that has to be returned to a lake has its origins in this practice :).