The sword and it's imagery are certainly prominent in the Bible.
The sword that Solomon called for to "cut through the BS" and find the truth of the mother of the baby.
The flaming sword held by the cherubim to block the way to the Tree of Eternal Life.
Beating one's sword into plowshares, as the ultimate show of peace.
One of Christ's disciples struck off the ear of a servant/soldier who were coming to arrest Christ in the Garden. But, Christ put the ear back on and healed the guy, saying that now wasn't the time for violence.
There are many more.
There is other sacred literature that also has many examples of the importance of the sword. One wonders why a long chunk of metal would be so important as compared to a spear, or javelin, or arrow?
Warlock was used by the Celts to mark someone who was an oath-breaker (not a witch), and then they were shunned and kicked out of the tribes. Which for the times would make survival much more difficult.
"A man's word is his bond" and a handshake used to be a thing. Many deals were made that way, with no other contract involved. Very few should ever try that today.
With all the weaseling that is inherent in Bureaucracy, in a "Cover your Butt" culture, I think it was inevitable that Truth, Honesty and Personal Responsibility would be pushed to the side in many cases, just to be able to survive. It is a sad state of the world.
Very true on all accounts, though in French culture, we've a 'handshake agreement' culture still dunno what you think of that.
As to the importance of the sword in contrast to the spear or arrow that's a good point, might be the Christian element. The Vikings worshipped spears and hammers, while the bushi initially preferred bows and arrows but in time they replaced these with the katana.
My question is; With the handshake culture, can it be trusted? or only with certain people who are already trusted friends? If it can be trusted with anyone, that would be a wonderful thing. There are places in the deep south and a few in the western states or small towns, where everyone knows everyone, that you can still find that it can be trusted. But, they are becoming fewer and fewer. Not that people won't help each other with nothing expected in return, but where large sums of money or product or land are involved, that can be tricky. And I would think that world-wide, where there are small, towns and villages where everyone knows one another, there can or may be still that level of trust. Certainly word gets around if you are not to be trusted.
Very interesting point about the Vikings and Bushi. Maybe the sword came later, due to the master craftsmanship needed to make the steel properly? And interestingly Woot steel and the folded steel of the samurai were made in a similar manner and became more sought-after because of their lasting utility. So perhaps something more Eternal?
And the sword is often noted to be a weapon with only one purpose, to kill or protect humans. Nearly every other weapon I can think of, also has a purpose as a tool, as well. And often swords would be taken from the people to prevent war, and they would come up with new weapons using the tools they had, such as the weapons of the Okinawans which started as flail to beat the rice grains out. There are many such cases.
Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't with handshake culture. I myself have been screwed more often than not by such agreements, but the thing is, those who act suspicious towards it, are treated as the ones in the wrong in Quebec and France. You have to keep faith in fellow Francais. And to be honest, it is usually when dealing with English speakers that I've found the agreement broken and betrayed, while the French 3 out of 4 times honour it the other 1/4th they betray it also hahaha.
I've even been to two big cities that are French speaking and found folks who broke the agreement, but also folks who honoured it. It is integral to French culture but hard to know when men will honour it so I don't have a clear answer Tiffany sorry.
As to swords yeah, it took centuries before they perfected the crafting of swords and as to Vikings they liked Frankish ones best as the French made better ones than they themselves could make by the time of the latter part of the Viking Age.
Hmm, I suppose we must disagree, I do acknowledge that what Merlin did to Igraine is wrong, and that honestly it is a reason I like the Merlin 1998 novels as they have him attempt to atone for the act, for the rest of his life and never forgive himself.
That said, Guinevere goes for Lancelot, Lanval & Mordred, and so is considered by me to be a slut because I completely regard her as one. I much prefer Guinevak, her half-sister who seems to have loved Arthur though she's not without her flaws in some versions.
As to the nature of the Chivalric themes within Arthuriana Legends, in some cases you are right and in others no, I think that it depends on the writer.
A Book on Chivalry is a great book, you are right. I have a copie of it myself, if you want might offer commentary on it in the coming days?
Sure, I'm also working on a few Celtic mythical stories so we've that in common but as chivalry ties into my stories I can research both at once. Though, my research ties more into Celtic tales and folk-stories of Scotland than Ireland, good luck with the research.
The sword and it's imagery are certainly prominent in the Bible.
The sword that Solomon called for to "cut through the BS" and find the truth of the mother of the baby.
The flaming sword held by the cherubim to block the way to the Tree of Eternal Life.
Beating one's sword into plowshares, as the ultimate show of peace.
One of Christ's disciples struck off the ear of a servant/soldier who were coming to arrest Christ in the Garden. But, Christ put the ear back on and healed the guy, saying that now wasn't the time for violence.
There are many more.
There is other sacred literature that also has many examples of the importance of the sword. One wonders why a long chunk of metal would be so important as compared to a spear, or javelin, or arrow?
Warlock was used by the Celts to mark someone who was an oath-breaker (not a witch), and then they were shunned and kicked out of the tribes. Which for the times would make survival much more difficult.
"A man's word is his bond" and a handshake used to be a thing. Many deals were made that way, with no other contract involved. Very few should ever try that today.
With all the weaseling that is inherent in Bureaucracy, in a "Cover your Butt" culture, I think it was inevitable that Truth, Honesty and Personal Responsibility would be pushed to the side in many cases, just to be able to survive. It is a sad state of the world.
Very true on all accounts, though in French culture, we've a 'handshake agreement' culture still dunno what you think of that.
As to the importance of the sword in contrast to the spear or arrow that's a good point, might be the Christian element. The Vikings worshipped spears and hammers, while the bushi initially preferred bows and arrows but in time they replaced these with the katana.
My question is; With the handshake culture, can it be trusted? or only with certain people who are already trusted friends? If it can be trusted with anyone, that would be a wonderful thing. There are places in the deep south and a few in the western states or small towns, where everyone knows everyone, that you can still find that it can be trusted. But, they are becoming fewer and fewer. Not that people won't help each other with nothing expected in return, but where large sums of money or product or land are involved, that can be tricky. And I would think that world-wide, where there are small, towns and villages where everyone knows one another, there can or may be still that level of trust. Certainly word gets around if you are not to be trusted.
Very interesting point about the Vikings and Bushi. Maybe the sword came later, due to the master craftsmanship needed to make the steel properly? And interestingly Woot steel and the folded steel of the samurai were made in a similar manner and became more sought-after because of their lasting utility. So perhaps something more Eternal?
And the sword is often noted to be a weapon with only one purpose, to kill or protect humans. Nearly every other weapon I can think of, also has a purpose as a tool, as well. And often swords would be taken from the people to prevent war, and they would come up with new weapons using the tools they had, such as the weapons of the Okinawans which started as flail to beat the rice grains out. There are many such cases.
Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't with handshake culture. I myself have been screwed more often than not by such agreements, but the thing is, those who act suspicious towards it, are treated as the ones in the wrong in Quebec and France. You have to keep faith in fellow Francais. And to be honest, it is usually when dealing with English speakers that I've found the agreement broken and betrayed, while the French 3 out of 4 times honour it the other 1/4th they betray it also hahaha.
I've even been to two big cities that are French speaking and found folks who broke the agreement, but also folks who honoured it. It is integral to French culture but hard to know when men will honour it so I don't have a clear answer Tiffany sorry.
As to swords yeah, it took centuries before they perfected the crafting of swords and as to Vikings they liked Frankish ones best as the French made better ones than they themselves could make by the time of the latter part of the Viking Age.
And you're right about weapons and tools.
Subscribed. More of this.
Will do
Hmm, I suppose we must disagree, I do acknowledge that what Merlin did to Igraine is wrong, and that honestly it is a reason I like the Merlin 1998 novels as they have him attempt to atone for the act, for the rest of his life and never forgive himself.
That said, Guinevere goes for Lancelot, Lanval & Mordred, and so is considered by me to be a slut because I completely regard her as one. I much prefer Guinevak, her half-sister who seems to have loved Arthur though she's not without her flaws in some versions.
As to the nature of the Chivalric themes within Arthuriana Legends, in some cases you are right and in others no, I think that it depends on the writer.
A Book on Chivalry is a great book, you are right. I have a copie of it myself, if you want might offer commentary on it in the coming days?
Sure, I'm also working on a few Celtic mythical stories so we've that in common but as chivalry ties into my stories I can research both at once. Though, my research ties more into Celtic tales and folk-stories of Scotland than Ireland, good luck with the research.