🧐 Did you know? Why Celtic swords were often folded before being buried? ⚔️✨
Celtic swords, known for their finesse and exceptional craftsmanship, are often found bent or twisted during archaeological excavations. But why were these weapons deliberately damaged before being buried with their owner or placed in sacred sanctuaries?
A symbolic meaning
For the Celts, the sword was not just a weapon. It represented a symbol of power, honor, and personal identity. When a warrior died, folding his sword was a way of marking the end of his usefulness in the world of the living. In a sense, it "died" with its owner, preventing it from being reused by someone else.
A religious ritual
The Celts believed in the existence of an afterlife. Destroying or bending a sword was an offering to the gods, a sacred act intended to accompany the warrior into the afterlife. Some sanctuaries are full of deposits of deformed weapons, testifying to their central role in religious rites.
An act of neutralization
Folding a sword also prevented it from falling into the wrong hands. In the context of war or conquest, it was a matter of ensuring that a valuable weapon could not be reused by an enemy.
A historical testimony
These folded swords are treasures for archaeologists and historians today. They offer a unique insight into Celtic burial practices, spiritual beliefs and craftsmanship. Their discovery provides insight into the importance of the sword in Celtic culture.
💬 Did you know that these rituals were so closely linked to the spirituality of the Celts? Discover other secrets of history on our blog .
Forged iron sword unearthed in the sanctuary of Gournay-sur-Aronde dating from the middle and final La Tène period (3rd – 1st century)
Antoine Vivenel Museum , CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
