InIrish mythology, Fragarach (orFreagarthach), known as "The Whisperer", "The Answerer", or "The Retaliator", was the swordofNuada, the first high king. The sword was forged by the gods and was meant to be wielded only by those who posed above the stone of destiny (the Lia Fail) which roared and the sword whispered in response.[1]
Nuada lost his arm in the first battle of Mag Tuired and, being mutilated, was no longer suitable to be high king. So, for the second battle of Mag Tuired, Nuada chose Lugh as provisional king. Using his spear and a sling given to him by Manannán mac Lir, Lugh defeated the Formorians and their king Balor. During the battle, Nuada gave Lugh his sword, as a symbol of the king. Neither the poems nor the Lebor Gabála Érenn say whether Lugh wielded the sword in the battle.[2]
It was said that, with Fragarach at their throat, no one could move or tell a lie, thus the name "Answerer". The sword was also said to place the wind at the user's command and could cut through any shield or wall, and that it inflicted piercing wounds from which no man could recover.[3]
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part of a series on Celtic mythology | |
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Notable swords
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Note: some of the existing swords are named after earlier legendary ones. | ||||||
