personification of blades

[beoram]

This topic has come up a few times, and I ran across an interesting passage in my 'new' sword book (Das zweischneidige Schwert der germanischen Völkerwanderungszeit by Elis Behmer. Stockholm: Akademisk Avhandling, 1939 -- published in Sweden and originally written in Swedish, but only published in German for some reason [though the date is suggestive]), which I thought people might appreciate. I'll give the German for the benefit of our German speakers and then my rough rendering in English:

German
Ihm war das Schwert kein totes Ding, das nur zum Töten bestimmt war -- nein, ein lebendes Wesen war es, eine denkende und handelnde Persönlichkeit, ausgestattet mit einer Seele gleich ihm selbst. Jedes Schwert hatte daher seine individuellen Eigenschaften, seine Bräuche und Launen und seined besonderen Namen, der oft seine vorzüglichsten Eigenschaften bezeichnete. Sie waren alle bewusste Wesen, begabt mit Willen und Intelligenz, sie waren Freunde, auf die man sich verlassen konnte, Feinde, vor denen man sich hüten musste.

English rendering
To him [a man of the 'Migration Period' (germanischen Völkerwanderungszeit)], the sword was no dead thing....no, it was a living being, a thinking and active personality, provided with a soul just like himself. Every sword had its own individual qualities, its own customs (or manners) and moods. And a particular name, often being called after its most excellent quality. They were all conscious beings, gifted with desires and intelligence; they were friends, which one could depend upon; and foes, against which one must guard himself.

B.

 

[SamuraiDave]

Wow...really puts things in perspective about how much they depended on their steel and how well they knew how to wield it.

 

[Rusty]

Of course.Doesn't everybody understand that?

 

[Bill Martino]

Thanks, Beo. Good stuff.

 

[ACStudios]

Ben,

Ashley wanted me to say thank you for the post.

Now some people (mainly who live in swampy caves in Florida) will see that there is historical precident. ... she does exist. ... has a personality. ... a soul. ... and talks too . Not to mention she's a real good movie critic. It isn't a lack of meds that makes her talk. HEE !



Alan