E 326K // Literature of the Middle Ages in Translation: Mysteries of the Grail

Holy Lance

The Holy Lance was the spear said to have pierced Christ's side during his crucifixion. A Roman Centurion named Longinus "pierced his side with a lance and immediately there came out blood and water" (Bible, John 19:34). The lance is said to be kept in several churches across the world, such as in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is also referred to as the Holy Spear or the Spear of Destiny. 

In literature, it was brought to Britain along with the Holy Grail by Joseph of Arimathea, the man who took Christ's body and put it to rest it in the tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, along with the Holy Grail and the Lance, was incorporated into the Arthurian legend in the 12th century. In some legends, he uses the Holy Lance to fight Saracens. There are many legends relating to the Holy Lance. For example, in tales such as Le Morte d'Arthur, the Lance has healing properties and is even used by the knight Galahad to cure the Fisher King. In others, such as in Perceval and Parzival, the Lance is seen as a destructive object with barbaric properties. It is used to kill or maim and is not seen as a Christian symbol. 

In many versions, the Lance disappears along with Galahad at the end of his quest for the Grail. In today's culture, the Lance is represented as more evil. Figures such as Hitler have been said to hunt for the relic and it even appears in DC Comics as "The Spear of Destiny" 

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