Through the centuries, fantastical tales of heroes have been shared from generation to generation. These legendary heroes sometimes possess a powerful, and even magical, weapon. Often, these weapons are swords. Some such legends may or may not contain a measure of truth but in a few cases, folks not only believe that the hero existed—they believe that the hero’s weapon still exists.

Whether or not the heroes mentioned below are fictional, their swords play a crucial role in the legends surrounding them.

Read about these legendary swords and what makes them so fantastical.

Excalibur:

Excalibur is, without a doubt, the quintessential sword of legends. It is the mythical sword of British legend, King Arthur. Different writers have suggested various attributes for Excalibur including the power to heal its bearer and the power to blind opponents with its powerful reflection.

Excalibur is thought by some to be the “Sword in the Stone” and as such, is depicted that way in some films and books. Nevertheless, it is widely believed that Excalibur is not the sword that was encased in a stone in Robert de Boron’s Merlin/

The Glory of Ten Powers:

The Glory of Ten Powers is said to be a magical Chinese sword. Legend has it that the sword was made by a husband and wife. The couple’s love was so powerful that sword possessed the spirit of it. That spirit of love was said to protect the sword’s owner from harm. The legend goes on to say that the sword was eventually melted down into a magic amulet.

Durendal:

Durendal was the legendary sword belonging to the French warrior, Roland. This historical figure was depicted heavily in French literature where Durendal’s purported origins often varied. Some accounts suggest that the sword was bestowed upon Roland by an angel while other accounts say that it was forged specifically for Roland by a legendary blacksmith. Regardless of its origins, literature gives the sword great powers, even declaring it to be indestructible. It is believed by some that Durendal exists to this day, embedded in a French cliff side.

Joyeuse:

Joyeuse, which means joyful, is believed to have been the sword belonging to Charlemagne. One author described it as changing color thirty times each day. Today, Joyeuse—or parts of it—is believed to be still in existence. The sword used for the coronation of French kings is thought to be comprised of various parts at the heart of which, is Charlemagne’s Joyeuse.

Sword of Attila:

The Sword of Attila is, as its name suggests, the legendary sword belonging to ruthless ruler, Attila the Hun. According to the Roman historian, Priscus, the sword was found by a shepherd and given to Attila. Attila believed the sword was a sign that he had been appointed ruler of the world. He further believed that he would win every battle in which he used the weapon.

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi:

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi is a sword of Japanese legends. The story goes that an ancient god retrieved the sword from the belly of an eight-headed monster. The sword was, centuries later, presented to a warrior who used the sword in battle. While using the sword, the warrior discovered that Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi had the power to change the direction of the wind—a power he used to help win the battle.

Unlike some swords on this list, many people believe in the existence of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. In fact, the sword is supposedly housed in a Japanese shrine that is closed to the public. It has been approximately 200 years since anyone has claimed to have seen the sword.