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France's 'Excalibur' sword vanishes from the stone after 1,300 years (local12.com)

submitted 5 months ago by Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

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According to The New York Post, citing a report by The Telegraph, n sword that is regarded as France's "Excalibur" has vanished from its stone. Per the publication, locals in the French town of Rocamadour believed the sword, Durandal, had been lodged in rock for around 1,300 years. A main attraction for the town, the sword could be found stuck in a sheer rock wall about 100 feet off the ground

Authorities in France are working to determine how the sword was taken from the 100 foot sheer rock face.

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[-] Sanctus@lemmy.world 95 points 5 months ago

They didn't include a picture of Durandal in the whole article.

I never knew that was a cliff face? Unless this isn't the real one.

[-] MrZee@lemm.ee 60 points 5 months ago

Close up

[-] borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com 37 points 5 months ago

Saw this article posted somewhere yesterday, and someone there commented that the sword on display is a reproduction. The original sword is in a museum or something.

[-] Kingofthezyx@lemm.ee 16 points 5 months ago

IT BELONGS IN A... oh, never mind. Carry on.

[-] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago

Honestly, was probably Britain stealing it for a museum.

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[-] Soup@lemmy.world 16 points 5 months ago

Right? It looks super easy to get off of there. Getting up there and leaving with it might be a different story but physically it doesn’t look like it would take much effort.

[-] intensely_human@lemm.ee 21 points 5 months ago

https://y.yarn.co/141b8881-96c6-457a-8f8c-111589934fbf_text.gif

[-] Manifish_Destiny@lemmy.world 89 points 5 months ago

So who's the new king of France?

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 120 points 5 months ago

Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

[-] Wirlocke@lemmy.blahaj.zone 57 points 5 months ago

Looks at the United States government as a citizen

I'll take my chances.

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[-] Rakonat@lemmy.world 37 points 5 months ago

I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!

[-] Hazmatastic@lemm.ee 18 points 5 months ago

I order you to shut up, peasant!

[-] Rakonat@lemmy.world 24 points 5 months ago

Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! — HELP! HELP! I’m being repressed!

[-] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 12 points 5 months ago

To be fair, it would be quite hard to do worse than the entrenched 2-party FPTP + gerrymandered electoral college bullshit system we have now.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago

“Hold my beer!”
— America

[-] norimee@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

Nah, it's an automatic emergency response to the recent election.

[-] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 9 points 5 months ago

I appears he had a disagreement with the locals and some people lost their heads

[-] norimee@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago

Anything is better than this right wing shit show they just elected?

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[-] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 82 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Uhg.

It’s not Excalibur. It’s durendal

It was carried by Roland, a paladin of Charlegmane’s court. The sword that was at Rocamdor was a replica (or a fake.

As an incorrigible nerd, I take offense at confusing magic swords like this….

Also. It’s not the only sword in stone. There’s the sword of St. Galgano Italy

[-] DrDominate@lemmy.world 54 points 5 months ago

Maybe that's why they used "quotes" around "Excalibur" and mentioned its real name in the article.

[-] kernelle@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Most tone-deaf "Umm actually.." I've ever seen lmao

Edit: "Excalibur" is obviously a metaphor for "sword in stone"

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[-] tiredofsametab@kbin.run 6 points 5 months ago

That's exactly why they did, although I'd argue something like Durendal (France's "Excalibur") would probably be better.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

There’s got to be a better headline - the sword’s name and legend looks just as compelling as Excalibur even if not as well known (outside France)

[-] Ookami38@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 months ago

The point is that Excalibur is well known and Durendal isnt. They want eyes, and so make the article headline reference something everyone knows, then educate in the article body.

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[-] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Charlemagne

from Latin magnus -> "Charles the Great"

[-] HWK_290@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

I believe he was referring to the dude who's appendage was burnt to a crisp. You know, char leg man

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 58 points 5 months ago

They should come forward to claim their throne. They are the rightful king of France now.

[-] trollercoaster@sh.itjust.works 53 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I wouldn't necessarily want to claim the throne in a country that once invented a machine for getting rid of kings by getting rid of their heads very efficiently.

[-] pyre@lemmy.world 16 points 5 months ago

to be fair they are moving towards fascism so this is the best time to do it

[-] sneezycat@sopuli.xyz 8 points 5 months ago

It was invented to kill in a "more humane manner", not to get rid of kings. That's just a nice side bonus.

[-] trollercoaster@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago

Indeed, but it only was widely popularised after it had been used to rid France of its king by ridding said King of his head.

[-] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 35 points 5 months ago

Sounds reasonable, France certainly does seem to be in urgent need for a hero of legend.

[-] Omgboom@lemmy.zip 16 points 5 months ago

The Stone of Tear will never fall, till Callandor is wielded by the Dragon’s hand. The Stone of Tear will never fall, till the People of the Dragon come.

Into the heart he thrusts his sword, into the heart, to hold their hearts. who draws it out shall follow after, What hand can grasp that fearful blade?

[-] cdipierr@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

And it was written that no hand but his should wield the Sword held in the Stone, but he did draw it out, like fire in his hand, and his glory did burn the world. Thus did it begin. Thus do we sing his Rebirth. Thus do we sing the beginning.

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[-] Dogyote@slrpnk.net 14 points 5 months ago

Here's some pics: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yjf73vy_VRo/T6rqS_Yec_I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/nAKPcFeo87w/s1600/durendal.jpg

https://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/embedded-stone-in-Rocamadour.jpg

[-] sibannac@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago

It looks like a bank pen, just challenging any wielder to take it.

[-] bizarroland@fedia.io 12 points 5 months ago

All hail the new king of France!

[-] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 5 points 5 months ago

If France was actually cool they could do something very, very funny when he reveals himself.

[-] CookieOfFortune@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Was it by Stefano Ghisolfi after climbing Excalibur?

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this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2024

337 points (98.8% liked)

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