How Big Was the Sword Excalibur?

The legendary sword Excalibur, associated with King Arthur, has often been depicted as a large and powerful weapon. However, there is no specific mention of the sword's measurements in the original texts or legends. Descriptions of Excalibur vary widely across different stories and adaptations, emphasizing its magical properties and significance rather than its physical dimensions.

Literary and Popular Interpretations

In popular culture, Excalibur is typically portrayed as a sword that is about 3 to 4 feet long, similar to other medieval swords of the time. This portrayal aligns with the general length of swords that were used during the medieval period. However, since Excalibur is a mythical object, its exact size is left to interpretation and imagination. The size of the sword can vary significantly depending on the author's or storyteller's vision.

Historical Context and Interpretation

The legend of King Arthur and Excalibur spans a wide range of periods, making it challenging to determine a definitive size. If we consider the legendary/mythological figure of King Arthur, the size of Excalibur would change with each telling. For example, some versions may describe a sword that is significantly larger, emphasizing its divinity or magical origins.

Alternatively, if we look at a historical figure whom the legends were based off of, the size of Excalibur would be more specific. Historical analysis suggests that such a sword would most likely have been a typical Migration Period sword, similar to this recreated example:

Historically, these swords typically featured a pattern welded blade, as seen in the recreated example. The blade would have been around 28 to 32 inches long, which is consistent with many medieval swords of the period. The width of the blade would have been quite substantial, reflecting the design and combat effectiveness of these weapons.

Original Texts and Context

The lack of specific measurements in the original texts is significant. Each tale tends to set things in its own context of time, meaning that modern versions often depict Excalibur as a medieval sword, even though such swords did not exist in most of the origin tales, which are set in the mid-first millennium.

Given the period in which the majority of the tales were set, it is most likely that Excalibur would have been a typical Saxon design. Saxon swords had blades around 2 feet long, with a single-handed grip. The design was both functional and practical, reflecting the needs of its time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Excalibur is often portrayed as a large and powerful weapon in popular culture, its exact size remains open to interpretation. Historical analysis suggests that if it existed in a physical form, Excalibur would have been a typical Saxon sword, with a blade around 2 feet long and quite wide.