King Arthur, crusaders, Nazis … all have tried unsuccessfully to find the Holy Grail for the past 2000 years. But how do you know what is actually the Holy Grail. Even if the Holy Grail is described as an ancient artifact directly associated with Jesus, it doesn't have to be a cup. Based on this logic, there are a number of artifacts that could be considered as a kind of Holy Grail.
1. Ossuary of Jacob
Ossuary of Jacob - not a cup but still
Discovered in Israel, the Ossuary of Jacob, still controversial, is an ancient limestone box for keeping bones engraved with the words “Jacob, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” in Aramaic. Literally from the moment this find was published, it seemed unlikely, given that for the first time the ossuary "appeared" in the hands of an antiques dealer, and not at any excavation site. The Israel Antiquities Authority declared the relic to be a forgery and opened a criminal case against the merchant, but after a 5-year trial, their charges were invalid. Whatever it is, the opening of the bones of Jesus Christ and his family could easily be considered the Holy Grail, albeit not in the shape of a cup.
2. Lycurgus Cup
Promotional video:
Lycurgus Roman Cup
The Lycurgus Cup has nothing to do with Jesus. However, he is totally amazing. This Roman glass goblet, which depicts a scene involving the Thracian king Lycurgus, is green when the light falls on it from the front. But if you light it from behind, the goblet turns red. It seems even more incredible that when creating the goblet (accidentally or intentionally), nanotechnology was used to achieve a similar effect (particles of gold and silver were added to the glass, only 50 nanometers in size).
However, it is a little problematic to consider this cup as the Holy Grail - the problem is that it is only 1600 years old. However, archaeologists are known to misunderstand things a lot. Thus, this chalice with "magical properties" centuries ahead of its time may in fact be the Holy Grail, or at least the source of its legend.
3. Boat of Galilee
Why not a boat!
Given the many allusions in the Bible regarding fishing, the Holy Grail may be a fishing vessel that seemed to be very important to Jesus and his followers. The remains of the boat were found in the mud of the Sea of Galilee during a drought, and scientists have determined that they are 2,000 years old. What is especially interesting, the 8x2.5 meter “Galilean boat”, which during use was obviously repaired by the owner more than once, was found in the area of the village of Dalmanufa, where Jesus was sailing after miraculously feeding 4,000 people.
4. Joyeuse
Joyeuse - the sword of Charlemagne
Joyeuse is the name of the sword that belonged to Charlemagne. Charles was an extremely important figure in European history and it was he who united most of Western Europe into a Christian kingdom and was crowned by the Pope as Holy Roman Emperor. The age of the weapon is disputed, with various historians claiming that the sword was made sometime between the 8th and 13th centuries. However, legends also directly associate this sword with biblical stories. Say, part of the Spear of Longinus (the spear with which the Roman soldier Longinus pierced Jesus, crucified on the cross) was used to forge the handle of Joyeuse.
While there is no strong evidence for this, uncertainty about Joyeuse's age and the materials used to create it, as well as the fact that Charlemagne was the first Christian king of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, does suggest a possible connection. Admittedly, Joyeuse may not be the Holy Grail, but it can be very closely associated with it.
5. Sir from Oviedo
Mysterious Holy Blood Handkerchief
"Sir" (from the Latin sudarium - "scarf for wiping sweat from the face") from Oviedo is the "younger brother" of the more famous Turin shroud. It is a small piece of cloth less than 1 meter soaked in the blood of supposedly Jesus. While the Shroud of Turin is now regarded as a medieval falsification, the "sir" has a well-written history that dates back to the first century.
Interestingly, new research claims that the blood on the burial scarf matches almost perfectly with that found on the Shroud. Apparently, both pieces of tissue have the same rare blood type. If the "sir of Oviedo" is indeed stained with the blood of Jesus, then he can certainly be considered the Holy Grail.
6. Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a festival and iconic destination for Christians
Glastonbury in Britain is better known for its world famous music festival, but it is also a place close to the Bible and the Holy Grail in mythology. One of the legends says that Joseph of Arimathea, who allegedly collected the blood of Jesus in a vessel that later became the Holy Grail, traveled to England after the crucifixion of Jesus and buried the Grail there. Legend also says that Joseph stuck his staff into the ground on a hill, where he later grew into a holy thorn.
Interestingly, today there is still a plant in the UK that originates from Palestine. In Glastonbury, you can also find Chalice Well - a source that, according to legends, originates exactly from the place where Joseph of Arimathea buried the Grail. Supposedly, the spring water is red due to the blood of Jesus and the taste of iron due to the nails used to crucify him. Modern scientists believe that this phenomenon is due to the presence of iron oxide in the soil.
7. Sacro Catino
Genoese bowl
Sometimes this ancient artifact is called the Genoese bowl, although it looks more like a dish. This 35cm diameter hexagonal relic, which is today in the Church of San Lorenzo in Genoa, is traditionally said to have been carved from a giant emerald, although more modern sources claim it is simply green Egyptian glass. The latter theory was confirmed when the bowl was broken during the invasion of Napoleonic troops. Nobody knows the origins of Sacro Catino today, it is only known that the artifact is incredibly old and was captured during the first crusade. In the 13th century, it was believed that this was the Holy Grail.
8. Chiton of Jesus
Holy tunic
Although many institutions claim to possess the "Jesus tunic" worn during his crucifixion, the Cathedral of Trier seems to be the most likely contender for this relic. Allegedly, Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, brought the tunic (or chiton) to Trier (a small German city) after returning from Jerusalem. Although this relic has now attracted millions of pilgrims for many hundreds of years, no one really knows its age as it has long been immersed in a silicon preservative, making radiocarbon analysis impossible. If this is indeed a real tunic that Jesus wore during the crucifixion, and on which his blood remained, then it can certainly be considered the Holy Grail.
9. Nanteos Cup
The Cup (or Bowl) of Nanteos is today in Wales, and it is nothing more than a fragment of a tree. But, according to legend, earlier it was a bowl that had a mystical power of healing. Presumably similar drinking vessels were used in Palestine during the time of Jesus. The Cup of Nanteos was stolen many times, but it was always returned to its original place. Although scientists believe the artifact dates from the 14th century, this tiny piece of history, only 10 centimeters high, was once a bowl that could very well be 2,000 years old. This cup may well be the Holy Grail.
10. Iron crown of Lombardy
This iron crown remained an extremely important symbol of Christianity throughout the Dark and Middle Ages. The iron in the name of this artifact allegedly comes from a strip of iron that runs around the inside of the crown. It is believed to have been forged from one of the nails used to crucify Jesus.
Similar to Jesus' tunic, this nail is said to have been obtained from Saint Helena, who then gave it to Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor. Many famous monarchs such as Charlemagne, Frederick Barbarossa and Napoleon Bonaparte were crowned with this crown.