[Fujita]

I forget who, but someone on the first page talked about it:

Joyeuse
Was Charlemagne's (Famous French King) sword and supposedly forged from the tip of the Lance of Longinus, the spear that stabbed Jesus.

Balmung and Ridill
I also read somewhere, that whoever had Balmung last(forgive me for lack of names I'm not too familiar with the story of it all) had later broken it and then it was reforged into Ridill. This is probably why the Fafnir in the game drops both, Balmung and Ridill.

And since no one seemed to mention it:

Ama no Murakumo (Kusanagi no Tsurugi) The Samurai Relic
Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (Japanese: 草薙の剣) is a legendary Japanese sword as important to Japan's history as Excalibur is to Britain's. It is actually called Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi (天叢雲剣, lit. "Sword of the heaven of the clustering clouds") but it is more popularly called Kusanagi (lit. "grasscutter" or more probably "sword of snake"). It may also be called Tsumugari no Tachi (都牟刈の太刀). The actual Kusanagi, if it exists, is likely to be a sword in the style of the bronze age which is typically double-edged, short and straight; very different from the more recent katana backsword style, which features typical curved single-edged blades. (This style of sword was due to the Chinese coming to visit and trade with Japan.)

The Story
The history of Kusanagi extends into legend. According to Kojiki, the Japanese god Susanoo encountered a grieving family headed by Ashi na Zuchi in Izumo province. When Susanoo inquired of Ashi na Zuchi, he told him that his family was being ravaged by the fearsome Yamato no Orochi, 8-headed serpent of Koshi, who consumed seven of the family's eight daughters and that the creature was coming for his final daughter, Kushinada. Susanoo proceeded to investigate the creature, and after an abortive encounter he returned with a plan to defeat it. In return, he asked for Kushinada's hand in marriage, which was agreed. Transforming her temporarily into a comb to have her company during battle, he detailed his plan.

He instructed the preparation of 8 vats of sake (rice wine) to be put on individual platforms positioned behind a fence with 8 gates. The monster took the bait and put each of its heads through each gate. With this distraction, Susanoo attacked and slew the beast. He decapitated each head and then proceeded to the tails. In the fourth tail, he discovered a great sword inside the body of the dragon which he called Ame Murakumo-No-Tsurugi (Sword of Billowing Clouds), which he presented to the goddess, Amaterasu to settle an old grievance.

Generations later in the reign of the 12th emperor, Emperor Keikō, the sword was given to the great warrior, Yamato Takeru as part of a pair of gifts given by his aunt, Yamato Hime the Shrine Maiden of Ise Shrine, to protect her nephew in times of peril.

These gifts came in handy when Yamato Takeru was lured onto an open grassland during a hunting expedition by a treacherous warlord. The lord had fiery arrows to ignite the grass and trap Yamato Takeru in the field so that he would burn to death. He also killed the warrior's horse to prevent his escape. Desperately, Yamato Takeru used Ame Murakumo no Tsurugi to cut back the grass and remove fuel from the fire, but in doing so, he discovered that the sword enabled him to control the wind and cause it to move in the direction of his swing. Taking advantage of this magic, Yamato Takeru used his other gift, fire strikers, to enlarge the fire in the direction of the lord and his men, and he used the winds controlled by the sword to sweep the blaze toward them. In triumph, Yamato Takeru renamed the sword Kusanagi (lit. "Grasscutter") to commemorate his narrow escape and victory. Eventually, Yamato Takeru married and fell in battle with a monster, after ignoring his wife's advice to take Kusanagi with him.

While this is the most popular theory of how Kusanagi got its name, researchers agree that it is most likely false. In the ancient Japanese language, kusa meant sword and nagi meant snake. Thus, an alternative theory is that Kusanagi meant sword of the snake.

Where it is Now
The first reliable historical mention of the sword in the Nihonshoki. Although the Nihonshiki also contains mythological stories that are not considered reliable history, it records some events that were contemporary or nearly contemporary to its writing, and these sections of the book are considered historical. In the Nihonshoki, the Kusanagi was removed from the Imperial palace in 688, and moved to Atsuta Shrine after the sword was blamed for causing Emperor Temmu to fall ill. Along with the jewel and the mirror, it is one of the three imperial regalia of Japan, the sword representing the virtue of valor.

Kusanagi is allegedly kept at Atsuta shrine to this day, although it is not available for public display, and its existence cannot be confirmed. It is recorded that during the Edo period, a Shinto priest claimed to have seen the sword. According to him, the sword was about 84cm long, shaped like calamus, fashioned in a white metallic color, and well maintained. Another record claims that this priest died from the curse and the power of the sword, but this is most likely a story that was spread to emphasize its power.

—Above Taken from Wikipedia.org— (With the Exception of Joyeuse)

Another claim states it was lost at sea while in transportation with the other 3 Imperial Regalia of Japan.

Imperial Regalia of Japan
The Imperial Regalia of Japan (三種の神器, Sanshu no Jingi?), also known as the Three Sacred Treasures, consist of the sword, Kusanagi (草薙剣) (or possibly a replica of the original; see Kusanagi), the jewel or necklace of jewels, Yasakani no magatama (八尺瓊曲玉), and the mirror Yata no kagami (八咫鏡). Also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, the regalia represent the three primary virtues: valor (the sword), wisdom (the mirror), and benevolence (the jewel). These may be connected with Buddhist thought.

The sword is located at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, the mirror is located in the Grand Shrine of Ise in Mie prefecture, and the jewel is located at Kokyo in Tokyo.

—Wikipedia.org again—

The Regalia are "supposedly" to look like this:


Close up of Kusanagi no Tsurugi:

The sword looks some-what like the relic in the game, in that it's not a typical Katana, but looks more like a Chinese Jian sword.

That's all I got. Hope you enjoy!

[Smurfxxx]

I have always loved this topic but I haven't ever had a real chance to post something in it.

My wife and I have always been more than exicted about learning real life connections with NMs/HNMs/Gods and items. I have been working on collecting information, doing my own research on everything.. And will be makeing a website for it.

Will most likly be a forums based website for easy commenting. But I'm not 100% sure on this yet. I will also be providing links to where I find the information.

Well, I just wanted to say thanks, this topic is one I have always loved, I just think its limited in what it can cover since it is "NM Talk." And hasn't been updated in a very long time.

[killermanjaro]

Every NM i try to hunt, i never get a dam DROP!!!! AHHH THEN PAIN.....

[HolyDragoonSeraphus]

Interesting to note that God is sometimes referred to as Absolute Virtue in Catholicisim. When you defeat AV he drops sin items, which disturbingly hints that god may not be so virtuous after all...


Durandal was a sword used by Charlamagne's best Paladin;Roland.

[Terrieberrie]

small addon for our favourite low level chakram dropper from konschtat

Bendigaid Vran
Bendigaid Vran also known as Bran the Blessed: a king of Britain, able to attain giant size at will, in Cymric mythology. He appears in several of the Welsh Triads, but his most significant role is in the Second Branch of the Mabinogion ( the "standrd repetoire" a cymric bard was expected to know by heart). He is a son of Llyr and Penarddun, and the brother of Branwen, Manawydan, and Efnisien. The name "Bran" translates from Welsh as "raven".

what he did do to get transformed into a dead elvaan i don't know c.c

[Venlo]

Lathia :
Staff --- Thyrus --- "Gate of Tartarus"

Thyrus is a staff from Greek legend, used by Dionysus, I can say that much. All my searching just turned up something about Games Workshop's Warhammer, which is obviously unhelpful. Tartarus is also Greek, apparently a plane of existence between Earth and Hell, commonly associated with punishment for sinners.

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?fitem=5548

http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?fitem=8559

Claustrum is the final one. Good info, though.

[Dak_]

Terrieberrie :
small addon for our favourite low level chakram dropper from konschtat

Bendigaid Vran
Bendigaid Vran also known as Bran the Blessed: a king of Britain, able to attain giant size at will, in Cymric mythology. He appears in several of the Welsh Triads, but his most significant role is in the Second Branch of the Mabinogion ( the "standrd repetoire" a cymric bard was expected to know by heart). He is a son of Llyr and Penarddun, and the brother of Branwen, Manawydan, and Efnisien. The name "Bran" translates from Welsh as "raven".

what he did do to get transformed into a dead elvaan i don't know c.c

Might have something to do with the Battle of Konschtat, where the Bastok army finally pushed the San d'Orian army out of the highlands. He could have been a leader before he was killed, and now wanders around the old battleground?

Anyways Ose, Bifrons, Vassago, Valefore, Bune, and a few other NMs are all goetic demons in the Lesser Key of Solomon. Supposedly these were the demons that King Solomon managed to trap within a bronze vessel, and the book includes directions on how to summon and command them. There are also descriptions of these demons and how they might help or hinder you. It's all very interesting.

[Vlorsutes]

The three ksnm 30 orbs, Lachesis, Clotho, and Atropos, are named after the three Fates from Greek mythology.

[Governator]

Some weapon background:

Zaghnal: A kind of warhammer/pick combonation, employed by forces in Mughal India
Chakram: The Chakram from FFXI, a weapon commonly used by Sikh forces in ancient India, and was a weapon of Shiva.
Tabar: An Indian or Persian (unsure on which) battle axe.
Bhuj: A battleaxe originated from, guess where?
Katar: A sort of hand-sword employed by north Indians
Sarnga: A bow weilded by the Hindyu deity, Krishna

Lantern Shield: An Italian shield-gauntlet-sword hybrid created to fend off muggings.
Kaman: An Iranian bow
Kilij: A turkish scimitar/saber

If I get more time, I'll be sure to expand the list.

[lemo]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned yet or not, but

TARUTARU are the core of the game the ones who beaten all of em monsters and gods and gaints of old days

so never try to piss TARUTARU off

thx for the info very good thread :yes

[Dairyu]

Durandal had a little more to it than just being the sword of Roland, it was a holy relic:

It had in its hilt a thread from the cloak of the Virgin Mary, a tooth of St. Peter, a hair of St. Denys, and a drop of St. Basil's blood. Legend has it that Roland, mortally wounded at Roncesvalles, strove to break Durandal on a rock to prevent it falling in the hands of the Saracens. The sword, however, was unbreakable so he hurled it into a poisoned stream, where it remains for ever.
http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/durandal.html

[pulse_x]

<3 this thread.. I post some info later.. I can alot of norse history, because I'm from europe ( norway )

[Predatorx]

Thor is by far the best! =)

[Karbuncle]

Isnt a NM or Avatar.. but.. .Something ingame

The "Lethe Water" you get in ballista.
Lethe is a River is Hell that leads to Forgetfullness, read about that the other day

[Gil the poor]

Bullfinch's mythology is a good book to read about mythology. it is a large collection of various cultures myths and storys and a good way to get your feet wet before figuring out what you want to focus on and also a good way to refine your google or yahoo searchs on various subjects.
the internet is your friend most of these books are so old that you can simply download them off the internet without any worrys about copyright infringement, just becareful to makesure that nothing you try to downlaod is copyrighted still.

[Temple]

http://kirin.com/beers.htm


KIRIN BEER! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

they canned his ass!

they also got byakko.com lol... try them out .. pretty funny

[Governator]

The Gigas Beli was a giant in Norse mythology who was killed by Freya.

Gullintani is a nickname for Heimdall, who is gets to blow the Gjallarhorn if danger approaches Asgard.

Here's a weird one:

The jidra appears in a book by Dr. L. Lewysohn. Published in 1858, it was called Zoology des Talmuds, and was claimed to be an exploration of all the animals mentioned in the Jewish Talmud. The jidra is described as an animal whose bones have magical properties, and the rest of the description is only slightly more plant-like. It grew from roots which were firmly anchored in the ground to which it was attached by a long vine described as being like an umbilical cord. It took the form of a sort of pumpkin which was shaped like a man. According to the account, this "pumpkin man" ate anything it could reach within the radius allowed by the vine and would instantly kill any animal or man it could get at. In order to harvest the jidra one needed to detach it from its roots, causing its death.

- http://www.towardanewbiology.freehomepage.com/custom2.html

Iruci is a ghoul servant of the Hindu God Yama.

Barometz and Borametz are two names for the "Vegetable Lamb of Tartary" (wikipedia ftw), which is said to be a tree that grows sheep instead of fruit (*tries to imagine*). This myth originates from central Asia.

Sirin is a mythological creature of Russian legends, with the head and chest of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird (usually an owl). According to the myth, they lived "in Indian lands" near Eden or around the Euphrates River.

These half-women half-birds are loosely based on the Greek stories about sirens. They sang beautiful songs to the saints, foretelling future joys. For mortals, however, the birds were dangerous. Men who heard them would forget everything on earth, follow them, and ultimately die. People would attempt to save themselves from Sirins by shooting cannons, ringing bells and making other loud noises to scare the bird off.

Sometimes Sirin is seen as a metaphor for God's word going into the soul of a man. Sometimes she is seen as a metaphor of heretics tempting the weak. Sometimes Sirin was considered equivalent to the siren or the Polish Wila. In Russian folklore, Sirin was mixed with the revered religious writer Saint Ephrem the Syrian. Thus, peasant lyrists such as Nikolay Klyuev often used Sirin as a synonym for poet.

Random page option on ffxicyclopedia is so fun <3

Can't wait for the mythology course I'm taking next semester! Should be so fun :3

[El Gustave]

Dunno if it's been said eariler, but from what I assume, Bahamut is based off of DnD's version, rather than the Arabic one. Bahamut's first appearance in the original Final Fantasy borrowed many ideas from DnD, like Mindflayers (in turn, based off those Cthulu guys).

Anyways, nice to see another game with heavy mythological references that's not Shin Megami Tensei

[Aerogamis]

Did not see her mentioned so here goes.
Medusa
Taken by Greek Mythology where Medusa was described as a monstrous female character, with goggling eyes, brass hands and hair of living venomous snakes. According to mythology everyone who saw in her eyes was transformed in stone. Like a nice statue.
In short Medusa was slain by Perseus, who used a mirror like shield, given to him by the goddess Athena, and projected her own reflection to her, thus using her power of the petrifying gaze upon her.

a bit more detail on Cerberus
In greek mythology Cerberus was the hound of Hades, the god of the underworld, had 3 heads (although sometimes said to have 50-100) with a snake for a tail and serpent like skin. His duty was to guard the gates of Hades and ensure the arrival of the spirits to the underworld as well as guard the gates so no one could leave.

According to mythology Hercules was the only man who managed to "tame" Cerberus and thus enter and exit Hades.

Some side notes: Cerberus had a sister the Chimera and a small brother Orthrus