Holy Grail
Few religious relics are as recognizable or as idolized as the Holy Grail. The cup is believed to have untold power and be the cup that caught the blood of Christ at the crucifixion. The Holy Grail was also the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper and as such there are few religious artifacts with as much history to them. But there is no evidence the cup really existed.
The Holy Grail first started to be mentioned around the 12th century when it was presented as a divine object in “Perceval.” The poem “Joseph d’Arimathie” by Robert de Boron spoke of the grail being at the Last Supper and the death of Christ, which only added to the religious significance of the cup. After the cup grew in prominence, Knights such as Sir Galahad in the 13th century would set off in search of the relic. It was believed that anyone with a charitable spirit could set off in search of the Grail and have a chance at finding it.
There is no solid evidence that the grail was ever held in anyone’s possession. There are only written literary accounts of the grail and depictions of the grail in paintings and artwork. The mythology surrounding the grail and whether or not it ever truly existed have led numerous historians on a quest to find it.
There are some who believe the story of the grail emerged from Celtic mythology. Others attribute the grail to the sacrament of the Eucharist the medieval period believing that the story of the Grail might have been an attempt to renew the traditional sacrament. The story of the grail continues to be retold to this day and there are many who believe that the grail existed and is out there somewhere.
Sources For Further Reading:
Met Museum – Relics and Reliquaries in Medieval Christianity
Grunge – Christian Relics That Are Still Missing
Atlas Obscura – Where in the World Are Santa Claus’s Bones?
Buzzfeed – 11 Seriously Weird Facts About Jesus’s Foreskin
Esquire Magazine – The Very Holy and Very Lost Foreskin of Jesus Christ
CBC – How Jesus’ Foreskin Became One Of Christianity’s Most-Coveted Relics — And Then Disappeared
Westminster Abbey – Edward the Confessor and Edith
Church Pop – The Miraculous Story Behind the Discovery of the True Cross of Jesus
The Guardian – The Burning Mystery Of Joan Of Arc
History Channel – Fate of the Lost Ark Revealed?
Smithsonian Magazine – Keepers of the Lost Ark?
Express UK – Where Is The Ark Of The Covenant? How Holy Relic Could Be Hidden Below Jerusalem
Ancient Origins – The Mysterious Veil of Veronica: Masterpiece or Miracle?
Catholic Culture – Veronica’s Veil Found?
Bustle – Has The Holy Grail Been Found?
BBC Travel – The Home Of The Holy Grail