The palace where the sword of the prophet Muhammad is kept. Sword Zulfaqar history and fiction

Answers to crossword puzzle AiF 38 2017 (09.20.2017)

Horizontally:

1. Fairytale blonde. 10 letter answer: SNOW WHITE
2. Anniversary feast. 6 letter answer: BANQUET
3. Who replaced Leon Trotsky as People's Commissar of Defense? 6 letter answer: FRUNZE
4. “Tambov wolf for you...!” (from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”). 6 letter answer: BOYARIN
5. Who discovered ultraviolet rays? 6 letter answer: RITTER
6. “There is elderberry in the garden, and in Kyiv...” 6 letter answer: UNCLE
7. What does Joe play in the movie Some Like It Hot? 8 letter answer: SAXOPHONE
8. What branch of agriculture does the hero of our film comedy “The Pig Farm and the Shepherd” work for? 11 letter answer: SHEEP BREEDING
9. Product at a gas station. 6 letter answer: GASOLINE
10. What musical instrument can replace an entire orchestra? 5 letter answer: ORGAN
11. “Pip you on...!” 4 letter answer: LANGUAGE
12. Which Russian revolutionary became Joseph Stalin's father-in-law? 8 letter answer: ALLILUEV
13. The palace where the cloak and sword of the Prophet Muhammad are kept. 7 letter answer: TOKKAPI
14. “Assorted herbs” from the pharmacy. 4 letter answer: COLLECTION
15. Show in the sky. 5 letter answer: SALUTE
16. Where did Helena Blavatsky place all the “souls of the dead”? 6 letter answer: ASTRAL
17. “The most severe supervision” of “freedom of speech.” 7 letter answer: CENSORSHIP
18. Entertainer at the hotel. 8 letter answer: ANIMATOR
19. What did Mikhail Bulgakov dream of devoting his life to from his youth? 9 letter answer: ACTING
20. “Every…my soul heals the beast.” 4 letter answer: VERSE
21. External...states. 8 letter answer: POLITICS
22. “Alien... does not know your pain.” 4 letter answer: BODY
23. What did Delesov lose from the story “Albert” by Leo Tolstoy? 4 letter answer: VIST
24. Chemical ingredient. 8 letter answer: SUBSTANCE
25. German tradesman. 6 letter answer: BURGER
26. “You need to know the management in…” 4 letter answer: FACE
27. The “sense organ” of the device. 6 letter answer: SENSOR
28. Military artist. 8 letter answer: BATTALIST
29. The fourth juror in the film “12” by Nikita Mikhalkov. 4 letter answer: GAFT

Vertically:

1. Where are debits and credits reconciled? 11 letter answer: ACCOUNTING
2. "He breeds suckers." 7 letter answer: SCAM
3. A complete trifle. 11 letter answer: TRIVILESS
4. Fatigue limit. 11 letter answer: EXHAUSTION
5. Which of our magicians “saws off his own hand” in the film “Thieves in Law”? 6 letter answer: HAKOBYAN
6. The most prestigious brand of engagement rings. 6 letter answer: CARTIER
7. Who stole ambrosia from the Olympian gods? 6 letter answer: TANTALUM
8. “Heavenly pleasure” for a businessman. 5 letter answer: INCOME
9. What attitude towards dissidents does “the world owe” to the Athenian Cleisthenes? 9 letter answer: OSTROKISM
10. Hobby of singer Alexander Marshall. 9 letter answer: AIRPORT
11. The seller's sin. 5 letter answer: KIT
12. A living symbol of Belarus. 4 letter answer: BISON
13. A verdict from heaven. 4 letter answer: KARA
14. "Notorious..." 4 letter answer: PLUT
15. Matinee with Father Frost and Snow Maiden. 4 letter answer: TREE
16. It is about him that the Frenchman Gustave Flaubert jokingly writes in his book: firstly, he did not exist, and secondly, he was famous for his laughter! 5 letter answer: HOMER
17. Red deer from North America. 6 letter answer: VAPITI
18. Which French marshal was married to Napoleon's sister? 5 letter answer: MURAT
19. "Reaper's Razor" 4 letter answer: SICKLE
20. "The Pulsation of Music" 4 letter answer: RHYTHM
21. Country around Vientiane. 4 letter answer: LAOS
22. Rhythm “from under the hooves”. 5 letter answer: TSOKOT
23. “I grab…, drink milkshakes.” 7 letter answer: DUMBBELLS
24. From which city do they rule the country? 7 letter answer: CAPITAL
25. "Venetian lace" today. 5 letter answer: GUIPURE
26. Sexual appetite pills. 6 letter answer: VIAGRA
27. It is forbidden! 6 letter answer: PROHIBITION
28. “How can a woman remain attractive and not die of hunger?!” (classic film comedy). 5 letter answer: TOOTSIE
29. How does a fox cover his tracks? 5 letter answer: TAIL
30. The scent of “a dog’s life.” 5 letter answer: PSINA
31. Which parrot from the cartoon speaks in the voice of Khazanov? 4 letter answer: KESHA
32. "Road to the Heart" for blood. 4 letter answer: VIENNA
33. “We live to give…to each new day.” 3 letter answer: FIGHT

Hello, dear readers of the Sprint-Response website. Today we have September 19, 2017 on our calendars, which means tomorrow the printed version of the next issue of the newspaper “Arguments and Facts” will be released. While there is an electronic version of the newspaper, it is already possible to print all the correct answers to crossword puzzle No. 38 in the AiF newspaper for 2017. All correct answers to the crossword puzzle can be found at the end of the article; they are printed in a compact form immediately after the crossword puzzle questions.

Horizontally:

1. Fairytale blonde.
5. Anniversary feast.
9. Who replaced Leon Trotsky as People's Commissar of Defense?
10. “Tambov wolf for you...!” (from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”).
11. Who discovered ultraviolet rays?
12. “There is elderberry in the garden, and in Kyiv...”
13. What does Joe play in the movie Some Like It Hot?
16. What branch of agriculture does the hero of our film comedy “The Pig Farmer and the Shepherd” work for?
18. Product at a gas station.
19. What musical instrument can replace an entire orchestra?
20. “Pip you on...!”
26. Which Russian revolutionary became Joseph Stalin's father-in-law?
29. The palace where the cloak and sword of the Prophet Muhammad are kept.
30. “Assorted herbs” from the pharmacy (4 letters).
31. Show in the sky.
32. Where did Helena Blavatsky place all the “souls of the dead”?
36. “The most severe supervision” of “freedom of speech.”
39. Entertainer at the hotel.
40. What did Mikhail Bulgakov dream of devoting his life to since his youth?
44. “Everyone heals the soul of the beast.”
47. External states.
48. “Strangers do not know your pain.”
51. What did Delesov lose from the story “Albert” by Leo Tolstoy?
52. Chemical ingredient.
53. German tradesman.
54. “The authorities need to know in...”
55. “Sense organ” at the device.
56. War artist.
57. The fourth of the jurors in the film “12” by Nikita Mikhalkov.

Vertically:

1. Where are debits and credits combined?
2. “He breeds suckers.”
3. A complete trifle.
4. Limit of fatigue.
6. Which of our magicians “saws off his own hand” in the film “Thieves in Law”?
7. The most prestigious brand of engagement rings.
8. Who stole ambrosia from the Olympian gods?
12. “Heavenly pleasure” for a businessman.
14. What attitude towards dissidents does “the world owe” to the Athenian Cleisthenes?
15. Hobby of singer Alexander Marshall.
17. Seller's sin.
21. Living symbol of Belarus.
22. Verdict from heaven.
23. “Notorious...”
24. Matinee with Father Frost and Snow Maiden.
25. It is about him that the Frenchman Gustave Flaubert jokingly writes in his book: firstly, he did not exist, and secondly, he was famous for his laughter!
27. Red deer from North America.
28. Which of the French marshals was married to Napoleon's sister?
33. "Reaper's Razor."
34. “Pulsation of Music.”
35. Country around Vientiane.
36. Rhythm “from under the hooves.”
37. “I grab…, drink milkshakes.”
38. From which city do they rule the country?
41. “Venetian lace” today.
42. Sexual appetite pills.
43. You can’t!
45. “How can a woman remain attractive and not die of hunger?!” (classic film comedy).
46. ​​How does a fox cover its tracks?
47. The scent of “a dog’s life.”
49. Which parrot from the cartoon speaks in the voice of Khazanov?
50. “The Road to the Heart” for blood.
53. “We live to give…to each new day.”

Answers to crossword puzzle “AiF” No. 38 for 2017

Horizontally: 1. Snow White 5. Banquet 9. Frunze 10. Boyar 11. Ritter 12. Uncle 13. Saxophone 16. Sheep farming 18. Gasoline 19. Organ 20. Language 26. Alliluyev 29. Topkapi 30. Collection 31. Salute 32. Astral 36

guardian of the Sultan's chambers. In the Sultan's treasury, they were responsible for the safety of the ruler's personal weapons. During ceremonial processions, the duty of the squire was to ride at the right hand of the Sultan and hold his saber. The chief squire is dressed in a blue caftan with a gold belt. The keeper of the Sultan's robe was the Sultan's personal valet and rode immediately behind him. His duties included monitoring the safety of the sovereign’s entire magnificent wardrobe. The keeper of the robe is dressed in a red caftan with a gold belt, he holds one of the symbols of power - a golden matara (a richly decorated flask of water). Standing around them is a large group of lesser-ranking courtiers. Those invited to the audience are listed below. One of them bows low to the padishah, the other knelt before the throne.

Chamber of Sacred Relics in the Third Courtyard

On the left side of the third courtyard, behind the Mosque of the White Eunuchs, is the Sultan’s Chamber, built under Mehmed Fatih as his permanent residence. At the beginning of the 16th century, under Selim Yavuz (Grozny), its appearance changed - a new room was added, which is called the Pavilion of Sacred Relics. After Selim conquered Mamluk Egypt in 1517, Turkish sultans also began to bear the title of caliph - the religious head of devout Sunni Muslims. From Cairo to Istanbul, by order of Selim, the main shrines of Islam, which were located at the last Abbasid caliphs - distant relatives of the prophet himself, were transferred.

The Chamber contains keys and locks to the Kaaba, the custodians of which were the Turkish sultans for a number of centuries, gutters from its roof, parts of the bedspreads that change on the shrine every year, and fragments of reliquaries from the famous Black Stone. In addition, there are models of the Kaaba made from different materials, as well as models of the mosque in Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad was buried, and the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem. The sacred relics also include the few surviving personal belongings of the prophet - his cloak and sword. One of the unusual shrines for the Muslim world reminds of the earthly journey of Muhammad. This is a casket with his tooth, knocked out in the first battle of Islam at the Exit on March 19, 652, when the Muslim army was defeated during the war between Mecca and Medina. Also kept here are the belongings of his closest relatives, for example, the shirt and robe of his beloved daughter Fatima, the mother of his only grandchildren. The swords of his closest associates, Umar and Usman, have also been preserved.

Sacred relics also include things associated with biblical and evangelical characters mentioned in the Koran. For example, a dish of the patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim), who is considered the ancestor of all Arabs, a small wooden rod - according to legend, the prophet Moses (Musa) used it to extract water from a rock. In addition, here is the sword of the pious Israeli king David (Daud) and clothing attributed to the patriarch Joseph (Yusuf). Among the greatest relics, revered by Christians, is the ark with the right hand of John the Baptist (Yahya).

Despite the fact that now the exhibition of sacred relics is considered a museum exhibition, a large number of Muslims come here not only to look at the ancient shrines, but also to worship them.

Sword of the Prophet Muhammad. Arabia, 7th century

The sword of the Prophet Muhammad is one of the main shrines of Islam, as it not only has memorial significance, but is also covered in many legends. Tradition says that during his life, Muhammad owned nine swords, each of which had its own name. He inherited some of them, received others as gifts from his comrades, and captured others as trophies in battles.

However, Muhammad was not a warrior by profession; he was born in 571 into a family of wealthy merchants and spent the first half of his life in Mecca completely peacefully. Left an orphan early, he was raised first by his grandfather, then by his uncles. Muhammad did not receive a large inheritance, and at the age of 25 he married a rich widow older than himself. Leading a prosperous life, he left trade and began to show interest in philosophical and religious teachings, of which there were many known in Arabia. At the age of about 40, in 610, the first revelation was sent to him, and soon Muhammad began to preach the doctrine of faith in one Allah. His activities in Mecca led to conflict with some of its inhabitants, including his relatives. The Prophet and his supporters in 622 made the hijra - the migration from Mecca to Medina. Since this time, the Muslim calendar has been counted. A year later, a war began between the supporters of Muhammad and the adherents of polytheism from Mecca, during which some of the swords kept today in Topkapi were used.

However, the sword al-Qadib (“Bar”, “Rod”) was never used in battles; similar weapons were used by travelers and pilgrims on dangerous medieval roads. It has a narrow thin blade about a meter long. On one side of it there is an Arabic inscription written in silver: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet.” Mohammed Ben Abdallah Ben Abd al-Mutallib." There is no indication in any historical source that this sword was used in any battle. It remained in the house of the Prophet Muhammad and was used later by the Fatimid caliphs. The tanned leather scabbard appears to have been restored in later periods.

In addition to this sword, there are several other blades in Topkapi that also belonged to Muhammad. Another of his swords is kept today in the Hussein Mosque in Cairo.

Treasury Building

One of the oldest buildings in the third courtyard is the so-called Fatih Pavilion (Fatih Köshkü), the building of which stretches along the Sea of ​​Marmara. Its building, also called Enderun Hazinesi (Treasury of the Courtyard), was built during the time of Sultan Mehmed II (around 1460) and was among the first in the emerging structure of the new palace. It was conceived as a place to store the main treasures of the Sultan's treasury, which could leave the palace only on especially important occasions.

The building is topped with two domes, cut through by small windows, and surrounded by a gallery, like many other Topkapi buildings. Apparently, according to the original plan of the first customer, Sultan Mehmed, the palace was planned as a summer residence, so the only purpose of the domes was

So, today we are starting a new series of publications - “Legendary Blades”. We will talk about legendary weapons, but not at all about fabulous mythical swords, but about real historical artifacts stored in museums and which are the national treasure of different countries.
They have no price in the usual sense of the word. It is impossible to estimate the value of such an object if an entire era stands behind it. Most of these blades have not left the carefully guarded walls of museums for many years, since states do not want to expose the relics to even minimal risk. Many of them are prohibited from being filmed or photographed - especially religious shrines, which some of the blades undoubtedly are.

But let's move on to the topic of today's publication - the sword of Armageddon.

Even the title of the publication immediately raises the question: is the author really claiming that there is a real sword, which, even according to legend, can become a weapon of Armageddon?

After all, Armageddon is a global catastrophe or war that will destroy all of humanity.

However, Armageddon is not at all the death of our world, as most readers think, but the last and most terrible battle in the history of mankind, in which people led by the forces of universal evil and good will fight each other. The result will not be the destruction of everyone and everything, but victory over the forces of darkness. After which there will come a thousand-year reign of goodness and justice on earth.

And only after the expiration of a thousand years will all the final fuss begin with the Last Judgment, the resurrection of the dead and other events on the occasion of the end of the world.

Moreover, the name “Armageddon” is just an indication of the location of the battle, such as Waterloo or Borodino. And it is well known to us - not far from Mount Megiddo (har Megiddo - in Hebrew) in Israel, all that remains is to clarify the time a little.

And if Armageddon is a battle, then why shouldn’t there be a very real sword with which they will fight there?

It is for this very sword, the hero of today’s story, that you and I will have to go to Istanbul. Although it is possible that this sword was forged when even Byzantium itself had not yet been founded, later Constantinople, the imperial capital of the Romans, captured five and a half centuries ago by the Turks and called Istanbul by them.

Together with a crowd of tourists, we will follow you to the historical center of the ancient city - to Cape Sarayburnu overlooking the Golden Horn, where the Bosphorus Strait separates Europe and Asia.

There is the palace of the Turkish sultans Topkapi, which for more than four centuries was the residence of the rulers of the Sublime Porte - the Ottoman Empire.

Topkapi Palace. View from the Bosphorus. Behind the cape on the other side is the Sea of ​​Marmara.

Overlord's Gate (Imperial Gate)

The Welcome Gate is the main gate of Topkapi Palace.

And, of course, the treasury building is also the treasury of the empire. It is called the “external treasury”, since there is another one in the palace - the “internal” one, inaccessible to everyone except the Sultan, his family and those closest to him. Now in the “outer treasury” there is a weapons museum; here is the world’s richest collection of Islamic weapons from the 7th to the beginning of the 20th century. Of course, there are also weapons from other countries, in particular European ones are not ignored. Thousands and thousands of exhibits - over 400 types of weapons alone.

Collection of weapons in the external treasury of Topkapi

Gate of Bliss

All the sultan's ceremonial receptions took place in the throne room, but surely we are interested in the treasury? And for good reason.

The amount of treasures - gold, precious stones, jewelry is truly impressive, or to put it simply - off the charts.

Treasury building in the third courtyard

Sultan Mustafa IV on the golden throne. End of the 18th century.

Throne of the Great Mogul, ruler of India Shah Jahan, gift to the Sultan.

But our path lies in the holy of holies of Topkapi - in the Secret Chamber of the inner palace. Once upon a time, even the Sultan himself could visit her only once a year. It is now open to the public, a headache for the Turkish government as Islam's top clerics demand it be closed, leaving access only to pilgrims on certain days of the year. After all, there are a large number of the holiest relics of Islam there!

But you and I will only be required not to be there in shorts and T-shirts, and women will not be allowed in without a closed dress and a headscarf. And yes - photo and video shooting inside is STRICTLY prohibited. There is always twilight inside so that bright light does not damage the ancient relics.

The building of the Secret Chambers in the third courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, where the repository of holy relics is located.

In this room, the cloak of the Prophet Muhammad is kept separately from everyone else.

Some may be surprised that what seem to be Christian relics are doing here, but almost all the great prophets of the Bible who lived before Muhammad are considered prophets in Islam, and they are revered by Muslims no less than by Christians.

To preface your questions, not a single sacred relic has been examined by scientists, and therefore the authenticity of many (if not most) relics remains in doubt from the point of view of historians. Some simply cannot be genuine, unless, of course, you approach them from the point of view of faith - Islam.

Hair from the prophet's beard. Impressive?

The footprint of the prophet in stone, a miracle is a sign of holiness

One of the ancient doors of the Kaaba

Letter written by the prophet Muhammad

But I’m sure this relic will interest you more. Two personal swords of the prophet (Al-Ma'thur and Al-Qadib) and his bow. In the foreground is a silver bow case covered with gilding.

The bow is made from reed. The bowstring has been removed, so it is bent in the opposite direction.

Sword of the prophet Al-Ma'thur, blade length 99 cm. Decorated with gold and precious stones.

Al-Qadib sword, blade length 101 cm

Yes, here they are:

Swords of the Prophet's Companions

And against the background of all these decorated swords in the wall niche behind the armored glass, this modest sword is almost invisible.

After all, the swords of the first holy caliphs and even the two personal swords of the prophet, an incredible treasure by the standards of Islam, are exhibited together, and this sword is in splendid isolation! I will say more, even some highly respected theologians of Islam doubt the authenticity of this relic, since the very existence of such a sword violates the foundations of the Koran: it contains an image of a person, which is strictly prohibited in Islam.

However, this is one of the most famous nine swords of the Prophet Muhammad - Al-Battar (Al-Battar “The Cutter”), and it is the goal of our journey!

Al-Battar sword, blade length 101 cm

But the blade itself is noticeably older than Muhammad!

Let's take a closer look at it.

A drawing is visible - a very conventional image of a person, as if drawn by a small child, at the very guard and Arabic script on the blade itself. I have a larger photo of the drawing for you.

To do this, we need to remember the history of the sword; it was military booty taken from Banu Qaynuqa near Medina (modern Saudi Arabia). The sword was presented as a gift to the Prophet Muhammad as a precious relic already at that time, because it is not for nothing that this sword is also called the “Sword of the Prophets.” According to legend, it belonged to a number of holy prophets, whose names are written in Arabic script on the blade. The first of these great prophets is Dawud.

It is he who is depicted on the blade doing a very important task - cutting off the head of Jalut, a mighty giant and king of the Amalekite tribe, who was originally the owner of this sword. Frankly speaking, Jaluta was unlucky; some runt killed him without a sword, and then cut off his head with his own blade.

Doesn't this story remind you of anything? That's right, you guessed it, this is a retelling of the biblical fight between David and Goliath. And yes, Daoud is David.

The next prophet on the list to hold a sword in his hands is Suleiman ibn Daoud. Translated into the “language” of Christians, the famous King Solomon, the son of David, the conqueror of Goliath.

But pay attention to the blade, there is not only Arabic script, but there is also another inscription in a language unfamiliar to us.

But we will not list all the prophets who allegedly owned this sword. Let us dwell on one thing that is most important for us - the last one before Muhammad: Isa ibn Mariam, which means “Isa son of Mariam.” But Mariam is a woman’s name, and Arabs always call a person by the name of his father, and not by his mother!

The fact is that Isa never had a father, he was born from a girl mother, thanks to a miracle created by Allah. Yes, we are talking specifically about Jesus Christ, but the Koran completely rejects the version of the death of the prophet Isa on the cross, claiming that despite all the assurances of the Romans and the Jews who betrayed their prophet, they were unable to “neither kill him nor crucify him, but it only seemed to them " Isa did not die, and therefore did not resurrect; Allah himself took him to heaven, where he will remain next to him almost until the Last Judgment.

Are the words of Jesus “I brought you not peace, but a sword” about this very sword?!

And I would be glad to agree, but here’s the catch: Christ never had a sword, this is just a metaphor, that is, a figure of speech. Well, in no way could the carpenter-prophet from Nazareth walk around Judea with a huge sword more than a meter long on his belt; he would have been immediately captured by the authorities and arrested for preparing for rebellion. And there is not a single indirect hint in the New Testament that Jesus could have had a sword.

And here we are faced with a seemingly insoluble problem - if the sword was never in the hands of Christ, then the inscription on the sword is a lie, and from the point of view of a devout Muslim this cannot be: holy relics cannot lie!

However, there is one quite elegant solution to this issue, which you and I did not even suspect.

The blade lists all its owners, right?

Yes. And although Jesus did not own a sword, did not even hold it in his hands, it is wrong to cross it off the list, for this inscription itself is not a fact of the past, but a prophecy: the sword will belong to Jesus!

Muslims, like Christians, believe in the second coming of the prophet Isa (Christ). His return will herald for everyone the nearness of the Last Judgment. At that time, the world will be ruled by Dajjal (Antichrist), who will deceive most people, calling evil good and black white. Isa will defeat and destroy the false messiah Dajjal. After which the kingdom of goodness and justice will come on earth, although unlike the version of Christianity it will last not 1000 years, but only 40, after which the prophet Isa will die and be buried next to the prophet Muhammad. Well, then everything is as written, almost the same for both religions - the trumpets of angels will sound, the dead will rise, the Last Judgment and the end of the world are coming.

So - many Muslims believe that, according to legend, it is Al-Battar in the hands of the prophet Isa that will defeat the Dajjal.

And since this will happen, according to Christian eschatology, during the great last battle, then before you...

the sword of Armageddon, with which Jesus will personally defeat the leader of the forces of evil - the Antichrist.

See you again!

New publications about real legendary blades are waiting for you.

With respect to readers and subscribers, Bald Comrade

If you want to know in advance about the approach of Armageddon, ask your friend who went to Istanbul to look into the Topkapi Palace and check if the Al-Battar sword is in place.

The world would be a very boring place without unknown, mystical and supernatural things. Throughout history, there have been artifacts that have been attributed magical properties and that are beyond human understanding. In our review, 10 supernatural relics and their unusual stories.

1. Buddha tooth

According to legend, when Buddha was cremated, only his left fang remained from his body. The tooth became a symbol of Buddha, and after that many people fought for the right to own such a relic. Today the tooth is officially kept in the "Temple of the Tooth" in Sri Lanka, but over the centuries some pretty incredible stories have happened to it. The Buddha's tooth was first mentioned as an ornament in the hairstyle of Princess Dantapura in the 4th century AD.

During the colonial era, the Portuguese, who seized control of Sri Lanka, burned the tooth, declaring it heresy. At the same time, the ashes were thrown into the ocean. Fortunately, the burned tooth was a fake, and the real one was carefully preserved for centuries. Some temple visitors claim that the relic has healing properties.

2. Dunvegan Fairy Flag

The famous MacLeod clan in Scotland owns an heirloom that has been passed down from generation to generation. According to one legend, this flag originally belonged to the Norwegian king Harald Hardrad, and with it the king went to conquer Great Britain in 1066. When the king was killed, the flag was passed on to his descendants. According to another version, which the MacLeod representatives themselves insist on, the fourth leader of the clan fell in love with a fairy princess, who was forbidden to marry mortal people. Her father eventually relented, and the princess was allowed to spend a year and a day with her beloved. During this time she gave birth to a boy. To prevent her child from crying, she covered him with a magic blanket, under which the child immediately calmed down. As a result, this blanket became the clan flag.

The flag supposedly has magic that will protect clan members if necessary, but only three times. In 1490, under this flag, the MacLeods fought the MacDonalds and were victorious. In 1520, the flag was again used in battle against the MacDonalds, and again victory was won.

3. Prophet Muhammad's cloak

The cloak worn by the Prophet Muhammad is a sacred relic. According to legend, the cloak was brought to Afghanistan by the first king of the modern Afghan state, Ahmad Shah Durrani. Today, the king's remains and cloak are kept in a well-guarded shrine in Kandahar. The cloak is kept under lock and key, the key to which is held only by the family of guardians. In 1996, the Taliban made the cloak their symbol when Mullah Omar appeared with it in front of an audience. Thus, he violated the unwritten law of Islam, which forbade showing the cloak to people.

4. Relics of St. John the Baptist

There are many stories about one of the major figures of early biblical history, as well as regarding relics associated with John the Baptist. In 2010, excavations on the island of St. John in Bulgaria found a small urn containing pieces of a skull, jaw, hand and tooth. Nearby was a small box with an engraving of the saint's birthday (June 24).

The reliability of the find has been criticized, but these relics have a better chance of being real than all the others that are known to date. When archaeologists from the University of Oxford carbon-dated the remains, they found that the bones dated back to the first century AD, when St. John was beheaded on the orders of King Herod.

5. Life-giving Cross

Just as in the case of the relics of St. John the Baptist, many parts of the Life-Giving Cross are kept in churches around the world. It is generally accepted that the real relic is located in the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. In addition to the three pieces of wood that were allegedly part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, the church also houses other relics such as two needles from Christ's crown of thorns and one of the nails used in the crucifixion. The relics were collected by Saint Helena, who became famous thanks to the legalization of Christianity.

6. Stone of Destiny

The Stone of Doom, also called the Stone of Scone, has long been the coronation site for the rulers of Scotland. Not surprisingly, it was also a point of contention between Scotland and England. Information about how this artifact appeared has long been lost. According to one legend, it was a stone that Jacob used as a pillow when he dreamed of ascending to heaven. It was also said that the Ark later moored to this stone.

It is likely that the stone came to Britain via Ireland, where it was used to confirm the oath of their kings. In 840 the stone was moved from Scone to Perthshire, where it became the site of the unification of the Picts and Scots. In 1292, John Balliol was crowned on the stone, the last king of Scotland to receive this honor. In 1296, Edward I captured the Stone of Destiny and moved it to Westminster Abbey, where it was kept for centuries. The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996, but some are convinced it is a fake.

7. Cortana, sword of mercy

The coronation of British monarchs has historically been a rather complex process. In Great Britain there are several swords that are used at the coronation of new monarchs: the Great Sword, the Precious Sacrificial Sword, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Temporal Justice, and Cortana - the sword of mercy. Cortana is the only sword to be named at the coronation of Henry III in the early 13th century. The flat blade of the sword was shortened, and the sharp end was completely removed. According to legend, the sword first appeared as part of the royal regalia under King John in 1199. He received the sword at the time he became Count of Morten. And the legendary knight Tristan is considered the original owner of the sword.

8. Chalice of Nanteos

There are several legends about the Cup of Nanteos - a small wooden drinking vessel that was found in the time-ruined Welsh mansion of Nanteos. Many believers believe that the Cup of Nanteos is the Holy Grail. The first records of the cup appeared in 1870, when it was exhibited at Lampeter University. By 1906, not only had the cup become firmly associated with the Grail, but healing properties had also begun to be attributed to it. Despite the fact that the cup (as research has shown) was created in the Middle Ages, a new legend was born. Sick and elderly people were given water to drink from the cup, and some of them claimed healing. In July 2014, the cup was stolen.

9. Lia Fail

Like the Stone of Destiny (sometimes these stones are even confused), Lia Fail is the stone on which the ancient kings of Ireland were crowned. Lia Fail, which stands on the Hill of Tara, was a central figure in the coronations of Irish kings and the celebrations held in their honor for more than 5,000 years. The 1.5-meter stone was transported several times, and it took its current location in 1824. According to legend, Lia Fail was one of the four gifts brought to the mortal world by the tribe of the goddess Danu. Other gifts were a sword, a spear, and a cauldron.

10. Cornerstone

In the list of unusual stories one cannot help but mention Jerusalem. The Temple Mount is the meeting point of three very different religions, in which it is considered sacred. Among the most revered sites in Jerusalem is the Cornerstone, which formed the basis of the Temple Mount, also known as the Holy Court.

According to Muslim beliefs, the Cornerstone is the place where Muhammad was resurrected. It is also believed to be the origin of all the fresh water in the world. Muslims believe that under the Cornerstone there is a bottomless pit where the souls of the dead await their judgment. According to Jewish beliefs, this is the place where the creation of the world began. The stone is also the site of the creation of the Ten Commandments.