7 Mythical Weapons That Aren’t Swords

The article explores seven legendary weapons from global mythologies that are not swords, detailing their origins, wielders, and symbolic meanings. From Mesopotamian mythology, Sharur is a sentient mace belonging to the god Ninurta, which could fly and speak, warning him of the demon Asag. In Hindu epic Mahabharata, Arjuna wields the bow Gandiva, created by Brahma, with 108 strings and infinite arrows, used to slay enemies in the Kurukshetra War. The Pelian Spear, from Greek myth, was made from an ash tree on Mount Pelion, given to Peleus and later to Achilles; it had healing properties. Ame-no-Nuboko is the jeweled spear of Shinto creation myth, used by Izanagi to stir the ocean and form the islands of Japan. Ruyi Jingu Bang is Sun Wukong's staff from Journey to the West, originally a flood-measuring tool of Yu the Great, capable of changing size. Mjolnir, Thor's hammer forged by dwarves, could return after being thrown and was used in consecration and fertility rituals. Gae Bolg, from Irish myth, is a spear made from sea monster bones, wielded by Cú Chulainn, which erupts barbs upon impact.