<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The Spear of Destiny was the spear used to pierce the side of Christ while on the cross during the Crucifixion. The Spear belonged to a Roman soldier named Longinous. The legend of Longinous is ominous. He was cursed to walk the Earth forever for his sins against Jesus and his blindness was cured by the blood of Christ.

After the Crucifixion, the spear went to various rulers. Herod the Great, Constantine, Theodosius, Alaric the Goth, Theodoric and Justinian, Charles Martel, Charlemagne (who died when he dropped it), several other emperors owned the lance. Napoleon tried to gain the Spear in Vienna but it was sneaked out of the city before he could capture it. The lance returned to the Hoffburg Museum (Vienna) until 1938.

The Legend of the Spear also states that whoever possesses the Spear will be invincible. For this reason, Hitler wanted the Spear when he first saw it in the Hoffburg Museum in 1912.

There are currently four "Spears of Destiny", each claiming to the be the original artifact.

• The Vatican Lance
• Etschmiadzin lance
• Vienna Lance
• Krakow, Poland

See Also

• Holy Grail