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The Sword of Nuada

Artifact

The Unerring Blade of the Tuatha Dé Danann's First King

Historical Accuracy

Purely mythological object; no archaeological artifact exists or is claimed. Worth keeping distinct from the unrelated "Sword of Light" folktale motif that later popular tradition sometimes merges it with.

Historical Significance

Sources: Cath Maige Tuired; Lebor Gábala Érenn. Modern: Proinsias Mac Cana, James MacKillop.

The Sword of Nuada is one of the oldest attested treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and is sometimes popularly (but inaccurately) conflated with the later folkloric "Clí omh Solais" (Sword of Light), a distinct wonder-tale motif from a different, later story tradition.

Historical Era

Referenced as one of the Four Treasures — not yet confirmed appearing directly in the manuscript

Novel Canon Role: This entry documents the sword as part of the Four Treasures tradition referenced alongside the Cauldron of Dagda. I could not find it named directly in the Spear of Lugh manuscript text reviewed so far — flagging this so you can confirm whether it appears in a later chapter, or whether this is meant as a lore/reference entry rather than a scene-appearing artifact.

One of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann, brought from the city of Findias per the Lebor Gábala Érenn. Belonged to Nuada Airgetlám ("Nuada of the Silver Arm"), first king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Per Cath Maige Tuired, no one ever escaped it once drawn, and no one could resist it once it was unsheathed. Nuada lost his real arm in the First Battle of Mag Tuired and was fitted with a silver prosthetic by the physician-god Dian Cécht — the origin of his epithet.

sword-of-nuada