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Weapon Name Trivia In Final Fantasy XIV, STORMBLOOD EDITION

As before, here are the origins on a bunch of weapon names from Final Fantasy XIV, some from mythology, some from etymology, some just from bleedingly obvious common knowledge. Updated to include Red Mage and Samurai.

Ordered alphabetically and by job.

For the sake of completeness, I’ve included all previous entries with minor corrections and details.

Astrologian

Aldebaran : Aldebaran is the brightest star of the Taurus constellation. The name Aldebaran means “the Follower” in Arabic, because the star rises after the Pleiades star cluster.

Altair : Altair is the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. The name is an abbreviation of an Arabic phrase which means “the flying eagle”.

Atlas : Aside from a collection of maps, Atlas was a Titan in Greek mythology condemned to hold up the sky for eternity by the Olympians.

Capella : Capella is the brightest star of the constellation Auriga. The name means “female goat” in Latin.

Canopus : Canopus is the brightest star of the constellation Carina, and the second-brightest star in the night sky after Sirius. The star is named after the mythological Greek navigator Canopus who piloted the King of Sparta’s ship during the Trojan War.

Deneb : Deneb is the brightest star of the constellation Cygnus. Deneb is Arabic for “tail” from the phrase “tail of the hen”.

Ephemeris (Susanoo’s Ephemeris, Byakko’s Ephemeris, etc.): In astronomy, an ephemeris is a journal that records the natural positions of astronomical objects. Basically, it’s an astronomical Excel spreadsheet.

Kontengi : Written as “渾天儀”, “kontengi” means “armillary sphere” in Japanese. An armillary sphere is a model of the globe with rings and hoops that represent the equator, the tropics, and other celestial circles.

Muspell : Otherwise known as Muspelheim, Muspell is the primordial realm of fire in Norse mythology, ruled by the fire giant Surtr.

Pleiades : The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, are a cluster of stars and the most visible star cluster in the night sky. The name is derived from the Pleiades of Greek mythology, who were the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and companions of Artemis.

Rigel : Rigel is the brightest star of the constellation Orion. The name “Rigel” is derived from an Arabic name meaning “the left leg/foot of Jauzah”, with Jauzah being the Arabic name of Orion.

Sirius : The brightest star visible in the Earth’s sky. The name means “glowing” or “scorcher”.

Tenkan Chishi : Written as 天干地支 , “Tenkan Chishi” refers to the heavenly and earthly branches of the Chinese zodiac used to record and observe time.

The Evening Star : A blanket term referring to many things; in astrology it is most commonly used to refer to the planet Venus appearing in the western sky during sundown.

Vega : Vega is the brightest star of the constellation Lyra. The name is from a loose transliteration of an Arabic word meaning “falling”, full phrase “the falling eagle”.

Bard

Artemis Bow : Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and childbirth. Artemis is often portrayed as a protector of young girls and one who relieves disease from women.

Astrild : Astrild is an old Nordic name for Cupid.

Berimbau : A berimbau is a Brazilian single-string percussion instrument.

Gandiva : The bow of Arjuna, the hero of the Hindu epic Mahabhrata. The bow was forged from moonlight by Brahma, the creator god of traditional Hinduism.

Failnaught : “Failnaught” is the bow of Sir Tristan, a Knight of the Round Table, in Arthurian legend. It is said to never miss its mark.

Kujakuo : Kujakuo literally translates to “Peacock King”. In Japanese pop culture, Kujakuo was a manga that ran in the 80s. More abstractly, “Peacock King” may be a reference to the “Peacock Angel”, the leader of the divine triad of the religion Yazidism.

Raijodo : Written as “ 雷上動 “, the name literally means “motion of lightning” or “movement of lightning”.

Rosenbogen : German compound word literally meaning “Rose’s bow”.

Sarnga : An alternate name for Sharanga, the bow of Vishnu in Hinduism.

Terpander : Terpander was a Greek poet who is referred to as the “father of Greek music”, and one of the earliest practitioners of lyric poetry.

Yoichi Bow : Most likely named after Nasu no Yoichi, a samurai of the Minamoto clan. The Tale of Heike states that while at sea, the enemy Taira clan placed a fan atop a ship’s pole, daring the Minamoto clan to shoot it. Nasu no Yoichi successfully shot the fan from a distance even amidst the rocking motions of the ship and waves.

Black Mage

Astrolabe : An astrolabe is a device used to predict the positions of the Sun, moon, planets, and stars.

Gambanteinn : Old Norse word meaning “magic wand” that appears in the Poetic Edda.

Hvergelmir : One of the three major springs that lays beneath the cosmic tree Yggdrassil in the Poetic Edda.

Kaladanda : In Hindu mythology, Kaladanda is the name of the staff of Death used by Yama, the god of the underworld.

Kujo : Written as 九條, which literally means “ninth street”. Most likely meant to be an abbreviation of “shakujo”, which is a ringed staff used by Buddhist monks that may be used in prayer or as a self-defense weapon.

Laevateinn : A weapon referenced in the Norse Poetic Edda that most often appears as a magical sword, but sometimes as a wand or staff.

Lilith Rod : A reference to Lilith, a figure in Abrahamic religions most often portrayed as a succubus or demoness. In Judaism, Lilith was the first wife of Adam who was cast out of Eden for eating the Fruit of Knowledge.

Makibi : Most likely a reference to Kibi no Asomi Makibi, a Japanese scholar who lived during the Nara period.

Teiwaz : “Teiwaz” is the proto-Germanic name of the Norse god of law, Tyr.

Dark Knight

Arondight : The sword given to Sir Lancelot du Lac by the Lady of the Lake.

Balisarde : The sword of Porthos from The Three Musketeers.

Balmung : The sword of Siegfried the Dragonslayer in the epic poem Nibelunglied. The sword is called “Gram” in the Old Norse Volsung saga and “Nothung” in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Cronus : In Greek mythology, Cronus was the leader of the Titans that overthrew Uranus, before himself being overthrown by his son Zeus and imprisoned by Tartarus.

Cruadin : The Cruadin Caidid-cheann (meaning hard-headed) is the sword of the Irish warrior hero Cu Chulainn.

Dainslaif : The sword of the Norse king Högni from the Saga of Hild in Norse mythology. It is cursed to kill a man whenever it is drawn.

Kumokirimaru : The name “Kumokirimaru” means “Spider Cutter”. In the Japanese story The Tale of Heike, Minamoto no Yorimitsu wielded the Kumokirimaru to fight off spider monsters which were called tsuchigumo.

Nagamaki : A nagamaki is a type of Japanese sword with a very long handle.

Nothung : The sword of Siegfried the Dragonslayer in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The sword is named “Balmung” in the Nibelunglied and Gram in the Old Norse Volsung saga.

Odenta : The Odenta is one of the Tenka Goken (”Five Swords Under Heaven”) and one of the National Treasures of Japan, traditionally held by the Maeda clan. The name refers to its bladesmith, Denta.

Skofnung : The sword of the Danish king Hrólfr Kraki, renowned for its sharpness and imbued with the spirits of Hrolfr’s twelve berserker bodyguards. This must be the angriest sword ever.

Dragoon

Areadbhar : Loosely translated as “Slaughterer”, Areadbhar is one of the spears of the Celtic god Lugh.

Brionac : One of the spears of the Celtic god Lugh.

Gae Bolg : The spear of the Celtic hero Cu Chulainn given to him by his mentor, the warrior woman Scáthach.

Grasitha : Transliteration of Grásiða, which means “Grey Flank”. The sword of the protagonist Gisli Sursson from the Gisla saga of Icelandic literature.

Longinus : Also known as the Holy Lance or the Spear of Destiny, Saint Longinus used his spear to pierce the side of Jesus as the latter hung on the cross, as described by the Gospel of John.

Narval : It means narwhal. As in, the animal. Unicorns of the sea. You can wield a narwhal in Final Fantasy.

Rhongomiant : In Welsh Arthurian tradition, Rhongomiant is King Arthur’s spear.

Otegine : The Otegine is one of the three great spears listed in the Kyoho Meibutsucho, a record of famous weapons compiled during the Kyoho era.

Machinist

Armageddon : The location of the biblical battle of end times where Jesus will return to Earth and defeat the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the Devil Satan.

Gjallarhorn : The horn of the Norse god Heimdallr who stands watch at the Bifrost, the bridge leading to Asgard.

Ikkansai : A Japanese first name and reference to the gun maker Kunitomo Ikkansai who built Japan’s first reflective telescope.

Kunitomo : A family name and reference to the gun maker Kunitomo Ikkansai.

Magnatus : Magnatus means “magnate” (a great or important person) in Latin.

Monk

Ai Apaec : The chief deity of the Mochica culture of northern Peru, Ai Apaec was worshipped as a creator, defender, a provider of sustenance, and the god of victory in battle.

Glanzfaust : German compound word that means “Shining Fist”.

Jikki : Written as “ 実基”. It may be a reference to a name when read as “Sanemoto”, which means roughly “true basis”. Depending on the kanji used, the word “jikki” can mean “true record”.

Kaiser Knuckles : Kaiser is the German word for “emperor”, derived from the Latin “Caesar”.

Nyepels : A fighting bracelet used in hand-to-hand combat from Sudan.

Rising Suns : "Rising Sun” or “Land of the Rising Sun” is an epithet of Japan.

Senju : Written as “ 千手 “, translates literally to “a thousand hands” or “a thousand moves”.

Sphairai : A type of boxing glove used in ancient Greece.

Sudarshana Chakras : The Sudarshana Chakra is a disk-shaped bladed weapon (or chakram) used by the Hindu god Vishnu.

Verethragna : An Avestan word literally meaning “smiting of resistance”, and the name of a war god who grants victory in battle.

Ninja

Hofuds : Hofud is the sword of the Norse god Heimdall who guards the Bifrost, the entrance to Asgard.

Kannagi : The Japanese word for a female diviner or shrine maiden who acts as medium between humans and gods.

Misericordes : Derived from the Latin misericordia, which means “act of mercy” or “mercy stroke”. Misericordes were narrow daggers designed to punch through gaps in a knight’s armour plating or the slot of a knight’s visor.

Nagi : Written as “ 凪 “, the word “nagi” means “calm” or “lull”, usually in reference to the weather or the ocean.

Niokiyotsuna : A sword or group of swords (depending on historical interpretation) from the Kamakura period. There are some stories about a single sword called the Niokiyotsuna, such as it being used to cut the lock of a temple that was being burned down.

Ohojo : Named in the Japanese version as 大保昌 , the Ohojo is a dagger or tanto purported to belong to the Maeda clan during the Sengoku period.

Sandungs : A type of ossuary or burial shrine used in Indonesia.

Sasuke's Blades : While there is a figure in FFXIV lore known as Sasuke, who was the shinobi responsible for bringing ninjutsu to Doma, the FFXIV Sasuke was likely named after Sarutobi Sasuke, a fictional ninja who often appears alongside Lord Yukimura as one of the Sanada Ten Braves during the Sengoku period.

Yoshimitsu : A Japanese name, the weapon is likely a reference to Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, another samurai of the Minamoto clan.

Yukimitsu : A Japanese name. Likely a reference to the Japanese swordsmith Tosaburo Yukimitsu, who was said to have been the real or adoptive father of Masamune.

Vajras : A vajra, also known as a kila, is a three-pronged stake or knife used in Buddhist rituals.

Paladin

Swords

Aettir : The plural form of the Norse word “aett”, which means “clans” or “races”. More broadly refers to nature spirits from Norse mythology, such as “sjovaettir” or “sea spirits”.

Almace : The sword of the Bishop Turpin from the Song of Roland, a French epic about King Charlemagne.

Burtgang : Also known as Blodgang or Blutgang, Burtgang is the sword of the Germanic hero Háma, who appears in the epic poem of Beowulf.

Curtana : The sword of the paladin Ogier the Dane as described by the Song of Roland. The name “Curtana” is also ascribed to a ceremonial sword used in the coronation of British monarchs, allegedly wielded by Tristan of the Knights of the Round Table.

Excalibur : The sword of King Arthur.

Galatyn : Otherwise known as Galatine, Galatyn was the sword given to Sir Gawain by the Lady of the Lake.

Homura : Written as “ 焔 “, it means “flame”.

Onikiri : Japanese word meaning “Demon cutter”.

Tyrfing : A magic sword and subject of the Old Norse Tyrfing saga. It was forged by the two dwarves Dvalinn and Durin, who were trapped by Odin’s grandson Svafrlami. The sword was also cursed to kill a man whenever it was drawn.

Zantetsuken : Written as 斬鉄剣 , it means “iron-cutting sword”.

Shields

Aegis Shield : The aegis of mythology is an item carried by Athena (and supposedly Zeus) in Homer’s Iliad. Its most common interpretation is as a shield, but it has also been depicted as a cover or length of golden animal skin.

Ancile : In ancient Rome, the ancilia were twelve sacred shields kept in the Temple of Mars. Legend states that the original holy shield fell from the heavens during the reign of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome. Numa Pompilius ordered eleven copies made to confuse any would-be thieves.

Evalach : In Arthurian legend, Evalach was the shield of Sir Galahad that had previously belonged to King Evalach.

Mitsuba : Literally translate to “trefoil”, a kind of herb with three leaves. Can be more abstractly translated as “three leaves”.

Priwen : In Welsh Arthurian tradition, the Priwen or Prytwen is the name of the ship used by King Arthur and his men to sail to the Celtic Otherworld.

Prytwen : Same as above.

Red Mage

Verdun : The word “verdun” is a latinization of a word meaning “strong fort”. There are several towns called Verdun, mostly in Central Europe.

Guespiere : Part of the name of a French saint, St. Avit-les-Guespieres.

Murgleis : Also known as Murgleys (which can be loosely translated as “death brand”), Murgleis is the sword of Ganelon, the traitorous nemesis of the paladin Roland.

Mokusa : Written as “ 舞草 “, mokusa kind of plant related to the venus flytrap.

Schlaeger : Broadly refers to several types of dueling swords in fencing.

Shishio : Written as “ 獅子王 “, it means “lion king”. Can also be used to refer to the Disney movie.

Samurai

Gunromaru : A weapon from Final Fantasy XI; I couldn’t find any specific references so it’s probably generic. “Maru” is a fairly common suffix for swords, ships, or castles.

Kagehide : A generic (if antiquated) Japanese name that may be loosely translated as “excellent shadow”.

Kanesada : The Kanesada are a lineage of Japanese swordsmiths.

Katayama : Written as “ 片山一文字 “ Katayama is a reference to any sword made by the Katayama-Ichimonji swordsmithing school.

Kotetsu : A reference to Nagasone Kotetsu, a Japanese swordsmith from the Edo period.

Kiku-ichimonji : The name given to a collection of swords made by thirteen Japanese swordsmiths for the Emperor in the early Kamakura period, each sword representing one of the months (numbered 1 through 12).

Okanehira : The Okanehira is a large tachi sword forged by the swordsmith Kanehira..

Tenguto : Traslates literally into “tengu sword”. Tengu are a kind of youkai typically depicted as bird-people.

Scholar

Anabasis : A historical text separated into seven books written by the Greek soldier and scholar Xenophon.

Ars Almadel : A part of the collection of occult grimoires known as the Lesser Key of Solomon, the Ars Almadel, also known as the Almandal, is a mystic text containing the details of a ritual for communing with angels. The noun almadel refers to a kind of portable altar used in the ritual described by the Ars Almadel.

Ars Notoria : A part of the collection of occult grimoires known as the Lesser Key of Solomon, the Ars Notoria is a mystic text that contains a series of prayers meant to grant perfect memory and instantaneous learning to the wielder.

Deus Ex Gratia : Latin for “god from grace”.

Ethica : Latin for “ethics”.

Fagrskinna : Old Norse for “Fair Parchment”. Fagrskinna is also the name of a Norse saga that describes Norway’s history from the ninth to twelfth centuries.

Gogyo Sosei : The Japanese name for the Chinese philosophy of the cycle of the five elements: earth, water, fire, wood, and metal.

Koyoshu : Written as “ 紅葉集 “, literally translates to “a collection of coloured leaves”.

Omnilex : “Law of All”, from the Latin roots omni (all) and lex (law).

Tetrabiblos : Literally means “four books”. The Tetrabiblos is a Greek astrology text written by Ptolemy alongside with the Almagest.

The Black Pullet : The Black Pullet is an occult grimoire meant to teach the reader about the magic of talismans and rings, including Kabbalah and the art of necromancy.

Summoner

Almandal : A part of the collection of occult grimoires known as the Lesser Key of Solomon the Almandal, also known as the Ars Almadel, is a mystic text containing the details of a ritual for communing with angels. This is distinct from the very similar sounding almadel, which is a kind of portable altar used in the ritual described by the Almandal.

Apocalypse : An “apocalypse” traditionally refers to a revelation or disclosure of knowledge. The biblical Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation refers to John’s revelation of the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Cantamina Thavnaria : Cantamina is the plural form of cantamen, which is a spell or incantation.

Deus Ex Verbis : Latin for “god from words”.

Draconomicon : Roughly, “Law of the Dragon” from the Greek root draco (dragon) and nomos (law).

Gogyo Sokoku : The Japanese name for the Chinese philosophy of control of the five elements: wood, earth, fire, metal, water. Derived from “gogyō sokoku setsu”, literally “Five Phase Mutual Victory Theory”,

Kinyoshu : Written as “ 金葉集 “, translates roughly as “a collection of golden leaves”. More broadly, it’s an abbreviation of the Kin’yo Wakashu, which is a Japanese anthology of waka poems from the Kamakura period.

Mimesis : Mimemis is an Ancient Greek word for “imitating”, and refers to a philosophical concept that art imitates reality.

Morkinskinna : Old Norse for “moldy parchment” and the name of a saga about Norse kings.

The Red Pullet : An occult grimoire often associated with the Black Pullet. The Red Pullet is also referred to as the Red Dragon.

Warrior

Bravura : The word “bravura”, derived from “bravo”, refers to a display of great skill or daring.

Eisentaenzer : German compound word for “Iron dancer”.

Kintoki : The popular name of the Japanese folk hero Kintarō. Roughly translates to “Golden Time” or “Golden Era”.

Mikazuki : A Japanese word meaning “crescent moon”. Also the most badass Gundam protagonist to date.

Minos : In Greek mythology, Minos was the first King of Crete and an antagonistic figure in many Greek myths, such as Theseus and the Minotaur. After he died, Minos became a judge of the dead in the underworld.

Parashu : The Sanskrit word for a battle-ax. In Hinduism, Parashu is a weapon of the god Shiva, given to Parashurama, one of Vishnu’s avatars. Parashurama used this weapon to rid the world of the tyrannical ruling class twenty-one times over.

Ragnarok : The battle of end times in the Poetic Edda. In the Ragnarok, many of the chief gods and goddesses are said to die, the world of Midgard submerged in water and reborn with two human survivors in an eternal winter.

Skeggiold : Old Norse for “Axe Age” or possibly “big axe”. Skeggiold is also allegedly the name of a lesser Valkyrie, responsible for guiding the souls of warriors who die in battle to the afterlife, though I have yet to find any historical basis for this.

Sparth : A Danish axe. Sparth axes featured large axeheads with crescent-shaped blades.

Ukonvasara : The hammer of the Finnish lightning god Ukko.

White Mage

Alkalurops : Alkalurops is derived from the Greek word kalaurops, which means “shepherd’s staff”.

Astaroth Cane : Astaroth is a powerful greater demon of the First Hierarchy from the Ars Goetia of the Lesser Key of Solomon, said to be on par with Beelzebub and Lucifer.

Byakurenge : Written as “ 白蓮華 “, it translates to “white lotus”.

Deae Gratia : Latin phrase roughly meaning “For the sake of the gods”.

Majestas : Majestas is a Latin word referring to royal authority or rulership.

Masakaki : A Japanese term describing a kind of evergreen tree (”true sakaki”) used in tamagushi, a traditional Shinto offering to the gods. Tamagushi was made by decorating a sakaki tree with zigzag-shaped paper streamers known as shide.

Mistilteinn : Translated as “mistletoe”, Mistileteinn is the sword of the Icelandic hero Hrómundr Gripsson from the saga that shares his name. Hrómundr used it to kill the Swedish champion Helgi the Valiant during a Swedish invasion of Iceland.

Nirvana : Nirvana is an enlightened state of mind that is described as devoid of desire, aversion, and delusion in traditional Buddhism.

Prester : Also known as a prebyster, a prester is a leader of local Christian congregations, synonymous with priest.

Seraph Cane : Seraphs are the highest order of angel in Christian angelic hierarchy.

Sindri : In Norse mythology, Sindri is the name of both a dwarven character and a hall that serves as a resting place for virtuous souls after Ragnarok.

Thyrus : Also known as a thyrsus, a thyrus is a wand or staff of giant fennel covered in ivy vines and topped with a pine cone. It is most often associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of hard partying.

Yagrush : In Phoenicion mythology, Yagrush was one of two clubs used by the chief god Baal to defeat the rebellious sea god Yam.

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #ffxiv trivia #mythology #stormblood

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