Sword of Saints Cosmas and Damian

The sword was formerly thought to have been a gift by Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor to the convent in Essen in AD 993, and taken to commemorate the martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the patron saints of that city.

The dating of the decorations is based on the close similarity of the spiral patterns to those of a bronze chandelier in Essen cathedral which bears an inscription associating it with abbess Mathilde, Abbess of Essen (d.

It features gold filigree though not much of this remains, along with precious stones and decorative enamel plates.

[2] The scabbard is lined with beechwood and covered in embossed gold plates, some of which have at some time been restored, that depict spirals, foliage and animals.

[2] The silver locket mounts show images of Saints Cosmas and Damian, along with the Latin inscription: GLADIVS CVM QVO DECOLLATI FVERVNT NOSTRI PATRONI[2] ("the sword, with which our patrons were beheaded").