Galahad, Tristan and all the rest gladly sacrificed their lives defending their honor, their quest, and this... the Holy Grail. 
History
The Holy Grail is said to be one of the most infamous and sought after of arcane holy relics. According to Christian doctrine, the Grail is the cup used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. It is also the recepticle that caught Christ's blood during the crucifixion at Golgotha.
The origins of the Grail date back to the time of the first Ice Age and the waning years of Neanderthal man. A Neanderthal shaman named Rheelai was one of the first of his kind to master the art of metallurgy, and forged the Grail out of solid gold. Rheelai and his tribe were slaughtered by a clan of Cro-Magnon warriors and they took possession of the cup.[1]
The Grail was not seen again until the time of Jesus in the early 1st century AD. Some thirty or so years following the death (and apparent resurrection) of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea allegedly took possession of the Grail and it was believed to have been housed somewhere in Glastonbury Tor.
The Grail surfaced again around the 6th century AD when Sir Justin Arthur delivered it to Arthur Pendragon, King of the British land known as Camelot. The Grail became a powerful tool in defending Camelot against the forces of the evil Morgaine le Fey.[2] It is possible that immortal conqueror Vandal Savage may have learned of the Grail at this time as he was alive and present in Camelot in the years leading up to its fall.[3]
Following the fall of Camelot, the ruins of the city were taken over by the Sheeda and their evil leader Mordred the Dead. Seeking a weapon that might drive Mordred out of their lands, the surviving knights, Bors, Peredur, and Galahad aided the Dwarrow men (dwarves) to contruct an artificial Holy Grail - essentially a primitive version of the atomic bomb.[4]
Vandal Savage was the mastermind behind the Illuminati, whose primary objective was to take possession of various mystical artifacts such as the Grail and the Spear of Destiny.
Fringe elements of the Illuminati, including the Knights Templar and their later successors the Order of the Rosy Cross devoted their lives in search of the Holy Grail.
It is believed that the Grail may have been brought over to the United States during the late 18th century. Vandal Savage and the Illuminati took a special interest in the actions of Colonial General George Washington, and even attempted to assassinate him.[5]
The Holy Grail turned up again centuries later during World War II. On December 8th, 1941, the Dragon King delivered the Grail to Japanese emperor Tojo. Channeling the power of the Grail, Japan was able to project a sphere of energy that would ultimately corrupt any super, or metahuman invaders, insuring the safety of the Japanese mainland from threats by the super-hero community.[6]
The current whereabouts of the Holy Grail are unknown.
Notes
- The Holy Grail is also an important relic featured in the non-continuity Camelot 3000 maxi-series.
- Surviving members of the Neanderthal tribe who first created the Grail evolved into the Yeti, who in turn, crafted a second Grail. However, it is assumed that most stories relating to the Holy Grail correspond to the first Grail crafted by Rheelai.[7]
Trivia
- Shining Knight claims to have drunk from the Holy Grail.[8]
See Also
Links and References
References