It isn't unusual for anime to pull inspiration from real-world mythology, and Symphogear is no exception. Between the relics that are named after legendary weapons to the alchemist Saint Germain to the gods Enki and Shem-Ha, the show is full of references for history and folklore fanatics.
However, the show only touches on the origins of these references; it doesn't delve into what they actually are and where they come from. This article therefore examines the origins of the relics the main cast uses to fight their way through the Noise.
Hibiki: Piercing Spear Gungnir
Hibiki's relic is the Norse spear Gungnir. In Norse mythology, this was the weapon of Odin, leader of the Aesir gods. It is referenced in the Poetic Edda when the war between the Aesir and Vanir gods begins after Odin throws a spear over the heads of the gathered Vanir. It was crafted by the dwarves of Svartálheim and is said to have runes carved on its tip that have magical properties. According to the Hávamál, Odin used Gungnir to stab and hang himself from the branches of the World Tree Yggdrasil in order to gain knowledge of these runes from the Well of Urd.
Tsubasa: Absolute Blade Ame-no-Habakiri
Tsubasa's sword Ame-no-Habakiri is said to have helped the god Susanoo slay the giant eight-headed snake Yamata no Orochi. In Japanese myth, it appears most often under the name of Totsuka-no-Tsurugi, which is more a category of sword rather than the name of a specific one. In the legend of Susanoo, the god tracked down Orochi after the beast ate seven of the eight daughters of an elderly couple. When it came time for the eighth daughter to be consumed, Susanoo transformed her into a comb and wore her in his hair to protect her. He then got Orochi drunk and once the snake was passed out, killed him.
Chris: Enchanted Bow Ichaival
Chris' relic is the magical bow Ichaival. However, there is no real-world basis for her weapon. The name Ichaival, despite being attributed to Norse mythology, does not have any sources related to it -- at least, not before 1996, when a bow named Yewfelle appeared in the game Fire Emblem. The closest guess as to where this name comes from is the Japanese translation of Ydalir, the home of the Norse god Ullr. Ullr is a god associated with archery. Ydalir means "yew-dales," meaning that Ullr lives in a valley filled with yew trees. The Japanese word for yew tree is "ichi," and "val" could come from the word "valley." Outside of this, there are no historical references to a bow named Ichaival. Thanks, Fire Emblem.
Maria: Silver Arm Airgetlám
Airgetlám, Maria's relic, comes from Ireland and the story of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Tuatha Dé Danann were a race of people with supernatural abilities that were led by the first king Nuada. They came to Ireland from unknown lands and asked for half of the island from the Fir Bolg, the original inhabitants of Ireland. They refused, and war broke out. During the fight, Nuada lost his left arm and his title as king, as the king must be physically perfect. After being replaced, Nuada replaced his lost arm with a silver one and returned to the throne to lead his people for another twenty years. The name Airgetlám is Irish Gaelic for "silver arm/hand." In the anime, however, the arm actually belongs to the Custodian Enki, who was a Sumerian god in our world.
Kirika: Binding Scythe Igalima
Kirika's scythe Igalima comes from Mesopotamian mythology. However, it gets a little confusing. While the anime associates Igalima and Shul Shagana as belonging to the goddess Zababa, this isn't quite right. Zababa was a war god in Mesopotamia, married to the goddess Bau. Bau had two sons, Ig-alima and Šul-šagana, but their father is cited as being the god Ninurta, also known as Ningirsu. Ig-alima was primarily worshipped in the city of Lagash and was known as a gatekeeper.
Shirabe: Slaughtering Saw Shul Shagana
Much like Ig-alima, not much is known about this son of Bau other than that he was also worshipped in Lagash. In the anime, both weapons are associated with a goddess rather than a god named Zababa. This is most likely due to the fact in early mythology, Zababa was associated with the goddess Ishtar of Kish before marrying Bau. Ishtar, also known as Inanna, was a goddess of sex, love, war, beauty, political power and justice. The name Šulšagana is also associated with a scimitar that the god Zababa used.
Miku: Warped Mirror Shenshoujing
Miku's powerful weapon is a type of bronze mirror found throughout Japanese and Chinese history. The front of the mirror was polished to be reflective and the back was usually adorned with designs from Chinese mythology. These "magic mirrors" were designed so that when light was reflected from the mirror onto a nearby wall or surface, the design on the back of the mirror was also reflected and appeared on the wall. The most famous of these mirrors is one of Japan's three great treasures, the mirror Yata no Kagami. It was forged by the Shinto god Ishikoridome and hung from a tree to lure the goddess Amaterasu out from a cave.
