Holy Grail

The Holy Grail
General Information
Origin:	Camelot
Status:	Reforged into Excalibur
Physical Description
Type:	Magic cup
Usage Information
Created by:	Gods
Possessed by:	Merlin †
Used by:	Adda † Merlin † Nimue †
Used on:	Adda † Merlin † Nimue †
Used for:	Drinking Getting magic and immortality
Show Information
First mention:	"Lady of the Lake"
Only appearance:	"Nimue"
Latest mention:	"Only You"
Relevant Pages

“

I drank from it, and it gave me magic. But it also gave me eternal life. That was 500 years ago. I don't age. I don't die.

”

—Merlin to Nimue ^src

The Holy Grail is a magical item featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the first episode of the fifth season.

The Holy Grail is based on the item of the same name from the Arthurian Legend.

History

Before First Curse

Trekking through the desert, Merlin and his companion come across the Holy Grail filled with water. His companion attempts to drink from it, but is turned into ash instantly. Knowing he will either succumb to death by thirst or by the grail's power, Merlin asks for permission from the gods to drink from the cup. Upon touching the cup and not being incinerated, he thanks the gods again, before taking a sip, which blesses him with magic and immortality. With his new powers, he accidentally turns the desert into a grassland that becomes the village of Camelot. ("Nimue")

Centuries later, Merlin becomes known as a healer and meets a refugee named Nimue. Her village was slaughtered by a man named Vortigan, who was trying to find the Grail. Merlin and Nimue soon fall in love, and the sorcerer thinks about marrying her, but realizes he'd have to watch her die because of his immortality. They decide to reforge the Holy Grail, using the Flame of Prometheus, into a sword to cut away his magic so that they can grow old together. On the journey, they come across Nimue's former home. While Merlin uses a detection spell to see if anyone is following them, Nimue secretly drinks from the chalice and gains magic and immortality. Eventually, they make it to the flame, where Merlin reforges the Holy Grail into a sword later known as Excalibur. ("Nimue")

Trivia

• On-Screen Notes
• Production Notes

On-Screen Notes

• The Holy Grail is decorated with a cross pattée. Excalibur has the same symbol on its blade and its hilt. ("The Dark Swan", "The Bear and the Bow", "Nimue")

Production Notes

• The jeweled chalice that Rumplestiltskin moves aside in "Skin Deep", was meant to be the Holy Grail. This is also stated by Jane Espenson on the DVD commentary.
  • After the actual Grail was introduced in "Nimue", another episode written by Jane Espenson, the writer stated on Twitter that the object in Rumplestiltskin's castle was actually the beating heart of the first Titan, glamoured as the Holy Grail.

Appearances

Once Upon a Time: Season Two
"Broken":	"We Are Both":	"Lady of the Lake":	"The Crocodile":	"The Doctor":	"Tallahassee":	"Child of the Moon":	"Into the Deep":	"Queen of Hearts":	"The Cricket Game":	"The Outsider":
Absent	Absent	Mentioned	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"In the Name of the Brother":	"Tiny":	"Manhattan":	"The Queen Is Dead":	"The Miller's Daughter":	"Welcome to Storybrooke":	"Selfless, Brave and True":	"Lacey":	"The Evil Queen":	"Second Star to the Right":	"And Straight On 'Til Morning":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent

Once Upon a Time: Season Five
"The Dark Swan":	"The Price":	"Siege Perilous":	"The Broken Kingdom":	"Dreamcatcher":	"The Bear and the Bow":	"Nimue":	"Birth":	"The Bear King":	"Broken Heart":	"Swan Song":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Appears	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent
"Souls of the Departed":	"Labor of Love":	"Devil's Due":	"The Brothers Jones":	"Our Decay":	"Her Handsome Hero":	"Ruby Slippers":	"Sisters":	"Firebird":	"Last Rites":	"Only You":	"An Untold Story":
Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Absent	Mentioned	Mentioned	Absent