If you are wise enough,
staring into this gem
will let you foretell
certain events.

This chest contains a
king’s ransom, but may
also contain cursed items.

This cup will always refill
with water, but will lose
its power forever if spilled.

Wearing this ring makes
you invisible.  Don’t
wear it too long or you
may disappear altogether!

Jesters were employed in
ancient Egypt, and as
late as the 18th century.

Known for kissing frogs
and sleeping on peas.

Queen Victoria was
the longest reigning
monarch in English
history, from 1837-1901.

King Henry VIII instigated
the Reformation of the
English church in order
to divorce the first of
his six wives.

Used in the 15th and 16th
centuries.  Some halberds
have an axlike blade in
addition to a steel spike.

General-purpose
weapons, fairly
good for both
offense and defense.

Aside from rocks,
the most primitive
and ineffective of
projectile weapons. 
Somewhat useful in
hand-to-hand combat.

Capable of
piercing all
but the
heaviest armor.

Though superseded by
firearms in the 15th
century, the English
longbow survived as a
sporting bow with
very little change
until the 1930s.

Used for both
blocking and stabbing
while swordfighting. 
Daggers are also
useful as concealed
weapons.

Medieval weapons, very
heavy and awkward to
use, but capable of
shattering armor and
causing great injury.

Developed in Europe,
crossbows are fired like
rifles.  They take more
time to load than
longbows, but can shoot
great distances and
require less strength.

The handle of a sword
is called the ‘hilt’;
the crossbar that
protects the hands is
the ‘quillon.’

The “little people”
of Ireland, known
for causing mischief
and hoarding gold.

Sir Lancelot
succeeded Sir
Gawain to become
King Arthur's
bravest knight.

Tales of mermaids may
have originated with
sightings of manatees,
aquatic mammals similar
in appearance to walruses.

Short dwarf-like
creatures with
hairy feet and
no beards.

Associated with magic
and trickery.  Elves
typically have pointed
ears and blink their
eyes one at a time,
like cats.

In both Greek and Norse
mythologies, giants are
enemies of the gods. 
Greek myths associate
them with earthquakes
and volcanoes; Norse
myths associate them
with winter storms.

Often found under
bridges.  They are
fond of goat meat.

Like dwarves, Gnomes
live underground and
are fond of treasure. 
They are smaller than
dwarves.

Merlin, the most
famous wizard, was
King Arthur’s tutor.
He was born very
old and lived
backward through
time.

Beasts with
horses’ bodies
and fish’s tails.

Beasts with men’s
torsos and horses’
bodies.  Centaurs
are skilled archers.

The first winged
horse, sprung from
Medusa’s blood after
Perseus slew her.

Giant two-headed
birds from the tales
of Sinbad the Sailor.

Beasts with lions’
bodies and eagles’
heads, claws and wings.
Said to eat horses.

The Labyrinth’s resident,
to whom citizens of Athens
were sacrificed each year.
Theseus slew him with
Ariadne’s help.

A six-headed monster
killed by Heracles
as one of his famous
twelve labors.

Eastern dragons are typically
long and thin with lions’
heads and no wings, and can
be benevolent.  Most Western
dragons are more compact,
winged, and considered evil.

Western folklore holds
that unicorns can be
captured only by
virgins.  Drinking from
their horns is said to
bring good health.

Typically inhabited by
genies.  The genie’s
disposition may only be
determined by invoking her.

Allows wizards to
cast long-distance
spells.

Increases the
effectiveness of
magic spells.

Used by witches to
create potions and
warm up leftovers.

The only type of
ancient armor
still used in
modern combat.

Have been made in
many shapes and
sizes, and of many
materials.  The
first shields were
probably made from
wood and hide.

Developed slowly from the
Norman chain mail instrumental
in the Battle of Hastings,
plate armor reached its peak
in 15th- and 16th-century
Germany and Italy.  Firearms
rendered it obsolete in the
17th century.