For centuries the Holy Grail, with equal parts mythical lore and historical lineage, has moved believers to embark on grail quests throughout the world.

In accordance with history, its name derives from the Old French graal, romanticized as both san greal or sang real, which can be translated as “Holy Grail” and “royal blood,” respectively (See here: Dan Brown fans). The Holy Grail first appears in a written text in Chrétien de Troyes’s Old French verse romance, Perceval, Conte del Graal (“Perceval, Story of the Grail”), written in the 10th century. Old French verse poems trace the holy chalice’s voyage from the cup that Christ drank from during the Last Supper, to a vessel for his blood during Crucifixion by Joseph of Arimathea. Legend says Joseph was thrown into prison for 42 years, never needing food or water because of the life-sustaining properties of the grail. He then brought the vessel to Britain when he preached Christianity there.As far back as the first century, the Fisher kings, or the grail keepers, were known guardians of the Holy Grail in the Castle of Corbenic. Enter King Arthur of Camelot and the Templar Knights on their quest for the Holy Grail, which was believed hidden away in a secret castle guarded by a Fisher king who suffered from a perpetual wound. His recovery and the renewal of Arthur’s blighted lands  depended upon their capture of the chalice. (See here: Indiana Jones fans.)

There exist multiple grails around the world, each claimed by believers to be the “one, true grail.” The Saint Mary of Valencia Cathedral in Spain, is home to the Valencia Chalice, an artifact said to have been taken by St. Peter to Rome in the 1st century, later brought to Spain by St. Lawrence. Another grail contender, called the Antioch Chalice, resides in New York’s Metropolitan Museum. The Jerusalem Chalice, Nanteos Cup, and Genoa Chalice (made of green Egyptian glass) have also been named as possible grails.

Only time will tell which chalice is the rightful Holy Grail, its mysterious history leaving a story to be pieced together by pop conspiracy theorists, swaggering adventurers, or merely interested observers.