Holy grail

Accessibility links Skip to content Skip to local navigation Accessibility Help BBC iD Sign in BBC navigation News Sport Weather iPlayer TV Radio More… Search term: MID WALES Home World UK England N. Ireland Scotland Wales Business Politics Health Education Sci/Environment Technology Entertainment & Arts Wales Politics North West North East Mid South West South East Newyddion 16 July 2014 Last updated at 15:05 Share this pageEmailPrint ShareFacebookTwitter 'Holy Grail' Nanteos Cup stolen by thieves The Nanteos Cup was stolen from the house of a seriously ill woman while she was in hospital In a real-life search for the Holy Grail, police are hunting thieves who have stolen a religious relic claimed to be the cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper. The Nanteos Cup, a wooden chalice named after the mansion in Aberystwyth where it was once kept, has been taken. It had been loaned to a seriously ill woman because of its claimed healing properties. Burglars struck while the woman was in hospital. The cup is claimed to have been brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathea after the death of Christ and then taken to Nanteos Mansion by seven monks from Strata Florida, Ceredigion, during the reign of Henry Vlll. Margaret Powell, from Nanteos Mansion, would give water in the cup to the sick in the late 19th Century The house was then owned by the Powell family and after the monks died, they took possession of it for centuries. Legend says the cup, made of olive wood or wych elm, is sacred and people believed it had healing properties. Owner Margaret Powell kept the chalice locked in a cupboard in a library. The sick travelled to Nanteos to drink from it. Although some experts claim it was made 1,400 years after the crucifixion. It originally measured approximately 12cm by 12cm but now measures 10cm by 8.5cm and is held together by wire staples and kept in a blue velvet bag. After many years it left Nanteos Mansion and came into the ownership of the Steadman family in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, who kept it in a bank vault in Wales. But West Mercia Police have said the cup was taken from the home in Weston-Under-Penyard sometime between 7-14 July. A spokeswoman for Nanteos Mansion said the cup had not been kept at the house for some time, they were sad it had been taken but declined to comment further. Anyone with any information about the burglary should call 101, More on This Story From other news sites Western Daily Press Police investigate after priceless Holy Grail Nanteos Cup is stolen from Herefordshire house 20 hrs ago Shropshire Star West Mercia Police seek Holy Grail after raid 21 hrs ago Hereford Times Relic thought to be 'Holy Grail', stolen in burglary 33 hrs ago Wales Online Police operation launched after priceless Welsh relic, thought to be the 'Holy Grail' is stolen 37 hrs ago North Wales Daily Post said to be the mythical Holy Grail. 37 hrs ago About these results Related Internet links Nanteos Country House Hotel The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites Share this page ShareFacebookTwitter EmailPrint BBC Mid Wales New Deepcut inquest to be held A new inquest is ordered into the death of soldier Pte Cheryl James at Deepcut barracks in Surrey. NASA technology helps woman to see Watch 'Freedom to determine time of death' Watch Travel News Latest road incidents, public transport information and live traffic jam cameras near you Weather Sunny Intervals Aberystwyth 26 °C 16 °C BBC Radio Wales Live BBC Wales Sport Top Stories Ukraine rebels 'allow crash access' British plane crash victims named Malaysian plane crashes in Ukraine - updates Live Israel may widen Gaza offensive - PM New Deepcut inquest to be held Features In pictures The lightning strikes that hit Britain captured on camera Calculated risk How often do planes fly over conflict zones? Grill rage The angry backlash against barbecues in parks $250m please The dos and don'ts of pitching for business investment In pictures Falklands residents' photos of their homes Most Popular Shared 1: Storms and warning of heatwave 2: Advice for foreigners on how Britons walk 3: 'Deep shock' over Malaysia jet crash 4: Ukraine rebels 'allow crash access' 5: Malaysian jet crashes in UkraineRead 1: British plane crash victims named 2: Malaysian plane crashes in Ukraine - updates 3: In pictures: Lightning storms hit UK 4: Ukraine rebels 'allow crash access' 5: The people who perished on MH17 6: Storms and warning of heatwave 7: Advice for foreigners on how Britons walk 8: Stewards' fateful shift swap crash 9: Is it anti-social to use barbecues in parks? 10: Jessica Ennis-Hill has first childVideo/Audio 2: Who was on board Flight MH17? Watch 3: Lightning drama filmed in UK Watch 4: Bill and Hillary Clinton's 52-year deal Watch 5: 'We just shot down a plane' Watch 6: Was crashed Malaysia plane shot down? Watch 7: 'We were supposed to be on flight' Watch 8: 'All red lines have been crossed' Watch 9: Malaysian crash - what happened? Watch 10: BBC News Channel Watch Services Mobile Connected TV News feeds Alerts E-mail news About BBC News Editors' blogBBC College of JournalismNews sourcesEditorial Guidelines BBC links Mobile siteTerms of UseAbout the BBC PrivacyAccessibility Help CookiesContact the BBC Parental Guidance BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.