<P> The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog is a fictional character in the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail . The scene in Holy Grail was written by Graham Chapman and John Cleese . The rabbit is the antagonist in a major set piece battle, and makes a similar appearance in Spamalot, a musical inspired by the movie . The iconic status of this scene was important in establishing the viability of the musical . </P> <P> The Cave of Caerbannog is the home of the Legendary Black Beast of Arrrghhh (named for the last utterance of anyone who ever saw it). This is guarded by a monster which is initially unknown . King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his knights are led to the cave by Tim the Enchanter (John Cleese) and find that they must face its guardian beast . Tim verbally paints a picture of a terrible monster with "nasty, big, pointy teeth!", so terrifying that Sir Robin (Eric Idle) soils his armour at the mere description . When the guardian appears to be an innocuous white rabbit, surrounded by the bones of the fallen, Arthur and his knights no longer take it seriously . Ignoring Tim's warnings ("a vicious streak a mile wide!"), King Arthur orders Bors (Terry Gilliam) to chop the rabbit's head off . Bors confidently approaches it, sword drawn, and is immediately decapitated by the rabbit biting clean through his neck, to the sound of a can opener . Despite their initial shock, Sir Robin soiling his armor again, and Tim's loud scoffing, the knights attack in force . But the rabbit injures several of the knights and kills Gawain and Ector with ease . The knights themselves have no hope of killing or injuring the rabbit . Arthur panics and shouts for the knights to retreat ("Run away!"). Knowing they cannot risk attacking again, they try to find another way to defeat the beast . The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch is ultimately used to kill the rabbit and allow the quest to proceed . </P> <P> The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch is a visual satire of the Sovereign's Orb of the United Kingdom, and may refer to the mythical Holy Spear of Antioch . The Holy Hand Grenade is described as one of the "sacred relics" carried by Brother Maynard (Idle). Despite its ornate appearance and long - winded instructions, it functions much the same as any other hand grenade . At King Arthur's prompting, instructions for its use are read aloud (by Michael Palin) from the fictitious Book of Armaments, Chapter 2, verses 9--21, parodying the King James Bible and the Athanasian Creed: </P> <P>... And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, "OL ORD, bless this Thy hand grenade that with it Thou mayest blow Thine enemies to tiny bits, in Thy mercy ." And the LORD did grin and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats and large chu...(At this point, the friar is urged by Brother Maynard to "skip a bit, brother")... And the LORD spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin, then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less . Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three . Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three . Five is right out . Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naught in My sight, shall snuff it ." </P>

Monty python and the holy grail rabbit of caerbannog