One of the most interesting things about Anthy is the Sword of Dios which the victor can pull out of her chest before a duel. The origin of the sword is never explained, but one can imagine many possible meanings for it.

The sword foreshadows the end where all the swords pierce the Rose Bride, as well as the flashback where she is strung up with swords. The act of pulling a sword out of her body is the mirror image of pushing one in. Whether the person is pushing the sword in or pulling it out, it symbolizes Anthy as a sacrifice. The fact that she is the one who summons the sword shows that she is a willing victim.

The sword is also a tool of power. Although the sword is within Anthy, it is not hers to wield. The woman (or bride) is the source of power but the man (the victor) is the one to use the power. In this sense, Anthy and the sword are the same. Saionji and Touga both say as much. As a woman, Utena brings confusion to the gender roles, but really it isn't gender which is the issue, but the power struggle of ideas symbolized by gender. Finally, it is her refusal to further participate in Akio's game which shows the viewer that Anthy and the sword are not the same. She is able to make a conscious decision while the sword cannot.

The sword is also a phallic symbol, but I think everyone is aware of that and it implications. It relates to the sword as a source of power and control.

Another symbolic meaning of the sword is betrayal. Utena had to trust both the sword and Anthy for most of the story. In the battle with Akio Anthy turns on her and stabs her with the sword Utena had been using (though it is Utena's sword in this case) to protect her and gives it to her brother. This act of using this sword shows the depth of her betrayal.

The sword is a symbol of the Revolution, only it represents a revolution by violence. In the end, however, it was not the sword which brought revolution, but rather a choice made by Anthy and an act of love and compassion by Utena. In fact, the sword is broken and discarded before the revolution really begins. People must choose to change for the better, they can't be forced.

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