Yataghan Needing Translation (Ivory-Coral)
 

Greetings Folks!

I just got this nice yat from Cowan's today. The hilt is walrus ivory and the stones are corals. Low silver filigree is on the hilt.

On the blade is silver koftgari with a semblance of a Solomon's star on one side (with decorative silver koftgari) and the other side has probably Turkish in Arabic script.

The scabbard is wood covered with black leather and steel mounts. Big hilt and blade! Note the stitching on the leather.

When I got it it was caked in black dirt and green corrosion. Now it is cleaned and nicer.

Enjoy :) :D

And here is some more:

This is where I need a translation:

(I can break it down into bigger parts if needed)

Hi Battara

very beautifull Ya
indeed biggest pic's will be requested if you want really a translation :p

à +

Dom

Hello Jose,

not my area of collecting but a very lovely Yataghan, congrats to this nice find.

detlef

Thank you Sajen.

Dom here are bigger pictures in parts, photographed from right to left and top to bottom:

hi Battara
as well as all text aren't in Arabic, only translation done was, names and date, it's the best that we can do
assistance of a Turkish reader is requested for the other sentences ;)

AL HADJ MUSTAFA SAHEB WA MALEK HUSSEIN either OWN BY AL HADJ (Pilgrim) MUSTAFA OWNER HUSSEIN (honestly, we don't understand exactly the meaning)

1289 either 1872

à +

Dom

Thank you so much Dom.

I figured that the rest would be Turkish. I may have to take it to a Turkish restaurant, or possibly send the inscriptions to Indiana University for some translation if no one else can translate the Turkish.

Beautiful yat, Jose... :) I know you had your eyes on a coral/ivory mounted example for some time - was it this particular one?

Well I had one I got for dirt about 15 years ago and sold it. Regretted it ever since. This one is the same type I wanted to replace, but it is bigger in blade and hilt size. :)

I have another in the works that I am paying off. I will post it when I get it (also wanted this other type for years but could not afford it).

Anyway, I saw this one on Cowan's and gave it a shot. Bullseye! :D

Greetings from a Turkish reader and 'iyd mubarak to everyone,

For the first inscription I can add the beginning and the end,

AMEL-I AL HADJ MUSTAFA SAHEB WA MALEK HUSSEIN AGHA

MADE BY AL HADJ MUSTAFA OWNER HUSSEIN AGHA

The rest is:
"La feta ila Ali la seyf ila zulfikar"

There is no hero like Ali, no sword like zulfikar

"Yemliha, Mekselina, Mislina, Mernuş, Debernuş, Şazenuş, Kefeştatayuş, and Kıtmir." The names of the seven sleepers and their dog

and the date which Dom has already read.

Best,

Zifir

Zukran Zifir!

I was hoping you would chime in and help me/us.

I am indebted to both you and Dom - I bow in your presences! :D

Oh yes, forgot to mention that the blade is 26 inches (65 cm) long and the ivory ears are 4.5 inches (11.25 cm) across. Big sucker!

This translations raise at least 2 questions:

1. Since this praises Ali, would this mean that the owner was a Shi'ite?

2. Would these 7 sleepers be the 7 Imams hidden by God (according to the "Seveners" branch of Shi'ite Islam)?

Zulfikar I assume is the sword of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that had a nick in the tip.

Battara,
I don't think the references to Hz. Ali necessarily makes the owner of this yatağan a shia since bravery of Ali and his valour in battle are common themes in Islamic literature. (by the way zulfikar was Ali's sword). But the title of the owner "Ağa/Agha" tell us that he was possibly from the military class, that title was usually used for janissaries.

For the seven sleepers, I am not really sure, but there was a similar discussion in this forum and Teodor offered an explanation based on his talks with a Bulgarian scientist, you can find it here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...light=sleepers

Best,

Zifir

Again thank you Zifir, very helpful.

In many cases in the Balkans, "Muslims" have either adopted or kept old Christian custom, ritual, or stories.

As far as a Jannisary is concerned, I know that Mahmud II destroyed the Jannisary class in I think 1826. But to know that this may have been a military class who owned this is great!

Well firstly a beautiful Yat. I do not collect these, but i have always admired them. :)
I have noticed though that the star on your sword is an 8-pointed star. Usually the star (or seal) of Solomon is related to the 6-pointed star (also the Star of David) and i have on occasion seen the pentagram (5-pointed star) referred to as the Star of Solomon as well. I believe the 8-pointed star is what is sometimes referred to as the Seal of the Prophets or khatim sulayman. The phrase “seal of the prophets” is also used in the Koran and has particular ideological meaning for Muslims.

OOOO.......I missed that one. Thanks David. Good points (every pun intended :D ).

I was reading more in Elgood's book The Arms of Greece and Her Balkan Neighbors in the Ottoman Period (p.65) and he noted that the inscription on this blade is common on Balkan pieces in general, but less common on yataghans............

Jose,

I disagree. The La fatâ illâ ‘Alî la sayf illâ Zu’l-Fikâr inscription is actually quite popular on yataghan blades and sword blades in general, due to the associations with the magic properties of Ali's legendary sword. I am attaching a picture of a blade with this inscription for reference, from an article in Bulgarian about common inscriptions on weapons and their meaning.

The seven sleepers inscription is encountered less often, but it is not uncommon - if you search the forum I am sure you will find at least two more examples of it. Apparently, the fable about the sleepers was used as a symbolic reference to dying in the name of the faith and going to heaven.

Regards,
Teodor

So you think it is quite common..... :shrug: