Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ariel
Well, don't you think that it might be more fair to compare apples to apples, i.e. date of publication of the first Omani book on the subject?  |
Salaams Ariel,
You want me to compare the publication of the first Omani book on the subject ~ I assume you mean with the 13thC European work and upon the basis of fairness?
I think the answer is no for a number of reasons ~
First, that your question assumes perhaps a competitive argument between the two systems whereas mine is
a theory for discussion in that the two evolved one from the other in keeping with my conclusive statement at the end of my post viz;
"I point to the Holy Land and the Crusades, the Omani trade links, known camel routes, sea trade routes, practices, pilgrimages, pageants and wars combined with what we know of the technique and its identical Omani name in Lebanon 40 years ago of "Sayf wa Terrs" and therefore I suggest, that since it* began here 500 years before the European book was written on the system** that it
probably evolved from Oman between the 8th and 13th Century A.D".
* it refers to the Omani system.
** refers to the European development.
Second, that whereas there is the 13th C European Fightbook on the European system M.133. No document appears so far on the Eastern technique anywhere near the same time frame if at all. Thus in comparing the techniques I have scrutinized the European style and liaised with the European Forum on the subject therefore I report that the similarities are too close to ignore (though always admitting that the evidence as in all forensic research is very difficult to uncover.) Would you have me give up because there is no Arabic Textbook?
Third, your assumption based on the comparison of publications is curious. How many books have been written on the European trade blade structure of circa the 18thC ?... None. Where is the documentary evidence on precise wootz manufacturing technology?... none..The list is endless but illustrates my point that simply relying solely upon books of reference will get us nowhere, however, placing these subjects under
the microscope of decent research and proper discussion will help shine a light into the dim corners of antiquity that so far have been blind alleyways.
This is surely the essence of our Forum.
As you probably know ancient mediaeval scripts often written by the clergy offer clues, however, on the Arabian Peninsula they are few and far between... and I fear in this case are non existent, moreover, what we do have is a played out performance structure passing down the message of "life at the time" through
the Funoon accompanied by music and poetry which I describe as "the traditions". Thus we are able to view the two styles ~
One in a book for the West and the other as a pageant for the East. In addition the western technique has continued into martial art form till today and in the case of the Lebanese System it resurfaced about 2 centuries ago but has since died out(1970) and was known by the identical Omani name of
" Sayf wa Terrs."
I believe that was a clue Dr Watson?
If there is an inherent weakness in my theory it could be in the fact that the Lebanese fight style was dormant and only revived 2 centuries ago but died in 1970, however, I believe it was born from passed down and possibly unwritten treatise and perhaps some vague references linked to the Knights in that region during the crusades.. The Georgian concept fits well into the general mix.
Therefore, I argue (in Forum Terms) for the transmission of technology from Oman via the Jerusalem/Holy Land "cog or hub" of this ancient system into both Europe and Georgia.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.
Note; The Omani style evolved from the Abbasid occupation and wars during the 8th/9thC. A.D. The Abbasid sword has been shown to be very similar in almost a dozen ways to the Old Omani Battle Sword illustrated on this thread at # 5 The Abbasid were great copiers of the Greek style of most parts of life: architecture, mathematics, science
and weaponry etc...
I do not say that the Omanis developed in isolation the form of "buckler and sword" but that they evolved their own development of the technique probably from Abbasid influence (originally Greek) and may well have passed that on as described...and on to exponents who also modified and evolved their own styles in due course.