Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 24th September 2013, 08:00 AM

[QUOTE=Jim McDougall]Actually after looking more into this interesting sword, primarily the mounts at this point as the early European nature of the blade seems well established at probably latter 15th into 16th c.
The nature of the 'cross and orb' superimposed seems quite unusual and in its quadranted circumstance tenuously reminds me of Islamic astrolabe or navigationally oriented themes rather than the Christian cross and orb. While I am not saying this is what it nececcarily represents, it seems worthy of note. It is of course in the European latten inlay style, but I have not located any examples of the cross 'over' the orb as yet in sources checked.

Hello Jim...Your idea of the cross in the circle relating possibly to astrolabe was interesting. I saw an interesting note on Unit indicators on Roman Shields and include that as worth looking at. I placed the example of another "cross IN orb" earlier but add this artwork for comments. The last two simple circle with a cross appearing like the others on shields to denote the army unit they belong to.
It is, however, an outside chance... and the "Cross In Orb" I placed earlier appears to be just that... denoting it is said the country (orb)... protected by the cross. See http://musingsofafreifechter.tumblr.com/ scroll to bottom of page.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

24th September 2013, 08:00 AM	#20
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	[QUOTE=Jim McDougall]Actually after looking more into this interesting sword, primarily the mounts at this point as the early European nature of the blade seems well established at probably latter 15th into 16th c. The nature of the 'cross and orb' superimposed seems quite unusual and in its quadranted circumstance tenuously reminds me of Islamic astrolabe or navigationally oriented themes rather than the Christian cross and orb. While I am not saying this is what it nececcarily represents, it seems worthy of note. It is of course in the European latten inlay style, but I have not located any examples of the cross 'over' the orb as yet in sources checked. Hello Jim...Your idea of the cross in the circle relating possibly to astrolabe was interesting. I saw an interesting note on Unit indicators on Roman Shields and include that as worth looking at. I placed the example of another "cross IN orb" earlier but add this artwork for comments. The last two simple circle with a cross appearing like the others on shields to denote the army unit they belong to. It is, however, an outside chance... and the "Cross In Orb" I placed earlier appears to be just that... denoting it is said the country (orb)... protected by the cross. See http://musingsofafreifechter.tumblr.com/ scroll to bottom of page. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 24th September 2013 at 08:18 AM.