Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Emanuel · 14th January 2007, 07:15 PM

Fantastic dagger Tim,
Would that be a deity figure on the hilt, in the manner of the Tibetan phurpa? I find it interesting how these daggers slowly developed or acquired a personality of their own, becoming gods or spirits in their own right. The keris also comes to mind here. In time simple tools were no longer sufficient for the sacrifice, and the spirit-infused dagger took over as ritual objects...fascinating.

I recall a mention of Cretans practicing cannibalism as well at the end of Minoan civilization - when the flood created by the explosion of Santorini wiped out thier northern coast...

14th January 2007, 07:15 PM	#11
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Fantastic dagger Tim, Would that be a deity figure on the hilt, in the manner of the Tibetan phurpa? I find it interesting how these daggers slowly developed or acquired a personality of their own, becoming gods or spirits in their own right. The keris also comes to mind here. In time simple tools were no longer sufficient for the sacrifice, and the spirit-infused dagger took over as ritual objects...fascinating. I recall a mention of Cretans practicing cannibalism as well at the end of Minoan civilization - when the flood created by the explosion of Santorini wiped out thier northern coast...