Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - A ‚Christian’ Yataghan – Translation help needed :-)

ALEX · 27th May 2009, 01:53 PM

Tatyana, the blade is dated as 1214 (not 1314), I think Dom mis-typed it, so it is early 19th century indeed. The 'fish' depiction is fairly common on Islamic objects, especially in silver inlay, so the concept is known. However I have not seen it on the weapons. Would be interesting to know what it stands for in Islamic realm, but I think it would not relate to a Christian concept, just like the 'Star of David' commonly seen on Islamic objects does not represent purely 'Jewish symbol'.

P.S. The standard Islamic cartouche does resemble a stylized fish profile. As Battara mentioned earlier, it is also a floral motif. The one on the yataghan, even without the inner text, could be just that - an 'empty' cartouche i.e. stylized cartouche or floral shape.

27th May 2009, 01:53 PM	#8
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	Tatyana, the blade is dated as 1214 (not 1314), I think Dom mis-typed it, so it is early 19th century indeed. The 'fish' depiction is fairly common on Islamic objects, especially in silver inlay, so the concept is known. However I have not seen it on the weapons. Would be interesting to know what it stands for in Islamic realm, but I think it would not relate to a Christian concept, just like the 'Star of David' commonly seen on Islamic objects does not represent purely 'Jewish symbol'. P.S. The standard Islamic cartouche does resemble a stylized fish profile. As Battara mentioned earlier, it is also a floral motif. The one on the yataghan, even without the inner text, could be just that - an 'empty' cartouche i.e. stylized cartouche or floral shape. Attached Images Last edited by ALEX; 27th May 2009 at 05:29 PM.