My Flyssa Daggers

[chregu]

Hi
here is my Flyssa dagger (length 38cm) think it is an older piece.
the second, I have this Flyssa (42cm length) which is sufrace complete with shells. I do not know further details about it. any information are Welcome. what is special, such Flyssa have with this kind of decoration I already owned one.
greeting Chregu

[chregu]

Originally Posted by chregu

Hi
here is my Flyssa dagger (length 38cm) think it is an older piece.
the second, I have this Flyssa (42cm length) which is sufrace complete with shells. I do not know further details about it. any information are Welcome. what is special, such Flyssa have with this kind of decoration I already owned one.
greeting Chregu

here are the pictures

[Dom]

Originally Posted by chregu

Hi
here is my Flyssa dagger (length 38cm) think it is an older piece.
the second, I have this Flyssa (42cm length) which is sufrace complete with shells. I do not know further details about it. any information are Welcome. what is special, such Flyssa have with this kind of decoration I already owned one.
greeting Chregu

Hi Chregu
I like the three first, even if I prefer when they are cleaned

it's nice that they kept their leather sangles

the last, with shells, it's a amazing, but I guess;
- has been bought by some one, who went to Niger, or Mali, anyway, any African country,
and he had "Africanized" the flissa, according with fashion of these countries

à +

Dom

[chregu]

Thank you for your response Dom
I was just amazed, within two years a second shell-decorated Flyssa find.
look here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11836
greeting Chregu

[Indianajones]

Hi Chregu, dont know much about Flyssa's but do know that I sure like the nr.1 flyssa! Looks ancient and nice with that coppercovered handle, nice patine also on the scabbard (still nice dusty in corners). hmmm

You think that under that cover of the leather n shells of the 2nd Flyssa is still the original handle n wood scabbard as (like)ur nr.1 flyssa??

[Dom]

Originally Posted by chregu

Thank you for your response Dom
I was just amazed, within two years a second shell-decorated Flyssa find.
look here http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11836
greeting Chregu

hi Chregu
if you studied what said "wikipedia" about "cowries"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowry
- a currency in Africa.
- The Ghanaian unit of currency known as the Ghanaian cedi was named after cowry shells.
- cowry shells, or copies of the shells, were used as Chinese currency.
- They were also used as means of exchange in India.
- The Classical Chinese character for money(貝) originated as a stylized drawing of a cowrie shell.
- The Ojibway aboriginal people in North America use cowry shells which are called sacred Miigis Shells or whiteshells in Midewiwin ceremonies,
and the Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba, Canada is named after this type of shell.
- Cowry shells were among the devices used for divination by the Kaniyar Panicker astrologers of Kerala, India.
- Cowry shells are also worn as jewelry or otherwise used as ornaments or charms.
- They are viewed as symbols of womanhood, fertility, birth and wealth.
- The symbolism of the cowry shell is associated with the appearance of its underside:
the lengthwise opening makes the shell look like a vulva or an eye.
- Cowry shells are sometimes used in a way similar to dice
- in divination (cf. Ifá and the annual customs of Dahomey of Benin).
- On the Fiji Islands, a shell of the golden cowry or bulikula, Cypraea aurantium, was drilled at the ends and worn on a string around the neck by chieftains as a badge of rank.
- Large cowry shells such as that of Cypraea tigris have been used in Europe in the recent past as a frame over which sock heels were stretched for darning.

as you may see, their popularity is covering roughly all continents

some months ago, I found, loose close to our house, an handkerchief (clean) containing at least 15 or 18 "cowry",
but my wife, who believe on ... divination, without to informed me, has deposited some where (?), the handkerchief and the shells, too scare to keep it at home

à +

Dom

[Dom]

by the same opportunity, here my collection concerning, only "flissa"
all questions and comments are welcomed

à +

Dom

[mrwizard]

Impressive collection, Dom!

Do you consider the dagger in the lower right corner to be a flyssa.
I thought these things were mostly ceremonial (wedding nimcha).
btw. here is a photo of the only specimen i own (which looks more like a flyssa)... :-)