Talismanic symbols?

[kai]

Hello Jens,

Thanks for bringing this up again! Could you share some examples of Indian blades which you refer to as kris/keris-like?

It's certainly a matter of definition but I have yet to see an Indian example (either extant or recognizable from artwork) which could convincingly argued to be a direct ancestor of the Southeast Asian keris. I have no problems to believe that the idea of wavy blades got carried with Hindu culture to SE Asia but early keris seem to have straight blades...

Also there are quite a few swords with flaring out bases vaguely resembling the gonjo in keris. However, I have yet to see an asymmetrical (not to mention separately forged) gonjo in Indian blades. Moreover, this broad base is part of the hilt rather than the blade which makes for a very different production process. So while I can see some similarities I'm far from convinced that these Indian pieces are really related to keris.

Regards,
Kai