Assistance requested for the translation of inscriptions on an old yataghan

TVV · 3rd March 2010, 06:41 PM

Chris,

The question of attributing yataghans to regions is one that even Dr. Elgood shied away from.

In Astvatsaturian's "Turkish Arms" she attributes these yataghans to Eastern Anatolia, due to the niello decoration and therefore similarities to niello from the Caucasus. She also admits they could be from the Balkans.

In Dr. Elgood's latest book, there are some examples with similar hilts, attributed to various Greek revolutionaries (and one short one I think actually attributed to Lord Byron). The book also demonstrates that niello decoration was often used in Yannina and Kotor.

Personally, I lean towards a Greek hilt.

The blade on the other hand, I think was produced somewhere in Anatolia, and then imported to the Balkans - Greek blades tend to be shorter and straighter as a general rule, while Anatolian blades tend to be longer, much more curved and often with layers of Turkish ribbon pattern sandwiched between the edge and the back of the blade. This is my own theory though, and I will not be able to support it if challenged, other than by providing examples.

I do not know the symbolism of the fleur de lis motif on the hilt, and am also curious to learn more about it.

Best regards,
Teodor

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3rd March 2010, 06:41 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,666	Chris, The question of attributing yataghans to regions is one that even Dr. Elgood shied away from. In Astvatsaturian's "Turkish Arms" she attributes these yataghans to Eastern Anatolia, due to the niello decoration and therefore similarities to niello from the Caucasus. She also admits they could be from the Balkans. In Dr. Elgood's latest book, there are some examples with similar hilts, attributed to various Greek revolutionaries (and one short one I think actually attributed to Lord Byron). The book also demonstrates that niello decoration was often used in Yannina and Kotor. Personally, I lean towards a Greek hilt. The blade on the other hand, I think was produced somewhere in Anatolia, and then imported to the Balkans - Greek blades tend to be shorter and straighter as a general rule, while Anatolian blades tend to be longer, much more curved and often with layers of Turkish ribbon pattern sandwiched between the edge and the back of the blade. This is my own theory though, and I will not be able to support it if challenged, other than by providing examples. I do not know the symbolism of the fleur de lis motif on the hilt, and am also curious to learn more about it. Best regards, Teodor