Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 15th September 2012, 06:44 AM

Salaams All ~ Excellent regional museum tape. According to wiki encyclopedia ~Al-Ahsa (Arabic: الأحساء‎ al-Aḥsāʾ, locally pronounced al-Ḥasāʾ) is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, named after the Al-Ahsa oasis. The name Al-Ahsa is also given to the biggest city in the governorate, Hofuf. In classic Arabic, Ahsa means the sound of water underground. It has one of the largest oases in the world with Date Palms of the best in the world, the oasis is located about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf. All urban areas are located in the traditional oasis of Al-Hasa. In addition to the oasis, the county also includes the giant Empty Quarter desert, making it the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia in terms of area. The Empty Quarter has the world's largest oil fields and connects Saudi Arabia to Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. The Governorate's population is over 908,366 (2005 estimate).[1] Though the population is mixed between Sunnis and Shi'ites, it contains one of the largest concentrations of Twelvers (اثنا عشرية) Shi'ite Muslims in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. In the past, Al-Ahsa belonged to the historical region known as Bahrain, along with Qatif and the present-day Bahrain islands.
One campus of a major Saudi university, King Faisal University, founded in 1975, is located in Al-Ahsa with the faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources, with the other faculties in Dammam. The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics. A big branch of Arab Open University which is a private university is also located in Al-Ahsa.

It's still a great distance from Oman (same haul as Muscat to Karachi) but I think is more closely related architecturally (regarding ancient buildings) to Bahrain though of course similar to nearby Arab countries. The daggers, I'm still checking, as the Jizzan in the far south wedged against the Yemen and the Red Sea is where the similar 7 ringers (to the Omani 7 ringers) appear to be favourite.

It wouldn't actually surprise me to find a similar dagger construction since Al Ahsa was a main stopping and trading Oasis for the overland camel trains from all over the region including Oman. I would however like to see that proved since it could be that people get confused with Abha in the south and Ahsa in the east. In addition I have searched through hundreds of web pages and photographs but nothing has turned up for al Hasa. In fact hardly a single dagger of any description is shown on any web page of that region.

There is a dagger at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13305 by Dom, however, although it may have been purchased there I wonder if it is actually from al hasa ?

Currently, however, the place which has been noted for 7 ringer Omani similar style is Habaabi in The Jazzan. It gives its name to that form. Habaabi; Its a city.
see http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340299 or refer to Forum library on my thread The Omani Khanjar.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

15th September 2012, 06:44 AM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All ~ Excellent regional museum tape. According to wiki encyclopedia ~Al-Ahsa (Arabic: الأحساء‎ al-Aḥsāʾ, locally pronounced al-Ḥasāʾ) is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, named after the Al-Ahsa oasis. The name Al-Ahsa is also given to the biggest city in the governorate, Hofuf. In classic Arabic, Ahsa means the sound of water underground. It has one of the largest oases in the world with Date Palms of the best in the world, the oasis is located about 60 km inland from the Persian Gulf. All urban areas are located in the traditional oasis of Al-Hasa. In addition to the oasis, the county also includes the giant Empty Quarter desert, making it the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia in terms of area. The Empty Quarter has the world's largest oil fields and connects Saudi Arabia to Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. The Governorate's population is over 908,366 (2005 estimate).[1] Though the population is mixed between Sunnis and Shi'ites, it contains one of the largest concentrations of Twelvers (اثنا عشرية) Shi'ite Muslims in the predominantly Sunni Muslim country. In the past, Al-Ahsa belonged to the historical region known as Bahrain, along with Qatif and the present-day Bahrain islands. One campus of a major Saudi university, King Faisal University, founded in 1975, is located in Al-Ahsa with the faculties of agriculture, veterinary medicine and animal resources, with the other faculties in Dammam. The Hofuf campus also has facilities where Saudi women can study medicine, dentistry and home economics. A big branch of Arab Open University which is a private university is also located in Al-Ahsa. It's still a great distance from Oman (same haul as Muscat to Karachi) but I think is more closely related architecturally (regarding ancient buildings) to Bahrain though of course similar to nearby Arab countries. The daggers, I'm still checking, as the Jizzan in the far south wedged against the Yemen and the Red Sea is where the similar 7 ringers (to the Omani 7 ringers) appear to be favourite. It wouldn't actually surprise me to find a similar dagger construction since Al Ahsa was a main stopping and trading Oasis for the overland camel trains from all over the region including Oman. I would however like to see that proved since it could be that people get confused with Abha in the south and Ahsa in the east. In addition I have searched through hundreds of web pages and photographs but nothing has turned up for al Hasa. In fact hardly a single dagger of any description is shown on any web page of that region. There is a dagger at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13305 by Dom, however, although it may have been purchased there I wonder if it is actually from al hasa ? Currently, however, the place which has been noted for 7 ringer Omani similar style is Habaabi in The Jazzan. It gives its name to that form. Habaabi; Its a city. see http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/5780340299 or refer to Forum library on my thread The Omani Khanjar. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 15th September 2012 at 09:55 AM.