Pihiya Kaetta - any ideas about age?

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by David

Interesting old blade. I see why you think it might be related to the piha Kaetta, but i am not convinced it is one.
Gav, you seem pretty sure the hilt depicts Garuda. Why is that?

My first thoughts were a Sphinx like beast then I searched a little further with Hindu Dieties becasue I knew the collection that this piece came from(mostly Southern Indian and pieces from Sri Lanka), I then remembered Elgoods book with the same profiled Eurpean blade, referred to his text noting Garuda hilt (I had a hard time seeing Garuda in his image presented). Then back to the Ebay link and the wings nestled over its chest convinced me, then off to good old Google images and trawled through there and there are heaps to choose from that are consistant, follow the trail and let me know what you think ;-)

Gav