The Original Dhu'l-Faqar

[Jim McDougall]

Ariel, I wanted to say that your concerns and observations are well placed and I appreciate your well written and detailed expression of them. I think that it is important to note that the details you have addressed are primarily those aspects and thoughts which are most likely to be experienced by many who will read this paper. This is exactly what I meant by 'constructive' in criticism as it reveals precisely where concerns or disagreement might develop in reaction to the material being presented. This way we are able to discuss these issues openly and not only better qualify details in the paper itself as required, but give us all the opportunity to express our own perspectives and all learn more in the process.


I am personally delighted to see the thread moving forward and the excellent entries by the other participants as well. In particular I am glad to see the fascinating entries by Richard as his well known expertise in metallurgy and blacksmithing are excellent perspective in adding to this discussion.

Whether we personally endorse or rebuke the theories presented in Ahmed's fascinating paper, they remain remarkably intriguing and well worthy of ongoing review and discussion.

"...discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen,
and thinking what nobody has thought."
-Albert von Szent-Gyorgy

I have not been to Topkapi but I have been grateful to those on these pages who have visited there and shared their experiences. From what I have gathered however, the forces of bureaucratic obstruction have often impeded many scholarly efforts. However, as with many museums and institutions there are from time to time those relatively miraculous moments when otherwise unheard of cases of extraordinary allowance can occur.
I experienced one myself when despite not having academic credentials nor associations I was able to be invited to personally handle and examine valuable manuscripts in a museum which also had a Gutenberg Bible and others at location. I had presented a very good case, and offered certain perspectives which apparently intrigued the curator and with letters of introduction I secured with prominent authorities and arms and armor figures I was granted entry.
When I told several important academics who were colleagues they were actually quite stunned! I guess the moral is, it can be done!

Onward and upward gentlemen!!! Excellent discussion, and outstanding interaction in keeping well on topic. Thank you all,

Jim