Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

VANDOO · 13th February 2014, 06:04 AM

HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SOUTH INDIAN SWORDS. #1. PICTURE IS REFERRED TO AS A PATTISA AND HAS A 18.5 INCH BLADE. #2. PICTURE SOUTH INDIA TEMPLE SWORDS. #3. NAYAR TEMPLE SWORD.
THESE ARE SIMULAR TO THE SWORDS DEPICTED ABOVE. I ASSUME DURING CEYLONS HISTORY POWER MAY HAVE BEEN HELD BY KINGDOMS IN SOUTHERN INDIA OVER PARTS OF CEYLON AND LIKEWISE CEYLON MAY HAVE HELD TERRITORY IN SOUTHERN INDIA. THIS OFTEN OCCURS EITHER BY TREATY OR FORCE OF ARMS BUT AS I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE SEEN SOMETHING SIMULAR IN THIS SWORD FORM (ESPECIALLY THE BLADE ) IN JAPANESE AND CHINESE ART USUALLY REPRESENTED AS A TEMPLE SWORD.

Jim McDougall · 14th February 2014, 05:28 PM

Excellent entry Barry! Most assuredly there were kingdoms in India ruling parts of Ceylon during various early periods, and that is very much part of the complex and diverse history of this fascinating island. In 'Deraniyagala' (1942) there are a number of swords depicted in plates of line drawings very similar to these you have posted.
It is of course apparent that these swords of the Southern Indian kingdoms were strongly represented in early Sinhalese armouries.

With reference to elements which may have had some representation in the transitional forms which became eventually the kastane, please note the curious langet like extension on the upper sword in the second photo.
This same form occurs in kastane in the quillon configuration of the guard.

13th February 2014, 06:04 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SOUTH INDIAN SWORDS. #1. PICTURE IS REFERRED TO AS A PATTISA AND HAS A 18.5 INCH BLADE. #2. PICTURE SOUTH INDIA TEMPLE SWORDS. #3. NAYAR TEMPLE SWORD. THESE ARE SIMULAR TO THE SWORDS DEPICTED ABOVE. I ASSUME DURING CEYLONS HISTORY POWER MAY HAVE BEEN HELD BY KINGDOMS IN SOUTHERN INDIA OVER PARTS OF CEYLON AND LIKEWISE CEYLON MAY HAVE HELD TERRITORY IN SOUTHERN INDIA. THIS OFTEN OCCURS EITHER BY TREATY OR FORCE OF ARMS BUT AS I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE SEEN SOMETHING SIMULAR IN THIS SWORD FORM (ESPECIALLY THE BLADE ) IN JAPANESE AND CHINESE ART USUALLY REPRESENTED AS A TEMPLE SWORD. Attached Images

14th February 2014, 05:28 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,191	Excellent entry Barry! Most assuredly there were kingdoms in India ruling parts of Ceylon during various early periods, and that is very much part of the complex and diverse history of this fascinating island. In 'Deraniyagala' (1942) there are a number of swords depicted in plates of line drawings very similar to these you have posted. It is of course apparent that these swords of the Southern Indian kingdoms were strongly represented in early Sinhalese armouries. With reference to elements which may have had some representation in the transitional forms which became eventually the kastane, please note the curious langet like extension on the upper sword in the second photo. This same form occurs in kastane in the quillon configuration of the guard.