Hilt of an old South-Indian sword

ariel · 31st December 2015, 08:30 PM

I think this is Makara.

Battara · 1st January 2016, 12:29 AM

Yes I see 2 makaras on it.

Gavin Nugent · 1st January 2016, 10:09 AM

Congrats on a real nice hilt...its one of the nicest things I have seen in these pages in quite a while!

Gavin

Jens Nordlunde · 1st January 2016, 12:21 PM

I agree with Bandook, that the animals shown at the end of the quillons are Yalis. I even think there is a third one, just under the flower at the top of the langet - supposed to be seen from the front.

RSWORD · 1st January 2016, 01:23 PM

And don't forget the 4th one at the top of the hand guard.

Jens Nordlunde · 1st January 2016, 01:33 PM

:-) You are right :-)

ariel · 1st January 2016, 03:09 PM

I always seem to confuse them...
Thus, a quick trip to Wikipedia.
Yali is largely a terrestrial creature: cow, lion, elephant etc through and through.
Makara in Sanskrit is a "sea-dragon" : it's front half is largely terrestrial, but the hind part is aquatic. Snake/dragon play a prominent role.

Creatures on the handle clearly have snake/dragon bodies and tails: see scales on the D-hard and on body extensions on the quillons.

31st December 2015, 08:30 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I think this is Makara.

1st January 2016, 12:29 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Yes I see 2 makaras on it.

1st January 2016, 10:09 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Congrats on a real nice hilt...its one of the nicest things I have seen in these pages in quite a while! Gavin

1st January 2016, 12:21 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I agree with Bandook, that the animals shown at the end of the quillons are Yalis. I even think there is a third one, just under the flower at the top of the langet - supposed to be seen from the front.

1st January 2016, 01:23 PM	#5
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	And don't forget the 4th one at the top of the hand guard.

1st January 2016, 01:33 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	:-) You are right :-)

1st January 2016, 03:09 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I always seem to confuse them... Thus, a quick trip to Wikipedia. Yali is largely a terrestrial creature: cow, lion, elephant etc through and through. Makara in Sanskrit is a "sea-dragon" : it's front half is largely terrestrial, but the hind part is aquatic. Snake/dragon play a prominent role. Creatures on the handle clearly have snake/dragon bodies and tails: see scales on the D-hard and on body extensions on the quillons.