Hilt of an old South-Indian sword

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.

Jens Nordlunde · 1st January 2016, 03:39 PM

The Makara is mostly used in the northern part of India, and the Yali/Vyala is used in the southern part of India.
There is a destinct difference in the way they are shown, so have you seen them once, it will be easy to recognise which is which.

ariel · 1st January 2016, 06:20 PM

We have a variety of creatures in our backyard, from deer to foxes, wild turkeys and groundhogs, but regretfully no Yalis or Makaras. Thus the ignorance:-)

VANDOO · 2nd January 2016, 05:05 PM

PICASSO WAS NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THINGS LOOK ABSTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE THIS SWORD HANDLE PREDATES HIM.

REAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS ARE OFTEN MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS NOT FROM ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. IN SOME COUNTRIES WHERE ELEPHANTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN THE DRAWINGS MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS ARE OFTEN QUITE STRANGE.
ON CLOSER INSPECTION THERE ARE POSSIBLY 6 REPRESENTATIONS OF THIS ANIMAL. THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE GUARD THE TWO AT THE ENDS OF THE QUILLIONS AND TWO MORE REVERSED FROM THOSE ON TWO QUILLIONS JUST BELOW THE FLOWER IN THE CENTER. THE FIGURE IN THE CENTER BELOW THE QUILLIONS MAY BE A FRONTAL FACE WITH CROSSED ARMS, FEET, PAWS OR WHATEVER.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW-LION BUT I HAVE SEEN A HORSE FLY

2nd January 2016, 05:05 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	PICASSO WAS NOT THE FIRST TO MAKE THINGS LOOK ABSTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE THIS SWORD HANDLE PREDATES HIM. REAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS ARE OFTEN MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS NOT FROM ACTUAL OBSERVATIONS. IN SOME COUNTRIES WHERE ELEPHANTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN THE DRAWINGS MADE UP FROM DESCRIPTIONS ARE OFTEN QUITE STRANGE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION THERE ARE POSSIBLY 6 REPRESENTATIONS OF THIS ANIMAL. THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE GUARD THE TWO AT THE ENDS OF THE QUILLIONS AND TWO MORE REVERSED FROM THOSE ON TWO QUILLIONS JUST BELOW THE FLOWER IN THE CENTER. THE FIGURE IN THE CENTER BELOW THE QUILLIONS MAY BE A FRONTAL FACE WITH CROSSED ARMS, FEET, PAWS OR WHATEVER. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COW-LION BUT I HAVE SEEN A HORSE FLY Attached Images

1st January 2016, 12:21 PM	#1
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	#2
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	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	:-) You are right :-)

1st January 2016, 03:09 PM	#4
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.

1st January 2016, 03:39 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	The Makara is mostly used in the northern part of India, and the Yali/Vyala is used in the southern part of India. There is a destinct difference in the way they are shown, so have you seen them once, it will be easy to recognise which is which.

1st January 2016, 06:20 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	We have a variety of creatures in our backyard, from deer to foxes, wild turkeys and groundhogs, but regretfully no Yalis or Makaras. Thus the ignorance:-)