Talismanic inscriptions on a Barong

Tim Simmons · 13th March 2006, 04:55 PM

Sure its a dog it has even got the Dogs Bollocks

there I have said it out loud at last

. It could well be a pet dog but I do not think so. It is a bit girlie for a macho barong swinging warrior

.

Battara · 13th March 2006, 06:30 PM

Very nice puppy (the barung I mean

). Yes, it is not a centipede but a stylized naga - seen this type on other Moro things (including Ian's barung). the other - horse, aso (though rare on Moro)?

Thank you for the compliments - Ian's piece was a long project but one I'm glad I did.

VVV - you can email me at battara@hotmail.com and we can talk if you'd like.

Tim Simmons · 13th March 2006, 07:17 PM

Look folks how many horses carry their tails like this one, it could almost wag, even young children draw horses with some attempt at a long neck and long rounded head. Is it possible that you have seen Nagas where there is really a centipede? I agree one sees many stylised forms of serpent but go into your garden turn over a stone and one of these with pincers and antennae is likely to be there. It is so clearly drawn in my opinion, almost like a road sign. Tim

VVV · 13th March 2006, 07:49 PM

Having two kids I must agree with Tim on the dog vs horse issue.

On the naga/centipede I just remembered that when I was in the Visayas and had a couple of (new) blades done for me they asked if I wanted to have them specially prepared. The special preparation was mixing live poisonous spiders and centipides in the steel just before tempering it.
Is that something that is done in the south also?

Battara, thanks for the offer and I will mail you tomorrow.

Michael

migueldiaz · 2nd September 2011, 01:08 AM

Found these pics from a Spanish photography-travelogue book. The caption says objetos de adivinacion indonesia (Indonesia divination objects).

I thought the centipede and the two other critters look familiar ...

migueldiaz · 2nd September 2011, 01:10 AM

And I was also meaning to post these link_1 and link_2, which show these creatures also.

Indianajones · 2nd September 2011, 10:22 AM

Hello Michael, to my opinion the symbols depict
a Spanish fortress (enemy),
a kampilan as symbol for battle and
a dog, which is also a symbol for alertness (aside from being a pet).
The naga/wormlike symbol is actually a centipede which are feared for their painfull sting (feels like being stung with a blade)! This centipede symbol is actually also used in the north sometimes engraved on Headaxe blades.

Best, Wouter

2nd September 2011, 01:08 AM	#5
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Found these pics from a Spanish photography-travelogue book. The caption says objetos de adivinacion indonesia (Indonesia divination objects). I thought the centipede and the two other critters look familiar ... Attached Images

13th March 2006, 04:55 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Sure its a dog it has even got the Dogs Bollocks there I have said it out loud at last . It could well be a pet dog but I do not think so. It is a bit girlie for a macho barong swinging warrior .

13th March 2006, 06:30 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Very nice puppy (the barung I mean ). Yes, it is not a centipede but a stylized naga - seen this type on other Moro things (including Ian's barung). the other - horse, aso (though rare on Moro)? Thank you for the compliments - Ian's piece was a long project but one I'm glad I did. VVV - you can email me at battara@hotmail.com and we can talk if you'd like.

13th March 2006, 07:17 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Look folks how many horses carry their tails like this one, it could almost wag, even young children draw horses with some attempt at a long neck and long rounded head. Is it possible that you have seen Nagas where there is really a centipede? I agree one sees many stylised forms of serpent but go into your garden turn over a stone and one of these with pincers and antennae is likely to be there. It is so clearly drawn in my opinion, almost like a road sign. Tim

13th March 2006, 07:49 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Having two kids I must agree with Tim on the dog vs horse issue. On the naga/centipede I just remembered that when I was in the Visayas and had a couple of (new) blades done for me they asked if I wanted to have them specially prepared. The special preparation was mixing live poisonous spiders and centipides in the steel just before tempering it. Is that something that is done in the south also? Battara, thanks for the offer and I will mail you tomorrow. Michael

2nd September 2011, 01:10 AM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	And I was also meaning to post these link_1 and link_2, which show these creatures also.

2nd September 2011, 10:22 AM	#7
Indianajones Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 180	Hello Michael, to my opinion the symbols depict a Spanish fortress (enemy), a kampilan as symbol for battle and a dog, which is also a symbol for alertness (aside from being a pet). The naga/wormlike symbol is actually a centipede which are feared for their painfull sting (feels like being stung with a blade)! This centipede symbol is actually also used in the north sometimes engraved on Headaxe blades. Best, Wouter