Daggers from Gambia ? Comments please

katana · 8th April 2006, 05:51 PM

Hi Tim,
are you saying that these points are fairly common to West Africa?
Have you any ideas as to why this type of dagger has these 'heavy points'.
Has the embossed 'snake' any significance? Sorry for asking all these questions but the road to knowledge is littered with them.... questions,that is, not daggers

Tim Simmons · 8th April 2006, 06:18 PM

Discussing snake iconography in Africa, West African in particular, would be rather like discussing the history of Christian Art. I will post a few snippets of information after my tea, while my wife watches things I do not like on the TV.

Tim Simmons · 8th April 2006, 08:11 PM

To go into this in depth would be exhausting and off subject so what I say is a gross simplification and I am not an expert. The information is very general and names and lore would vary from region to region.

Snakes are seen as having and giving positive forces so a snake on a blade may well be protective much like Latin motto's on bladed weapons from Europe. The positive forces of snakes is in direct contrast to Christian iconography where the snake represents evil and sin. The snake in West Africa is the chief mediator with spirits and manifestations of the godhead and creation.

The snake in African art is often used to portray a bridge or the barrier to cross, as it's role as a conduit. The pictures of this large Nigeria/Cameroon, Chamba/Tiv? armlet from the first half of the 20th century shows snakes forming a frame or guard around the male figure. I do not Know if the figure is a deity or a representation of the local chieftain. Personally I think he is a deity as he is shown rather oddly without genitalia but the ladies on his sides have thiers on display, either way it illustrates the position of snakes in relation to mortals or the supreme being when there is the need for communion.

Hope that does not sound too "up my own ####"

katana · 8th April 2006, 10:35 PM

What a concise and interesting answer, thank you. I thought it might have signified an empowering force. That somehow the dagger and, or the wielder would be aided/strengthened by the power or characteristics of, in this case, the snake.
It is an interesting that 'The Church' denounced/demonised the iconography relating to snakes.... perhaps this symbolism is strongly embedded in man's psyche and a threat to Christianity? The obvious sexual connotations of the snake seem relevant to the armlet. If the snake is viewed as a conduit/ messenger between two realms then the penis could also, and I'll explain my reasoning. The penis acts as a conduit between the male (life) force and the female, from this 'communication' life can spring forth whence there was none. The realms of the 'non living' to the living, so to speak I am wondering whether the fact that the male figure is genital-less is that the penis is viewed as a separate entity, the snake, is the penis, is the conduit.
And before anyone adds to this thread Yeah,..... I know that swords, spears, daggers are phallic symbols

8th April 2006, 08:11 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	To go into this in depth would be exhausting and off subject so what I say is a gross simplification and I am not an expert. The information is very general and names and lore would vary from region to region. Snakes are seen as having and giving positive forces so a snake on a blade may well be protective much like Latin motto's on bladed weapons from Europe. The positive forces of snakes is in direct contrast to Christian iconography where the snake represents evil and sin. The snake in West Africa is the chief mediator with spirits and manifestations of the godhead and creation. The snake in African art is often used to portray a bridge or the barrier to cross, as it's role as a conduit. The pictures of this large Nigeria/Cameroon, Chamba/Tiv? armlet from the first half of the 20th century shows snakes forming a frame or guard around the male figure. I do not Know if the figure is a deity or a representation of the local chieftain. Personally I think he is a deity as he is shown rather oddly without genitalia but the ladies on his sides have thiers on display, either way it illustrates the position of snakes in relation to mortals or the supreme being when there is the need for communion. Hope that does not sound too "up my own ####" Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 8th April 2006 at 08:31 PM. Reason: spelling!!

8th April 2006, 05:51 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Tim, are you saying that these points are fairly common to West Africa? Have you any ideas as to why this type of dagger has these 'heavy points'. Has the embossed 'snake' any significance? Sorry for asking all these questions but the road to knowledge is littered with them.... questions,that is, not daggers

8th April 2006, 06:18 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Discussing snake iconography in Africa, West African in particular, would be rather like discussing the history of Christian Art. I will post a few snippets of information after my tea, while my wife watches things I do not like on the TV.

8th April 2006, 10:35 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	What a concise and interesting answer, thank you. I thought it might have signified an empowering force. That somehow the dagger and, or the wielder would be aided/strengthened by the power or characteristics of, in this case, the snake. It is an interesting that 'The Church' denounced/demonised the iconography relating to snakes.... perhaps this symbolism is strongly embedded in man's psyche and a threat to Christianity? The obvious sexual connotations of the snake seem relevant to the armlet. If the snake is viewed as a conduit/ messenger between two realms then the penis could also, and I'll explain my reasoning. The penis acts as a conduit between the male (life) force and the female, from this 'communication' life can spring forth whence there was none. The realms of the 'non living' to the living, so to speak I am wondering whether the fact that the male figure is genital-less is that the penis is viewed as a separate entity, the snake, is the penis, is the conduit. And before anyone adds to this thread Yeah,..... I know that swords, spears, daggers are phallic symbols