Centipede Aceh

[kai]

Hello Kubur,

I haven't seen centipedes depicted in Aceh, I believe. What are you looking at?

Anyway, centipedes are really fierce fighters.

Regards,
Kai

[Kubur]

Hi Kai,

I was refering to some keris blades but also some peurise shields.

It will be difficult to develop as the thread is now not connected to weapons...

Very best
Kubur

[JBG163]

I think that centipede as also eaten during some magical procession in indonesia. I saw a video with a guy cutting himself the tong, then put a brunch a living centiped in the mouth, chew everything then show us a uncut tong.

[Battara]

So your question is in relations to weaponry, like when it is seen on weaponry?

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Battara

So your question is in relations to weaponry, like when it is seen on weaponry?

Yes please Sir as i would like to post some examples: shields and keris...

[Kubur]

Thanks Jean Baptiste

I agree centipedes have magical powers, they give strenght and protection.

Here some examples of shield and keris (from this forum) with centipedes on it.

IMO the wavy blade of the keris are representation of centipedes.


And the steel pattern on the blades represent the legs and the head of the centipede is a the forte of the blade.

I need keris specialists expertise...

Keris are stingy weapons, it would be the meaning.

I will be grateful if the admin can move back this thread to weapons...

[kai]

Thanks for the examples, Kubur!

I'm afraid that the current selection is not really convincing to me: The keris are very recent pieces (or recently modified from old blades); these are clearly not traditional and, thus, only representative of the current era approach of a limited sector of society on Java to regard keris as art for art's sake only (i.e. not restricted by any traditional constraints).

These brass "Aceh" bucklers were produced in huge numbers for the late-colonial collector's market (for colonial Dutch and other visitors); the addition of a snake and a centipede is certainly unusual and not representative of any older pieces I remember - I'm pretty sure that this piece isn't from a workshop run by Acehnese craftsmen.

There is no doubt that centipedes have been widely regarded as special (strong and dangerous) animals like elephants, crocodiles, snakes, tigers, etc. As poisonous animals, they will also have found a place in rituals as well as parlor tricks.

Regards,
Kai

[David]

Originally Posted by Kubur

I was refering to some keris blades but also some peurise shields.

It will be difficult to develop as the thread is now not connected to weapons...

BTW, while keris certainly exist in the region of Aceh, it is not a keris-centric (if i might coin a term) area of Indonesia. The rentcong is the preferred personal dagger for that region. The two kamardikan (current era) keris you show in this thread are not from Aceh, nor are they to be taken for serious traditional forms.