van Gogh Zeybek yatagan translation assistance

Jim McDougall · 5th August 2024, 12:31 AM

Getting back to the topic, Ive had one of these for some time, and when discovering it was attributed to the ZEYBEKS, I was intrigued as it was another esoteric example of these Anatolian/ Transcaucasian regions' edged weapons .

Many of us of course remember the 'Black Sea yataghan' thing, which turned out to be a Laz weapon.

In the obscure title "A Magyar Faji Vandur" (J.Vichy, Budapest, 1897) which was cited in "The Origin of the Shashka", Triikman & Jacobsen, Copenhagen, 1941, some of these weapons with curious pommel styles and unusually curved blades are described.

The Zeybeks are described at 'outlaw/bandits' with very complicated origins who seem situated in 'Pontic' regions in E, Turkey, but this needs to be better explained by those well versed in ethno-geography there.
It seems the Laz group are equally described as outlaw-bandit etc.
The Zeybeks seem notably mentioned in the conflicts and insurgencies in these regions in late 19th into early 20th c.

It seems that the edged weaponry of these areas Georgia; Armenia; Azerbijian; Trebizon, Erzerum and the Transcaucusus, Anatolia in general have some of the most unusual features and characteristics of most. Further, they seem to defy any pragmatic explanation for these, and it seems are not 'old' forms, almost as if to in some ways relate to atavistic forms or perhaps exaggerated symbolism.

I'd like to hear thoughts and observations on what you guys think......why are these weapons so weird?

Being an aviation guy......the T-tail on the Zeybek reminds me of a DC-9, but thats of course not relevant.

5th August 2024, 12:31 AM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,896	Getting back to the topic, Ive had one of these for some time, and when discovering it was attributed to the ZEYBEKS, I was intrigued as it was another esoteric example of these Anatolian/ Transcaucasian regions' edged weapons . Many of us of course remember the 'Black Sea yataghan' thing, which turned out to be a Laz weapon. In the obscure title "A Magyar Faji Vandur" (J.Vichy, Budapest, 1897) which was cited in "The Origin of the Shashka", Triikman & Jacobsen, Copenhagen, 1941, some of these weapons with curious pommel styles and unusually curved blades are described. The Zeybeks are described at 'outlaw/bandits' with very complicated origins who seem situated in 'Pontic' regions in E, Turkey, but this needs to be better explained by those well versed in ethno-geography there. It seems the Laz group are equally described as outlaw-bandit etc. The Zeybeks seem notably mentioned in the conflicts and insurgencies in these regions in late 19th into early 20th c. It seems that the edged weaponry of these areas Georgia; Armenia; Azerbijian; Trebizon, Erzerum and the Transcaucusus, Anatolia in general have some of the most unusual features and characteristics of most. Further, they seem to defy any pragmatic explanation for these, and it seems are not 'old' forms, almost as if to in some ways relate to atavistic forms or perhaps exaggerated symbolism. I'd like to hear thoughts and observations on what you guys think......why are these weapons so weird? Being an aviation guy......the T-tail on the Zeybek reminds me of a DC-9, but thats of course not relevant. Attached Images