Koummya Inscription

jswillems · 17th November 2009, 04:13 AM

I was wondering if maybe these markings on my koummya might be some sort of writing or if they are simply an artistic design. Since I have no knowledge of any type of writing from that part of the world, I thought I'd ask for help here. Thanks.

Jim McDougall · 17th November 2009, 06:01 AM

Hi JS,
I'm certainly no linguist either, but the context here would suggest probably geometric based motif, with interesting forms chosen. Looks like a nicely appointed example, but these designs might come from a number of symbolic sources.
I dont think I've ever seen any type of inscriptions on the pommel caps of these, more typically on blades.
It would be interesting if anyone recognizes any of these figures corresponding to symbolic markings.
Could you show the entire piece?

Best regards,
Jim

TVV · 17th November 2009, 08:00 AM

Hmm, if it were a geometric motif, I would expect it to be symmetric. I believe there is a simple inscription here, even is masked, and hopefully Dom or someone else might be able to shed more light.
Regards,
Teodor

Jim McDougall · 17th November 2009, 11:37 AM

Good observation Teodor! This does seem more linear, and perhaps there might be some sort of symbolism concealed in this......the thot plickens

jswillems · 17th November 2009, 06:21 PM

Thanks for the replies. I also was thinking that if it were just a design it would be symetrical. Hopefully someone on here can shed some light on this! I've included a link to another post that has some more pictures of the knife.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10953

Jeff D · 18th November 2009, 02:46 AM

Looks Evil to me

Jeff

Dom · 18th November 2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

hopefully Dom or someone else might be able to shed more light

Hi Teodor,
yes "jswillems" is a lucky guy

1 - as I already wrote, that khoumyia is a quality "mousse" (name given by Moorish to that specific knife)
2 - there is a date apparently 1299 Hegira either 1881 Gregorian
3 - there are names; Mohamed Ahmed

that khoumyia is realy above the nice one by all those particularities

and I'm very sorry to don't be the owner

again, congratulations "jswillems"

à +

Dom

Jim McDougall · 18th November 2009, 06:53 PM

Dom, you are an absolute treasure on these inscriptions!!! Not only can I not read these Arabic inscriptions, here I couldnt even recognize the characters, and was patently incorrect in assuming such inscriptions did not occur in hilt decoration. Thank you for stabilizing my perspective on these fascinating weapons, and a valuable addition in understanding them....a beautiful example P.S.Willems!!!! Please show the entire koummya OK?

Good call Teodor!!!

All the best,
Jim

Dom · 18th November 2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

.a beautiful example P.S.Willems!!!! Please show the entire koummya OK?

Jim, already "jswillems" did it,
he remind us this a link (see here on above

)
all pic's are there

http://www.vikingsword.co/vb/showthread.php?t=10953

all the best

à +

Dom

jswillems · 18th November 2009, 09:04 PM

Wow, thank you for all the great information! I never would have guessed that this koummya would be of such quality. Heck of a way to get started in the hobby!

Rick · 18th November 2009, 09:42 PM

Beware Beginner's Luck ...

Dom · 19th November 2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswillems

Wow, thank you for all the great information! !

COMPLEMENT OF INFORMATION ...

by a more acute examination, we found the "cherry on the cake"

the word "A'AM" in Arabic, means "YEAR" in English, just before the digits
by experience, I'm very familiar with numbers in Arabic,
but I dunno to read or write that language

... just the voice

when I showed to my translator the date, she was doubting about my reading
as far as I was insisting, suddenly she got it, and she read the word "A'AM"

all mentions are writing in a way more of decoration than in calligraphy

à +

Dom

17th November 2009, 04:13 AM	#1
jswillems Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 32	Koummya Inscription I was wondering if maybe these markings on my koummya might be some sort of writing or if they are simply an artistic design. Since I have no knowledge of any type of writing from that part of the world, I thought I'd ask for help here. Thanks. Attached Images

18th November 2009, 02:46 AM	#6
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Looks Evil to me Jeff Attached Images

17th November 2009, 06:01 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Hi JS, I'm certainly no linguist either, but the context here would suggest probably geometric based motif, with interesting forms chosen. Looks like a nicely appointed example, but these designs might come from a number of symbolic sources. I dont think I've ever seen any type of inscriptions on the pommel caps of these, more typically on blades. It would be interesting if anyone recognizes any of these figures corresponding to symbolic markings. Could you show the entire piece? Best regards, Jim

17th November 2009, 08:00 AM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	Hmm, if it were a geometric motif, I would expect it to be symmetric. I believe there is a simple inscription here, even is masked, and hopefully Dom or someone else might be able to shed more light. Regards, Teodor

17th November 2009, 11:37 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Good observation Teodor! This does seem more linear, and perhaps there might be some sort of symbolism concealed in this......the thot plickens

17th November 2009, 06:21 PM	#5
jswillems Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 32	Thanks for the replies. I also was thinking that if it were just a design it would be symetrical. Hopefully someone on here can shed some light on this! I've included a link to another post that has some more pictures of the knife. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10953

18th November 2009, 06:53 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,951	Dom, you are an absolute treasure on these inscriptions!!! Not only can I not read these Arabic inscriptions, here I couldnt even recognize the characters, and was patently incorrect in assuming such inscriptions did not occur in hilt decoration. Thank you for stabilizing my perspective on these fascinating weapons, and a valuable addition in understanding them....a beautiful example P.S.Willems!!!! Please show the entire koummya OK? Good call Teodor!!! All the best, Jim

18th November 2009, 09:04 PM	#10
jswillems Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 32	Wow, thank you for all the great information! I never would have guessed that this koummya would be of such quality. Heck of a way to get started in the hobby!

18th November 2009, 09:42 PM	#11
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Beware Beginner's Luck ...