Turkish/Armenian sword
 

Quite some time ago, a Turkish sword was discussed on this Forum.
A comment was made that it was in fact of Armenian manufacture, from Istanbul.
This prompted a rather sarcastic remark of " Armenian? In Istanbul?"-type.
Well, here is another one, unequvocally Turkish with the name of Armenian master or distributor.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...6245&rd=1&rd=1
Armenians were THE artisans of both Ottoman and Persian Empires and the main force in the Russian Caucasus as well.

I guess it would be like saying that Jews could not have done the silver work on Yemeni khanjars because it is an Arab country - silly idea. :rolleyes:

Nationalism is a type of illness which also causes memory loss..
:shrug:

I really don't think we need to get into a nation or state bashing. If someone makes comments against any race, nationality, or ethinc group here they should be reprimanded immediately, as an individual. Comments against anyone should not be tolerated, and comments also against a state should carry the same degree of intolerance. This is a forum on a wonderful hobby of sword collecting, not idiotic racism.

hear hear, I completely agree with the previous poster.

well, well, I agree also of course.

If we stick to that sword I must tell that I don't like it (personal opinion) whoever manufactured it.... :shrug:

Vox populi, vox dei. :cool:

The voice of the people is the voice of God..... how does that have anything to do with this discussion????

What intrigues me are the many peoples within the former Ottoman Empire - although all "Ottomans" they yet had their own cultural flavor on Turkish forms, like a Balkan yataghan or a bichaq from Turkey proper and a bichaq from Bosnia.

Ottoman Empire, especially in its beginning and middle age, was a fascinating societal phenomenon. It had state-maintained hospitals, homes for the elderly and hostels for the travellers. It allowed incredible degree ( for the time, especially when compared with Europe) of cultural and religious freedom and authonomy. Local "flavors" were flourishing, and it is not surprising that we can see weapons of a general Ottoman pattern, but unmistakably " local". Quoting Daskalov& Kovacheva's book "Weaponry of the past":
" In the course of half a milennium, Turkey remained a country of paradoxes where nothing was impossible. Savage fanaticism and surprising religious tolerance, brutal oppression and the magnanimity of knights, orderly state organization and astonishing anarchy, a first rate legal system and boundless arbitrary rule, all these existed hand in hand...This is to be seen particularly clearly in matters bound up with the production and possession of arms."
This is coming from the Bulgarians, whose country was dominated by the Ottomans for several centuries!
In a way, in many regards it was very similar to the Roman Empire, just not as well administered :rolleyes:

I would have to agree with you there Ariel. religious, cultural and also political freedom to a lesser degree in a time when other societies were not as foregiving. But as with any large empires it imploded due to glutiny.