[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by VVV

Nice ones, Ron!!!

I am rereading Emelie Savage-Smith's great anthology Magic and Divination in Early Islam (2004) at the moment and found this statement in her introduction (page xix). I know some of the forumites hold the opinion that the Moros were isolated from Arabic culture. However, for those of us who don't think so this quote might be interesting to explain the scorpions and, especially, the dogs found on some Moro blades:

"Many of the pre-Islamic beliefs and practices were assimilated into the emerging Islamic culture. Pre- Islamic magical imagery featuring lions, serpents, and scorpions can be seen on several types of magical artefacts, such as amulets and magic-medicinal bowls. There was concern for sudden death (associated with the evil eye) - explaining a nexus of symbols (scorpion/serpent/mad dog) that occur on the earliest amulets, all of which could be interpreted as omens of sudden death."

Michael

thanks, mike and dave!
yes, indeed. this is somewhat in line with lorenz's thread, A sword design theory (Phil., Indonesia, & Malaysia). mixing the old beliefs with the newer ones.