FERNANDO'S EXAMPLE DOES INDEED SHOW A DOLPHIN DESIGN WHICH WAS POPULAR IN ROME AND WAS PRESENT ON A CORNICE OF THE TEMPLE OF NEPTUNE IN ANCIENT ROME. THIS DOLPHIN WAS A POPULAR DESIGN IN ROME ESPECIALLY IN THE LATE 17 TO THE EARLY 18 TH. CENTURYS HERE IS A PICTURE OF A TABLE 18TH. CENTURY GEORGE 2 DOLPHIN SLAB TABLE.
NO DOUBT THERE WAS INFLUENCE FROM ANCIENT TIMES UP TO AND INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF EUROPEAN NATIONS PERIOD OF INFLUENCE. FERNANDOS EXAMPLE IS LIKELY SUCH AN EXAMPLE FROM AROUND 17TH TO 18 CENTURY.
THE ORIGINAL FORMS AND INFLUENCE WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN FROM HINDU AND BUDHIST INFLUENCE. CEYLON WAS A SEAFARING CIVILIZATION AND LIKELY ENCOUNTERED AND TRADED WITH ALL OTHER SEAFARING GROUPS IN THE REGION SO OTHER INFLUENCES MAY HAVE BEEN AT PLAY EARLY IN THE SWORDS EVOLUTION TO ITS PRESENT FORM.
|