Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

PClemente · 22nd December 2012, 02:51 AM

Hi Friends,
Here is a 16th century dussage recently added to my collection. The style looks Southern German or Styrian to me and appears to pre-date the later solid guard "Sinclair" hilted sabers. It has an inscription "IO IO IO I" on the blade that I found intriguing, and research has led me to the possibility that it is a religious inscription. I O appears to be a contraction of the Latin word "ideo" which means "therefore." The implied thought is "ideo... gloria in excelsis deo,"
"therefore... glory to God in the highest." Knowing that such a sword was made and used at a time when Europe was embroiled in religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, in addition to facing the constant threat to Christendom from the Ottoman Empire, such a religious connotation seems appropriate. I was wondering about your insight in regards to the sword and inscription.
As Always,
Thanks!
P

22nd December 2012, 02:51 AM	#1
PClemente Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 42	Dussage Saber Hi Friends, Here is a 16th century dussage recently added to my collection. The style looks Southern German or Styrian to me and appears to pre-date the later solid guard "Sinclair" hilted sabers. It has an inscription "IO IO IO I" on the blade that I found intriguing, and research has led me to the possibility that it is a religious inscription. I O appears to be a contraction of the Latin word "ideo" which means "therefore." The implied thought is "ideo... gloria in excelsis deo," "therefore... glory to God in the highest." Knowing that such a sword was made and used at a time when Europe was embroiled in religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, in addition to facing the constant threat to Christendom from the Ottoman Empire, such a religious connotation seems appropriate. I was wondering about your insight in regards to the sword and inscription. As Always, Thanks! P Attached Images