Solo keris for comment.

[A. G. Maisey]

The first image is from the Candi Sukuh site.

Candi Sukuh is a 15th century sacred site that has been reliably dated to around 1437AD.

"Gapura buta mangan wong", the accepted reading of the chronogram giving the related date is 9531 = 1359 Saka or 1437AD.


The second image is from Candi Penataran, an East Javanese temple complex constructed between the 12th and 15th century, with one reliable date of 1369AD. Candi Penataran was visited regularly by the Majapahit ruling hierarchy.


The Kingdom of Majapahit was established in 1293 by Raden Wijaya. It began to decline following the death of Hayam Wuruk in 1389; the Kingdom finally collapsed some time between 1478 and 1525.


The Kingdom of Majapahit lasted for about 200 years.


Both Candi Sukuh and Candi Penataran were active sacred sites during the Majapahit era.


Please take note of the keris scabbards shown in the carvings below.

As an after thought, I probably should add this comment:-

belief in the nature of the keris has varied throughout the period of its existence, and is also dependent upon the geographic location of the followers of that belief, and of the philosophical orientation of those believers, thus, if we are to specify the nature of the keris we need to also specify the limiting parameters of that nature.