i apologise for pulling you up so sharply. the whole period is clouded in doubt and speculation, which is why any decent academic will tread very carefully.
there is no confirmation on the dating if these swords. if the original hilts exist (and it is purported that some are indeed original) then it would help, but a straight, wide blade was used over a long period of time. you can find architecture of the time, in a worn state, that show similar style swords and date to the 8thC, but you can say the same of the 10thC (and later).
my whole point was to enjoy the pictures without steering into mythology and speculation.
given the evidence and the reverence, i am inclined to believe that they could indeed date from this period. but, i am not ever going to stand and claim it without scattering my contribution with question marks.
the swords in question (topkapi) are early islamic swords of the highest quality and importance. i would be happy ending my sentence there, with pages of specualtion to follow for anyone bored enough to listen to me
21st June 2005, 03:40 PM
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