Yataghan Needing Translation (Ivory-Coral)

David · 19th November 2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

On the blade is silver koftgari with a semblance of a Solomon's star on one side (with decorative silver koftgari) and the other side has probably Turkish in Arabic script.

Well firstly a beautiful Yat. I do not collect these, but i have always admired them.

I have noticed though that the star on your sword is an 8-pointed star. Usually the star (or seal) of Solomon is related to the 6-pointed star (also the Star of David) and i have on occasion seen the pentagram (5-pointed star) referred to as the Star of Solomon as well. I believe the 8-pointed star is what is sometimes referred to as the Seal of the Prophets or khatim sulayman. The phrase “seal of the prophets” is also used in the Koran and has particular ideological meaning for Muslims.

Battara · 19th November 2010, 07:28 PM

OOOO.......I missed that one. Thanks David. Good points (every pun intended

).

Battara · 5th December 2010, 05:31 AM

I was reading more in Elgood's book The Arms of Greece and Her Balkan Neighbors in the Ottoman Period (p.65) and he noted that the inscription on this blade is common on Balkan pieces in general, but less common on yataghans............

TVV · 5th December 2010, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

I was reading more in Elgood's book The Arms of Greece and Her Balkan Neighbors in the Ottoman Period (p.65) and he noted that the inscription on this blade is common on Balkan pieces in general, but less common on yataghans............

Jose,

I disagree. The La fatâ illâ ‘Alî la sayf illâ Zu’l-Fikâr inscription is actually quite popular on yataghan blades and sword blades in general, due to the associations with the magic properties of Ali's legendary sword. I am attaching a picture of a blade with this inscription for reference, from an article in Bulgarian about common inscriptions on weapons and their meaning.

The seven sleepers inscription is encountered less often, but it is not uncommon - if you search the forum I am sure you will find at least two more examples of it. Apparently, the fable about the sleepers was used as a symbolic reference to dying in the name of the faith and going to heaven.

Regards,
Teodor

Battara · 5th December 2010, 06:37 PM

So you think it is quite common.....

19th November 2010, 07:28 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	OOOO.......I missed that one. Thanks David. Good points (every pun intended ).

5th December 2010, 05:31 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	I was reading more in Elgood's book The Arms of Greece and Her Balkan Neighbors in the Ottoman Period (p.65) and he noted that the inscription on this blade is common on Balkan pieces in general, but less common on yataghans............

5th December 2010, 06:37 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	So you think it is quite common.....