Krazy Kris Krosses

[VVV]

Originally Posted by Spunjer

[...] michael, have you ever seen these types of symbols in any of your moro swords? even those weird marks somewhat in the middle of the cross sequences doesn't seem to fit on any talismanic markings in the moro realm..

No, never. But I have this kris with five stars in a cross along its blade. It's also a (related?) motif I haven't seen on any other blade. Because of traveling, trade and pilgrimage odd motifs show up now and then, especially if they have a magic charge.

Michael

[migueldiaz]

the bagobo shield (upper right hand corner in the pic) sometimes have cross-like symbols, too ...

[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

the bagobo shield (upper right hand corner in the pic) sometimes have cross-like symbols, too ...

i think i see where you're going with this, lorenz... geographically, how close are the bagobos with either the maguindanaos or maranaos???
i notice the pattern going down. could just be a coincident. i notice the shield smack in the middle as well...

[Battara]

I thought the Bagobo were in the southeastern part of Mindanao while the Maguindanao and Maranao are on the northwest of the island.............

However, could the sign also be for the 4 directions as well?

[Spunjer]

possibility, jose, but why aren't these symbols more commonly used? my assumption on where lorenz was going was whoever owned this kris has strong bagobo ties; perhaps a former bagobo slave that eventually stayed with the tribe, or something to that effect.

btw, googled the area where the bagobos lived. and they were practically next door to the maguindanaos (upland bagobo, that is)...

[migueldiaz]

ron, no particular direction i'm going ... just muddling through

but yes, the bagobos are very close geographically to the maguindanaos, if not next door neighbors:

[migueldiaz]

the circle atop an inverted 'v' is also reminiscent of lumad iconography on their brasswork (the lumad kris pic is from erik farrow, and the top inset is from my lumad panabas) ...

[Spunjer]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

ron, no particular direction i'm going ... just muddling through

but yes, the bagobos are very close geographically to the maguindanaos, if not next door neighbors:

nevertheless, salamat lorenz!
very interesting topic, but all we can do is hypothesize at this point. the bagobo angle is a good possibility. the compass looking icon is eerily similar..