What did I just buy?

Tim Simmons · 8th October 2007, 07:15 PM

I do not think this has been shortened, the snake graduates in size speeds up in zig-zags and finishes perfectly in the design.

Tim Simmons · 9th October 2007, 12:12 PM

I think you have a processional staff carried by somebody portraying Shiva. look at the shape of the one it this pic of an eighth century carving. Shiva is very often seen with snake the lord of snakes something like that.

He has a big one here

Jim McDougall · 10th October 2007, 05:10 AM

Yay Tim!!! Thats it!!
OK, now back to the razor thread!!!

olikara · 10th October 2007, 08:58 AM

Tim,
Yes, that is exactly what it is.

Jim,
You may be right in the sense that this object is not a functional weapon.

Attached find a photo of Kartikeya. He is invariably shown with this weapon rather than Shiva (Since the past couple of centuries, atleast).

Various parts of India represent deities in different ways and the weapons they carry also vary with region and era. Shiva was earlier (1st Millenium) shown with a different weapon but he has now changed his weapon of choice to a Trident

Shiva is nowadays (and usually in the past) shown with 4 essential things:
1. Trident
2. Small Drum
3. A Snake around his neck.
4. Water flowing out of his hairlocks.

I think there is a possibility of it being an appendage to a Hindu Idol (Shiva as Tim showed or more probably his son, Kartikeya also called Murugan in South India) who is more often than Shiva depicted with this sort of a weapon.

It may be a possibility that this item was separated from some Hindu Idol, why we do not know, and found it's way into eBay. The length of the weapon may also be an indicator of this.

But then, this is only my conjecture.

katana · 10th October 2007, 01:47 PM

Also found this, notice the same shaped 'staff'

KNIFE WITH CRESCENT AND CIRCLE ORNAMENTS
ASIAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION
Catalog No: 70.0/ 5903
Culture: INDIAN
Locale: AMRITSAR
Country: INDIA
Material: METAL (STEEL)
Dimensions: L:12.6 W:7.7 H:.3 [in CM]
Donor: HILDBURGH
Accession No: 1932-27

9th October 2007, 12:12 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I think you have a processional staff carried by somebody portraying Shiva. look at the shape of the one it this pic of an eighth century carving. Shiva is very often seen with snake the lord of snakes something like that. He has a big one here Last edited by Tim Simmons; 9th October 2007 at 05:44 PM.

10th October 2007, 08:58 AM	#4
olikara Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: India Posts: 101	Tim, Yes, that is exactly what it is. Jim, You may be right in the sense that this object is not a functional weapon. Attached find a photo of Kartikeya. He is invariably shown with this weapon rather than Shiva (Since the past couple of centuries, atleast). Various parts of India represent deities in different ways and the weapons they carry also vary with region and era. Shiva was earlier (1st Millenium) shown with a different weapon but he has now changed his weapon of choice to a Trident Shiva is nowadays (and usually in the past) shown with 4 essential things: 1. Trident 2. Small Drum 3. A Snake around his neck. 4. Water flowing out of his hairlocks. I think there is a possibility of it being an appendage to a Hindu Idol (Shiva as Tim showed or more probably his son, Kartikeya also called Murugan in South India) who is more often than Shiva depicted with this sort of a weapon. It may be a possibility that this item was separated from some Hindu Idol, why we do not know, and found it's way into eBay. The length of the weapon may also be an indicator of this. But then, this is only my conjecture. Attached Images

10th October 2007, 01:47 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Also found this, notice the same shaped 'staff' KNIFE WITH CRESCENT AND CIRCLE ORNAMENTS ASIAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION Catalog No: 70.0/ 5903 Culture: INDIAN Locale: AMRITSAR Country: INDIA Material: METAL (STEEL) Dimensions: L:12.6 W:7.7 H:.3 [in CM] Donor: HILDBURGH Accession No: 1932-27 Attached Images

8th October 2007, 07:15 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I do not think this has been shortened, the snake graduates in size speeds up in zig-zags and finishes perfectly in the design.

10th October 2007, 05:10 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Yay Tim!!! Thats it!! OK, now back to the razor thread!!!