African ethno sabre for coments

fernando · 23rd August 2008, 02:03 PM

Looking for persons who may have something (further) to say about this, i have managed to establish contact with a researcher and author of some books on Dogon cosmologic symbols and mythology, Laird Scranton. This is his opinnion:

Although I cannot verify beyond question that the object is Dogon, my best guess based on Dogon symbolism is that it represents a stylized jackal - an animal that symbolizes the concept of disorder for the Dogon. A sword is an object that can wreak havoc and create chaos, so the jackal would be a very appropriate choice.

Still a "best guess" and not yet solid evidence. So the case is not yet filed.

Fernando

katana · 23rd August 2008, 04:45 PM

Hi Fernando,
I am still skeptical that it represents a Jackal. One of its characteristics is its pointed ears...surely a representation would have this feature

I have searched the many forms of Dogon masks but cannot find one that is described as a Jackel...or has rounded ears / large eye ridges/ 'cobra hood'.
There is an African wild dog that has the rounded ears but the Dogon area is not within it's 'range'. There is , of course, the possibility that the sword, although acquired from the Dogon was manufactured elsewhere.

If it is a Jackal ..couldn't the sword be descibed as a 'dog on sword'

If I discover any relevent information I will post it for you.

Kind Regards David

fernando · 23rd August 2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Fernando,
I am still skeptical that it represents a Jackal. One of its characteristics is its pointed ears...surely a representation would have this feature

I have searched the many forms of Dogon masks but cannot find one that is described as a Jackel...or has rounded ears / large eye ridges/ 'cobra hood'.
There is an African wild dog that has the rounded ears but the Dogon area is not within it's 'range'. There is , of course, the possibility that the sword, although acquired from the Dogon was manufactured elsewhere.

If it is a Jackal ..couldn't the sword be descibed as a 'dog on sword'

If I discover any relevent information I will post it for you.

Kind Regards David

Thank you for your colaboration David,
I know nothing yet can be taken as definite.
Also we can't tell what parts of whatever animal are more or less stylized (caricatured) in this work, unless we see something of the kind.
Yes, the wild dog (Lycaon pictus) used to exist also in the Mali region, but not any longer.
I think that, once establishing the solidity of the information about the sword having been bought from the Dogon, at a litle village in their Mali region, i see no reason for it not being their work. I am emailing Ashoka Arts, asking him what he would say about it.
Sometimes i look at this figure and feel that the position it has on the pommel, is relative to its actual anatomy ... meaning it would be an animal with an upright neck and a nape, therefore excluding reptiles.
Fernando

Jim McDougall · 23rd August 2008, 09:23 PM

Excellent work Fernando! going right to the sources by contacting the author on Dogon symbology references. It always gets me charged up when research on a weapon reaches these levels, and though all any of us can do is offer plausible ideas, it is interesting to see if those with published knowledge might corroborate any of them.

I must confess my inclinations are still not specifically toward the jackal, but I do find the representation of the jackal and chaos in the Dogon culture most interesting. Given the presence of totemically represented subversive groups and secret societies in West Africa and Sahelian societies, even well into the Congo, that concept seems somewhat feasible. Perhaps certain established hierarchy of such a group within Dogon culture might have worn such weapons as these ceremonially.

Returning to earlier discussion and the radically stylized zoomorphic representations, I think it is important to again recall the temporal imaging of these decorative features. I think yet another example of such an image (besides that of the mysterious flyssa pommel) is that of the aghrab seen on many Arabian scabbards. This stylized feature is supposed to represent a scorpion, and along with other familiar motif, protect against evil eye. No matter how much I look at these 'aghrab' I cannot possibly visualize a scorpion!

I think that our best bet is to review known Dogon material culture and art as well as that of neighboring tribes and regions to see if any items might have corroborating decoation or motif.

fernando · 23rd August 2008, 10:02 PM

Thanks for all the enthusiasm, Jim

.
I wonder if there are jackals in the Tucson desert

Fernando

fearn · 23rd August 2008, 11:08 PM

A couple o' comments.

Katana--Woof!

Fernando, Jim, and all,

I agree it's possible that it's a jackal. I'm just trying to figure out how many swords I've seen marked with symbols of chaos and disorder (excluding modern fantasy stuff). It would be like saying that the cross on many European swords was an inverted, satanic cross, or perhaps more accurately, it would be like having Kali on a hindu sword.

While I agree that swords do spread chaos and disorder, more typically, the symbolism on them is protective, not destructive. Even when the swords are being used to spread destruction, I think it's human nature to attribute said destruction to self defense or some positive virtue, rather than deliberately causing disorder. In short hand, "He deserved what he got."

That's why I'm not convinced it's a jackal.

You get into interesting discussions talking with experts across fields. For instance, many academics do not study weaponry, and many martial artists and collectors aren't scholars (though many here are). Sometimes the lack of a common reference frame makes things interesting.

My favorite example was when I was reading the translated titles of moves in a Chinese martial arts set. One move was "Boa constrictor coils around the tree." I told my teacher (who'd translated it) that it couldn't possibly be a boa constrictor. He wouldn't hear of it. The thing he didn't know was that boa constrictors are new world animals only. The word he should have used was python, but to him, a big snake was a big snake, good only for nature shows and chopping. The name wasn't important.

With this dog(-)on sword, it's possible that the Dogon scholar's attribution was influenced by his personal attribution of violence to a sword, rather than by his knowledge of Dogon sword symbolism. I'm not saying he's wrong, it's hard to tell, at this remove, how much he knows specifically about Dogon weaponry.

Finally, Fernando: there are "jackals" in the Arizona desert. Both the four-legged and the two-legged kind are called "coyotes," and I think I trust the four-legged kind a little more these days.

My 0.00002 centavos,

F

Jim McDougall · 23rd August 2008, 11:37 PM

EXTREMELY well said Fearn!!! and you're right, most sword symbolism calls upon protection rather than aggressive chaos (although the names given to swords such as the Viking swords etc. are pretty formidable......my own personal tulwar named 'killer of ceiling fans'!).

I also agree that typically the focus of academics and martial artists (including weapons historians) are worlds apart. I cannot even say how many disappointing times I have tried to find information concerning weaponry from various authors and authorities on art, cultures and anthropology, even archaeologists, and might as well have been speaking in Klingon. It does seem that of late, there have been some advances, but some authors I know writing in these areas and trying to address this perspective often express similar frustrations.

I agree with the note on the scholarly opinion of the gentleman on the possible jackal symbolism. It is a subjective opinion, based presumably on collective knowledge, but undoubtedly carrying influence of personal experience and perspective. Again, a temporal application.

You guys are right about the coyotes out here!!! and they were really loud last night!! (I'm still chuckling about David's reference to good old Wile, dragging around that anvil!!

on the pointy thing thread).

Very good discussion here, regardless of whether or not conclusive, its great to see very sound observations and reasoning, kind of ethnographic weapon forensics.

All best regards,
Jim

23rd August 2008, 02:03 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Looking for persons who may have something (further) to say about this, i have managed to establish contact with a researcher and author of some books on Dogon cosmologic symbols and mythology, Laird Scranton. This is his opinnion: Although I cannot verify beyond question that the object is Dogon, my best guess based on Dogon symbolism is that it represents a stylized jackal - an animal that symbolizes the concept of disorder for the Dogon. A sword is an object that can wreak havoc and create chaos, so the jackal would be a very appropriate choice. Still a "best guess" and not yet solid evidence. So the case is not yet filed. Fernando

23rd August 2008, 04:45 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Fernando, I am still skeptical that it represents a Jackal. One of its characteristics is its pointed ears...surely a representation would have this feature I have searched the many forms of Dogon masks but cannot find one that is described as a Jackel...or has rounded ears / large eye ridges/ 'cobra hood'. There is an African wild dog that has the rounded ears but the Dogon area is not within it's 'range'. There is , of course, the possibility that the sword, although acquired from the Dogon was manufactured elsewhere. If it is a Jackal ..couldn't the sword be descibed as a 'dog on sword' If I discover any relevent information I will post it for you. Kind Regards David

23rd August 2008, 09:23 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	Excellent work Fernando! going right to the sources by contacting the author on Dogon symbology references. It always gets me charged up when research on a weapon reaches these levels, and though all any of us can do is offer plausible ideas, it is interesting to see if those with published knowledge might corroborate any of them. I must confess my inclinations are still not specifically toward the jackal, but I do find the representation of the jackal and chaos in the Dogon culture most interesting. Given the presence of totemically represented subversive groups and secret societies in West Africa and Sahelian societies, even well into the Congo, that concept seems somewhat feasible. Perhaps certain established hierarchy of such a group within Dogon culture might have worn such weapons as these ceremonially. Returning to earlier discussion and the radically stylized zoomorphic representations, I think it is important to again recall the temporal imaging of these decorative features. I think yet another example of such an image (besides that of the mysterious flyssa pommel) is that of the aghrab seen on many Arabian scabbards. This stylized feature is supposed to represent a scorpion, and along with other familiar motif, protect against evil eye. No matter how much I look at these 'aghrab' I cannot possibly visualize a scorpion! I think that our best bet is to review known Dogon material culture and art as well as that of neighboring tribes and regions to see if any items might have corroborating decoation or motif.

23rd August 2008, 10:02 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thanks for all the enthusiasm, Jim . I wonder if there are jackals in the Tucson desert Fernando

23rd August 2008, 11:08 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	A couple o' comments. Katana--Woof! Fernando, Jim, and all, I agree it's possible that it's a jackal. I'm just trying to figure out how many swords I've seen marked with symbols of chaos and disorder (excluding modern fantasy stuff). It would be like saying that the cross on many European swords was an inverted, satanic cross, or perhaps more accurately, it would be like having Kali on a hindu sword. While I agree that swords do spread chaos and disorder, more typically, the symbolism on them is protective, not destructive. Even when the swords are being used to spread destruction, I think it's human nature to attribute said destruction to self defense or some positive virtue, rather than deliberately causing disorder. In short hand, "He deserved what he got." That's why I'm not convinced it's a jackal. You get into interesting discussions talking with experts across fields. For instance, many academics do not study weaponry, and many martial artists and collectors aren't scholars (though many here are). Sometimes the lack of a common reference frame makes things interesting. My favorite example was when I was reading the translated titles of moves in a Chinese martial arts set. One move was "Boa constrictor coils around the tree." I told my teacher (who'd translated it) that it couldn't possibly be a boa constrictor. He wouldn't hear of it. The thing he didn't know was that boa constrictors are new world animals only. The word he should have used was python, but to him, a big snake was a big snake, good only for nature shows and chopping. The name wasn't important. With this dog(-)on sword, it's possible that the Dogon scholar's attribution was influenced by his personal attribution of violence to a sword, rather than by his knowledge of Dogon sword symbolism. I'm not saying he's wrong, it's hard to tell, at this remove, how much he knows specifically about Dogon weaponry. Finally, Fernando: there are "jackals" in the Arizona desert. Both the four-legged and the two-legged kind are called "coyotes," and I think I trust the four-legged kind a little more these days. My 0.00002 centavos, F

23rd August 2008, 11:37 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	EXTREMELY well said Fearn!!! and you're right, most sword symbolism calls upon protection rather than aggressive chaos (although the names given to swords such as the Viking swords etc. are pretty formidable......my own personal tulwar named 'killer of ceiling fans'!). I also agree that typically the focus of academics and martial artists (including weapons historians) are worlds apart. I cannot even say how many disappointing times I have tried to find information concerning weaponry from various authors and authorities on art, cultures and anthropology, even archaeologists, and might as well have been speaking in Klingon. It does seem that of late, there have been some advances, but some authors I know writing in these areas and trying to address this perspective often express similar frustrations. I agree with the note on the scholarly opinion of the gentleman on the possible jackal symbolism. It is a subjective opinion, based presumably on collective knowledge, but undoubtedly carrying influence of personal experience and perspective. Again, a temporal application. You guys are right about the coyotes out here!!! and they were really loud last night!! (I'm still chuckling about David's reference to good old Wile, dragging around that anvil!! on the pointy thing thread). Very good discussion here, regardless of whether or not conclusive, its great to see very sound observations and reasoning, kind of ethnographic weapon forensics. All best regards, Jim