OTTOMAN PALA translation please

Yustas · 4th February 2009, 05:04 PM

It mostly a matter a diferrentiation. Kilich - is a wider therm, and pala is more narrow.
Something like a sword and a saber.

TVV · 4th February 2009, 05:11 PM

Yustas, I have read the memoirs of Bulgarian revolutionaries during the 19th century, and in them they refer to the shorter, wider version of the kilidj from the early 19th century as "pala". Personally, I give more importance to contemporary accounts than to on-line encyclopedias.
You stated that the "pala" is straighter and has upward quillons. I am sure you have a reason for this statement, and my question was not intended as argumentative - I am always looking to learn.
Regards,
Teodor

Yustas · 4th February 2009, 05:18 PM

And again, in different countries, same word may mean different things.
Example - "harbuz" in Ukrainian means - pumpkin
"arbuz" in russian means watermenlon.
So close, but there is a difference.

TVV · 4th February 2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yustas

And again, in different countries, same word may mean different things.
Example - "harbuz" in Ukrainian means - pumpkin
"arbuz" in russian means watermenlon.
So close, but there is a difference.

I completely agree that the etymology of weapons can be tricky, but you still have not answered my original question.

Yustas · 4th February 2009, 05:42 PM

I have no direct link or source at the time, but this is what i figured out by looking at different variation of Turkish swords on the web. The type that ingvar posted, or one of this kind :
http://picasaweb.google.com/yura.sor...84308894373554
was always referred as pala.

TVV · 4th February 2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yustas

I have no direct link or source at the time, but this is what i figured out by looking at different variation of Turkish swords on the web. The type that ingvar posted, or one of this kind :
http://picasaweb.google.com/yura.sor...84308894373554
was always referred as pala.

Yustas, the sword in the link is a late 19th century Ottoman officer's military sword, and I think it might even be a regular pattern. Many of these swords were captured during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, and even as late as the Balkan War. The guard shape was inspired by earlier forms, and artistically connected to the Revival going on in the Empire at the time - you can draw parallels to similar Revival pieces in Persia from the same period.

You state that "this kind ... was always referred as pala", and I just ask - by whom?

4th February 2009, 05:04 PM	#1
Yustas Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	It mostly a matter a diferrentiation. Kilich - is a wider therm, and pala is more narrow. Something like a sword and a saber.

4th February 2009, 05:11 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,602	Yustas, I have read the memoirs of Bulgarian revolutionaries during the 19th century, and in them they refer to the shorter, wider version of the kilidj from the early 19th century as "pala". Personally, I give more importance to contemporary accounts than to on-line encyclopedias. You stated that the "pala" is straighter and has upward quillons. I am sure you have a reason for this statement, and my question was not intended as argumentative - I am always looking to learn. Regards, Teodor

4th February 2009, 05:18 PM	#3
Yustas Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	And again, in different countries, same word may mean different things. Example - "harbuz" in Ukrainian means - pumpkin "arbuz" in russian means watermenlon. So close, but there is a difference.

4th February 2009, 05:42 PM	#5
Yustas Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	I have no direct link or source at the time, but this is what i figured out by looking at different variation of Turkish swords on the web. The type that ingvar posted, or one of this kind : http://picasaweb.google.com/yura.sor...84308894373554 was always referred as pala.