Ceylon Piha-kaetta (?)

Anandalal N. · 29th April 2009, 12:24 PM

Hi Rand,

Reference to your question I can say that the interlocking figures are a prevalent featue in Ceylonese temple paintings and in combination with the other features strongly suggest Ceylonese origin for the hilt.

What follows is an extract from the paper SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala.

"Wrestling scenes are depicted either in a circle, as a square, or with the figures standing. Sinhala artists frequently employ ingenious combinations of the female figure to depict the chariot wheel, chariot, vase, palanquin, arch, swastika, flowring creeper, elephant and horse, but no such use of the combatant male figure has been recorded."

As you can see Deraniyagala uses the term "Sinhala artists" thus excluding Hindu art. As for me, my opinion is consistant with Deraniyagala's. This feature is predominantly a Sinhala motiff and I would certainly be interested in different opinions. Please remember that there was much cross fertilization in the region. The traditional names for these knots are based on the number of figures and their gender. Never have I seen these with males and females in combination in a single design.

I have added an image with four wrestlers (male) from the temple of the tooth in Kandy taken from the above paper.

The other image from the well preserved molding above the window of the Hanguranketha Temple shows a female figure with arms pronated holding creepers or floral designs similar to the knife hilt under discussion. Following Deraniyagala's suggestions, the interlocking figures in the knife under discussion could be a cart wheel with the outer circle suggesting the outer rim of the wheel and the inner hollow square suggesting the aperture intended to receive the axle head.

Regards.

rand · 29th April 2009, 01:33 PM

Anandala,

Great input.....

The quote from Deraniyagala's book is compeling evidence that this dagger is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). \

You say the circular motif is found in Sinhalese temple painting but do not mention which religion the temple is. Is it a Hindu temple? A Buddist temple? Or is this seen in multiple religons in Sri Lanka? My guess would be its a Hindu temple because of the other figures on the daggers handle.

We seem to have come full circle on this dagger, just like the motif!!!

rand

rand · 29th April 2009, 02:09 PM

Found another book by the same author of "SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala", cept this book is titled "Sinhala Weapons and Armor". He was the director of museums in Ceylon.....

A quote from this book,"The hilt of the sword should have a pommel of lotus petals; the middle part should be decorated and possess auspicious figures as of lions,etc. A circle at the middle of a weapon is inauspicious".

This puts a most intrigueing twist as bad, ill,misfortune,unfavorable are synonems for inauspicious.

The entire book is posted at this site and is fascinating reading:
http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf

rand

Anandalal N. · 29th April 2009, 02:19 PM

Hi Rand,

Temples here refers to Buddhist temples. The Hanguranketha temple and the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy are both Buddhist Temples.

Both papers by Deraniyagala are published in the Royal Asiatic Society Journals.

Best Regards.

29th April 2009, 12:24 PM	#1
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Hi Rand, Reference to your question I can say that the interlocking figures are a prevalent featue in Ceylonese temple paintings and in combination with the other features strongly suggest Ceylonese origin for the hilt. What follows is an extract from the paper SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala. "Wrestling scenes are depicted either in a circle, as a square, or with the figures standing. Sinhala artists frequently employ ingenious combinations of the female figure to depict the chariot wheel, chariot, vase, palanquin, arch, swastika, flowring creeper, elephant and horse, but no such use of the combatant male figure has been recorded." As you can see Deraniyagala uses the term "Sinhala artists" thus excluding Hindu art. As for me, my opinion is consistant with Deraniyagala's. This feature is predominantly a Sinhala motiff and I would certainly be interested in different opinions. Please remember that there was much cross fertilization in the region. The traditional names for these knots are based on the number of figures and their gender. Never have I seen these with males and females in combination in a single design. I have added an image with four wrestlers (male) from the temple of the tooth in Kandy taken from the above paper. The other image from the well preserved molding above the window of the Hanguranketha Temple shows a female figure with arms pronated holding creepers or floral designs similar to the knife hilt under discussion. Following Deraniyagala's suggestions, the interlocking figures in the knife under discussion could be a cart wheel with the outer circle suggesting the outer rim of the wheel and the inner hollow square suggesting the aperture intended to receive the axle head. Regards. Attached Images

29th April 2009, 02:09 PM	#3
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Sinhala Weapons and Armor Found another book by the same author of "SOME MEDIEVAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SINHALA WRESTLERS AND GLADIATORS (1937) by P E P Deraniyagala", cept this book is titled "Sinhala Weapons and Armor". He was the director of museums in Ceylon..... A quote from this book,"The hilt of the sword should have a pommel of lotus petals; the middle part should be decorated and possess auspicious figures as of lions,etc. A circle at the middle of a weapon is inauspicious". This puts a most intrigueing twist as bad, ill,misfortune,unfavorable are synonems for inauspicious. The entire book is posted at this site and is fascinating reading: http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf rand

29th April 2009, 01:33 PM	#2
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Anandala, Great input..... The quote from Deraniyagala's book is compeling evidence that this dagger is from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). \ You say the circular motif is found in Sinhalese temple painting but do not mention which religion the temple is. Is it a Hindu temple? A Buddist temple? Or is this seen in multiple religons in Sri Lanka? My guess would be its a Hindu temple because of the other figures on the daggers handle. We seem to have come full circle on this dagger, just like the motif!!! rand

29th April 2009, 02:19 PM	#4
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Hi Rand, Temples here refers to Buddhist temples. The Hanguranketha temple and the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy are both Buddhist Temples. Both papers by Deraniyagala are published in the Royal Asiatic Society Journals. Best Regards.