kaskara for komment...and translation

[stephen wood]

Yes, all the leatherwork is relatively new and supple. The joins on the scabbard are glued - older scabbards tend to be stitched. I wonder about the significance of the "leaves" and the long cords on the strap. Similar, longer attachments are found on Manding scabbards I think...The inscriptions is said to be a well-known Koranic verse which translated approximately says "...if God is on our side nothing can harm us".

[Dom]

Originally Posted by stephen wood

The inscriptions is said to be a well-known Koranic verse which translated approximately says "...if God is on our side nothing can harm us".

Hi Stephen
a little more precisly
the 1st lign is part (first sentence) of the verse 58 surate "Al Furqan"
" .... WA TAKALTO ALA EL LAZI LAYAMOUT CHA'HET AL WOUGOUD" either in English; "AND TRUST THOU IN THE LIVEING ONE WHO DIETH NO".

the 2nd sentence; certainly extracted from the Holy quran, but I didn't find exactly the surate
" WA OMAT AL APTSAR WA TAWAKALTO ALA ALLAH EL WAHED QL KA'HARE" either in English; "WITNESS FOR OUR TIME BEING, THEIR VIEW IS BLIND, GOD IS UNIQUE AND ALWAYS VICTORIOUS".

à +

Dom

[stephen wood]

wow many thanks Dom...

[Jim McDougall]

Nice work Dom! Thank you for always being so helpful with these inscriptions, it really adds so much to appreciating these swords.

Is there some explanation for the crescent symbolism as seen here in multiple sequences? Something key to the Sudan ? It seems we have seen this motif on some other kaskaras.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Is there some explanation for the crescent symbolism

only informations I might bring is
- the crescent is not (repeat, NOT) official symbol of Islam.
- appear, just with Ottomans when they took over Istanbul, the crescent was the town's symbol, they decided to use it as their own.

but no direct linkage with the Islamic religion,more,
some Muslims consider the use of any symbol,
and especially the crescent moon which was originally pagan, to be a sin.

à +

Dom

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Dom.
I was aware that the crescent symbolism long predated Islam, and that the use of symbols and images varys within the various sects and followings of the Faith.

It seems that the folk religions of certain regions, in this case the Sudan, follow Islam in varying application accordingly and sometimes nominally, and that celestial symbolism has some specific importance there. It seems the crescent had some such symbolism in ancient Egyptian pantheons.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

It seems that the folk religions of certain regions, in this case the Sudan, follow Islam in varying application accordingly and sometimes nominally, and that celestial symbolism has some specific importance there. It seems the crescent had some such symbolism in ancient Egyptian pantheons.

Hi Jim
That is not taking enough in consideration that Islam came to these regions after Christianity, which had already and severely erase the ancient beliefs.
The Egyptian pharaoh beliefs was completely vanish from the spirit when Muslims over load the Sudan, more than 1000 years later

From the third century to the sixth century the whole of Sudan was Christian, and was even the official religion. Then the seventh century to the fifteenth century the two religions live in coexistence almost peaceful.

I am skeptical about some reminicent of a religion for over 1000 years,
especially when you know the damage that Christians have inflicted on the Pharaonic monuments
later Muslims continued destruction of the work already undertaken

might be possible (under reserve) to find some signs of "Kaballah" mix-up with some other Islamic objects for magical practices, but never saw or noticed pharaonic marks or signs

but ... I never forget my favorite thought;
in those countries, every thing is possible, and more specially the impossible
it's land of wonders, or it's not ??

à +

Dom

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Dom

wrong message,
mix photos, and then pic and translation are not for the "kaskara", sorry Stephen

Hi Stephen
a little more precisly
the 1st lign is part (first sentence) of the verse 58 surate "Al Furqan"
" .... WA TAKALTO ALA EL LAZI LAYAMOUT CHA'HET AL WOUGOUD" either in English; "AND TRUST THOU IN THE LIVEING ONE WHO DIETH NO".

the 2nd sentence; certainly extracted from the Holy quran, but I didn't find exactly the surate
" WA OMAT AL APTSAR WA TAWAKALTO ALA ALLAH EL WAHED QL KA'HARE" either in English; "WITNESS FOR OUR TIME BEING, THEIR VIEW IS BLIND, GOD IS UNIQUE AND ALWAYS VICTORIOUS".

Originally Posted by Dom

à +

Dom

[Dom]

Hi Stephen ... now your right translation
I'm realy confuse, and deeply sorry for that mess

- BISMILLAH IN YANSURKOM ALLAH FALLA RALEB (lakum) either in English IN THE NAME OF GOD WHO IS GIVING THE VICTORY WHO IS (INVINCIBLE)

- LAKUM ALLAHOU AKBAR WA ILLAH AL KHAMD ALLAHOU AKBAR either in English (invincible) GOD IS THE MOST GREAT WHO IS UNIQUE ALL THANKS FOR HIM GOD IS THE MOST GREAT

à +

Dom

[stephen wood]

...no need to apologise Dom

Many thanks again for your help.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by stephen wood

...no need to apologise Dom

Many thanks again for your help.

Yes, thank you Dom, for answering my post.
Stephen, thank you for posting, I thought we lost ya.

[stephen wood]

...actually, I thinks it's one of the nicest I've handled - it has pretty much everything you would want to see on a kaskara. The leatherwork is particularly well done and it does have the mysterious second strap...