Centipede, Scorpion, or what??

kino · 5th August 2008, 01:32 AM

I acquired this Barung thru a trade from one of our members. One of my prized. It has a pommel of lovely grained wood inlaid with bone and Karabau horn. The blade is inlaid with brass in the form of a Centipede. Others told me it resembles a scorpion.
Another thought it looked like “seaweed”

…. could be, but not likely.

Any thoughts or comments?

Battara · 5th August 2008, 03:03 AM

Interesting - does look like a centipede.......

VVV · 5th August 2008, 06:29 AM

Nice barong!
I have one with a centipede inlay too and assume that it could symbolise, transfer to the blade,
the poisonous bite of the centipede?
Like how in the Bisayas poisonous spiders are added to the sword blade when tempering it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOf3dor2qg4

Michael

kino · 6th August 2008, 04:22 AM

Michael, yours have more of a Centipede image than mine. Care to share photos of the whole Barung. It's niiice.

PenangsangII · 6th August 2008, 06:42 AM

Most likely a centipede - in Morc & Malay cultures, snake and centipede have a place in weapons symbolism - never heard of scorpion being used.

VVV · 6th August 2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenangsangII

Most likely a centipede - in Morc & Malay cultures, snake and centipede have a place in weapons symbolism - never heard of scorpion being used.

Scorpions are seen now and then as kinatah emas on keris and related weapons from Solo. A famous example is the one in Tropen with a cosmic wheel on the other side. Below is an example from Sumatra.
And the full view of the barong with the centipede inlay (on the other side it has Ali's sword, Solomon's seal and a wild dog (?)).

Michael

Maurice · 6th August 2008, 08:50 AM

That is a nice barong Michael!

kino · 7th August 2008, 01:46 AM

WOW! That is a nice Barung, Michael.

Tim Simmons · 7th April 2009, 07:12 PM

Another reference to the power of the centipede, 3rd paragraph.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakobau

migueldiaz · 8th April 2009, 01:03 AM

Looks like a centipede all right.

Am just wondering why in both Kino's & Michael's examples (and maybe it's true for all?), the centipede's head is facing the sword wielder, rather than the enemy?

5th August 2008, 01:32 AM	#1
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 971	Centipede, Scorpion, or what?? I acquired this Barung thru a trade from one of our members. One of my prized. It has a pommel of lovely grained wood inlaid with bone and Karabau horn. The blade is inlaid with brass in the form of a Centipede. Others told me it resembles a scorpion. Another thought it looked like “seaweed” …. could be, but not likely. Any thoughts or comments? Attached Images

5th August 2008, 06:29 AM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Nice barong! I have one with a centipede inlay too and assume that it could symbolise, transfer to the blade, the poisonous bite of the centipede? Like how in the Bisayas poisonous spiders are added to the sword blade when tempering it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOf3dor2qg4 Michael Attached Images Last edited by VVV; 5th August 2008 at 06:45 AM. Reason: added picture

8th April 2009, 01:03 AM	#10
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Looks like a centipede all right. Am just wondering why in both Kino's & Michael's examples (and maybe it's true for all?), the centipede's head is facing the sword wielder, rather than the enemy? Attached Images

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5th August 2008, 03:03 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Interesting - does look like a centipede.......

6th August 2008, 04:22 AM	#4
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 971	Michael, yours have more of a Centipede image than mine. Care to share photos of the whole Barung. It's niiice.

6th August 2008, 06:42 AM	#5
PenangsangII Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 401	Most likely a centipede - in Morc & Malay cultures, snake and centipede have a place in weapons symbolism - never heard of scorpion being used.

6th August 2008, 08:50 AM	#7
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,324	That is a nice barong Michael!

7th August 2008, 01:46 AM	#8
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 971	WOW! That is a nice Barung, Michael.

7th April 2009, 07:12 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,736	Another reference to the power of the centipede, 3rd paragraph. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakobau