Sudanese ceremonial type kaskara

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Edster

Jim,

I wrote a reply a couple of hours ago, but it didn't post. I'll try to recreate it now, at least recall the core.

I had never considered the slavery aspect of croc. elements use for intimidation and fear. I think you have converted me.

Several Nilotic Sudanese groups, apparently the Nuer, revered crocs for strength, etc. and even had clans named for them. I found a good article on " A Cultural Herpetology of Nile Crocodiles in Africa" Simon Pooley, 2016. (Available on Jstor.org, free, just sign up.) One section "Crocodile Societies & Human Societies",p.396/p.6 of 17, includes accounts of how the two species get along. Respectful groups would never kill & eat a croc (and presumably use its skin). Thus the croc grips & scabbards would not derive from respectful groups. I didn't get any connections on croc. reverence/worship.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2639326...o_tab_contents

Best,
Ed

Thank you Ed!
This is great data you have accessed on the crocodile material. When I was researching some of this stuff years ago, I came across a lot of material on secret societies in various tribal group and regions which involved various animal themes etc. in this manner.

It does seem like there were cases of mummified crocs in ancient Egypt, and of course a lot of tradition and various things have carried from ancient Egypt into the tribal societies of Africa.

Another thing is that in the Sudan and environs, there was profound influence of the Sufi as well as Persian material culture. This well accounts for much of the esoteric motif on some Sudanese blades such as the snake etc.
Most of this is from a lot of research over the years, which I have melded together with the great material from your work you have added here.

Best,
Jim