Talismanic Devices and Imbuements on Islamic Arms

[William Fox]

A huge thank you to Oliver Pinchot for Kindly translating the calligraphy. It has enhanced my appreciation of this beautiful sword.

If anyone has photos of other magic squares used on blades, please post them. This is a fascinating topic!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

THIS REFERENCE CARRIES 173 JAW DROPPING REFERENCES ~ I would place this near the front of any research on Talisman related issues and in particular on Ethiopian structures, silver ring engravings, and other 7 stars related marks encountered across Islamic frontiers.
For the actual page full of research notes see https://www.bing.com/search?q=ISLAMI...s=ds&form=QBRE
While the pinpoint research document by LLOYD Graham is http://www.academia.edu/1999297/In_I...h_the_Pleiades

[Edster]

Ibrahiim,

Thanks for posting these two great links. The Graham article may have unlocked the mystery of the silver grip govers in my Kaskara Silver Dress essay!! The Star & Comet motif may be explained in the Dotted Cross and Stars within the Seven Seals. Likewise, the Squares could be an interpretation of the Dotted Cross as well. This may be a stretch, but so far it's the best explanation available. I'll revise the essay to include this speculation.

William,

The Sotheby's image of an Ali Dinar sword (c.1916) from shows magic squares on the blade.

(Help. I cannot attach images (Figs. 10a, 8 & 1) from the Kaskara Silver Dress essay) to this reply. The Manage Attachments button does not open.)

Ed


ESSAY HERE


.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

William, That is great news !! Good luck with your thesis and I look forward to seeing it.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Edster

--- (Help. I cannot attach images (Figs. 10a, 8 & 1) from the Kaskara Silver Dress essay) to this reply. The Manage Attachments button does not open.)---

This should not happen; why don't you try again later, Ed ?

[Edster]

Fernando,

It still doesn't work, even on this post. Would you be so kind as to extract those three images from my essay and insert them in the post?

Ibrahiim,

BTW, I communicated with Dr. Graham and he didn't see the relationship with the Seven Seals. A derivation, the dotted cross, may work, but its traditional meaning relates to illness and is a stretch to warrior concerns. I'll address this issue when the essay is updated as it is converted to .PDF.

Best,
Ed

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Edster

Fernando,

It still doesn't work, even on this post. Would you be so kind as to extract those three images from my essay and insert them in the post? ...

Done !

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Edster

Ibrahiim,

Thanks for posting these two great links. The Graham article may have unlocked the mystery of the silver grip govers in my Kaskara Silver Dress essay!! The Star & Comet motif may be explained in the Dotted Cross and Stars within the Seven Seals. Likewise, the Squares could be an interpretation of the Dotted Cross as well. This may be a stretch, but so far it's the best explanation available. I'll revise the essay to include this speculation.

William,

The Sotheby's image of an Ali Dinar sword (c.1916) from shows magic squares on the blade.

(Help. I cannot attach images (Figs. 10a, 8 & 1) from the Kaskara Silver Dress essay) to this reply. The Manage Attachments button does not open.)

Ed


ESSAY HERE


.

Hi Ed

Well as i wrote previously but clearly nobody look at it
read this book, one Sudanese sword is mentionned...

Power and Protection: Islamic Art and the Supernatural (Paperback)
by Francesca Leoni, Christiane Gruber

Kubur

[Edster]

Fernando,

Thanks!!!

Kubur,

Magnificent Ali Dinar style sword. That must be a great book you recommend. Unfortunately, it's too expensive for me to buy and isn't available free online or via my favorite pirate site, Lingen.io. Is there anything therein that might inform the basis of either the star & comet or dotted-cross motifs?

Best regards,
Ed

[Jens Nordlunde]

Here are two more Buduhs.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

Here are two more Buduhs.

On the lower sword I note the inclusion of the three dots on the 4 points of the cartouche .

Three dots appear on all manner of blades and including Nepalese and Persian as well as Indian. These marks appear to indicate the Trimurti form yet evidence also points toward something else; Tamerlane.

On Islamic blades the geometry seems to be one of protection against evil spirits and in other regions the dots placed not only on blades but on hilts presumably blocking evil from entering the blade from either direction.

Tradition indicates that on a set of Islamic prayer beads there are often three beads included at the end of the string to stop the devil climbing up!

Below; Islamic beads plus 3 to ward off evil spirits and the Tamerlane three dots...

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Edster

Ibrahiim,

Thanks for posting these two great links. The Graham article may have unlocked the mystery of the silver grip govers in my Kaskara Silver Dress essay!! The Star & Comet motif may be explained in the Dotted Cross and Stars within the Seven Seals. Likewise, the Squares could be an interpretation of the Dotted Cross as well. This may be a stretch, but so far it's the best explanation available. I'll revise the essay to include this speculation.

William,

The Sotheby's image of an Ali Dinar sword (c.1916) from shows magic squares on the blade.

(Help. I cannot attach images (Figs. 10a, 8 & 1) from the Kaskara Silver Dress essay) to this reply. The Manage Attachments button does not open.)

Ed


ESSAY HERE


.

Hello William.. Indeed interesting as the 4 and 5 dotted cross are applied to the hilt. the budu square is excellent and clearly placed. I note the square is placed above and left of the main cartouche and this seems standard. It is interesting that the letters are related to a numerical progression which I think was first indicated after magic squares were transmitted to the Arabs from the Chinese and then relayed in the other direction back to China later.