Need help with translation of a " blasphemous"(?) inscription

Martin Lubojacky · 14th December 2019, 11:35 AM

It may be the sword is coming from Sudan or bordering area with Ethiopia. As far as graven inscription is concerned, I think there was influence of Iranian weapons in Sudan (?)

Inscriptions: Years ago I bought a shamshir in Libya with the names of Seven Sleepers on the blade and acc. to the Arabic language professor it was also written by illiterate person. I think there is nothing strange on it (that times ...).

The word "Ferench" is still used in Amharic language (in Ethiopia) for the foreigners of different flesh-colour (but now it is becoming to be replaced, especially by young and uneducated people, by "China").

ariel · 14th December 2019, 01:47 PM

Seven Sleepers was originally a Christian legend, with the earliest mention in Syriac sources. It was mentioned in the Koran ( with no number ) and thus became a part of Muslim theology, with perhaps the widest spread among the Sufis. Multiple Ottoman Yataghans carry inscriptions with their names. After all, the most popular location of the cave was near Ephesus. It is not a surprise that Libyan blade carried it: Ottoman influence was strong there.

I am also not surprised by the poor literacy of the inscriptions: bladesmiths all over the world were manual laborers, not exquisitely educated grammarians.

Kubur · 14th December 2019, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

It may be the sword is coming from Sudan or bordering area with Ethiopia.

Yes we had in the past a discussion about the Sudanese swords as token of war by Ethiopians and vice-versa Ethiopian swords reused by Sudanese and finally ended in Yemen...

I can see something like that or the opposite: Yemen, Sudan and finally mounted as a gurade by his Ethiopian owner.

14th December 2019, 11:35 AM	#1
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	It may be the sword is coming from Sudan or bordering area with Ethiopia. As far as graven inscription is concerned, I think there was influence of Iranian weapons in Sudan (?) Inscriptions: Years ago I bought a shamshir in Libya with the names of Seven Sleepers on the blade and acc. to the Arabic language professor it was also written by illiterate person. I think there is nothing strange on it (that times ...). The word "Ferench" is still used in Amharic language (in Ethiopia) for the foreigners of different flesh-colour (but now it is becoming to be replaced, especially by young and uneducated people, by "China").

14th December 2019, 01:47 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Seven Sleepers was originally a Christian legend, with the earliest mention in Syriac sources. It was mentioned in the Koran ( with no number ) and thus became a part of Muslim theology, with perhaps the widest spread among the Sufis. Multiple Ottoman Yataghans carry inscriptions with their names. After all, the most popular location of the cave was near Ephesus. It is not a surprise that Libyan blade carried it: Ottoman influence was strong there. I am also not surprised by the poor literacy of the inscriptions: bladesmiths all over the world were manual laborers, not exquisitely educated grammarians.