Assistance in translating an inscription on a yataghan.

OsobistGB · 31st May 2020, 12:08 PM

Hello, everyone!
I bought this yataghan these days , but i need help with translation and how old is it?
Thanks to everyone in advance!!!

Battara · 31st May 2020, 05:41 PM

I would say that this is from Turkey proper.

The others can fill in other details.

Kubur · 31st May 2020, 06:13 PM

Yes this is from Turkey, it's engraved and filled with silver, a very different technique than the koftgari used in the Balkans. The date is on it 1858.

Battara · 31st May 2020, 07:56 PM

I agree Kubur, this is not koftgari but true silver inlay on the blade.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but koftgari was more often on Balkan pieces and inlays more often on pieces from Turkey, right?

kwiatek · 6th June 2020, 12:03 AM

It’s inscribed with the name of the owner, though this is crudely written and I have a hard time guessing what it might be. A guess is “Mikha’il” but I’m very far from sure.

صاحبه ومالك ملل حيل(ميخائيل ؟) ١٢٧٥

“It’s owner and the possessor... (Mikha’il?) 1275 (1858-9)”

The rest are the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and their dog:

“Yamliha, Maksalina, Mislina, Marnush, Dabarnush, Shazanush, Kafashtatayyush, Qitmir”

OsobistGB · 7th June 2020, 10:09 PM

Fantastic job , kwiatek !!!
Thanks a lot for the translation!According to the inscription, it is possible that it was owned by a christian?
The name "Mikhail" is slavic and the "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus" are Christian symbols if I'm not mistaken?

kwiatek · 8th June 2020, 12:02 AM

A pleasure. I’m really far from sure about the reading of the name as “Mikha’il”. It’s very unclear what it is, I probably shouldn’t have suggested anything. The Seven Sleepers are an Islamic tradition too, they’re in the Qur’an as the Ashab al-Kahf (the People of the Cave). Though the story had it’s origin in Christian martyrology, I’m not sure how important or well-known it continued to be in Christian tradition in fact

31st May 2020, 12:08 PM	#1
OsobistGB Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 96	Assistance in translating an inscription on a yataghan. Hello, everyone! I bought this yataghan these days , but i need help with translation and how old is it? Thanks to everyone in advance!!! Attached Images

31st May 2020, 05:41 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I would say that this is from Turkey proper. The others can fill in other details.

31st May 2020, 06:13 PM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Yes this is from Turkey, it's engraved and filled with silver, a very different technique than the koftgari used in the Balkans. The date is on it 1858.

31st May 2020, 07:56 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	I agree Kubur, this is not koftgari but true silver inlay on the blade. Correct me if I'm wrong, but koftgari was more often on Balkan pieces and inlays more often on pieces from Turkey, right?

6th June 2020, 12:03 AM	#5
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 156	It’s inscribed with the name of the owner, though this is crudely written and I have a hard time guessing what it might be. A guess is “Mikha’il” but I’m very far from sure. صاحبه ومالك ملل حيل(ميخائيل ؟) ١٢٧٥ “It’s owner and the possessor... (Mikha’il?) 1275 (1858-9)” The rest are the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus and their dog: “Yamliha, Maksalina, Mislina, Marnush, Dabarnush, Shazanush, Kafashtatayyush, Qitmir”

7th June 2020, 10:09 PM	#6
OsobistGB Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 96	Fantastic job , kwiatek !!! Thanks a lot for the translation!According to the inscription, it is possible that it was owned by a christian? The name "Mikhail" is slavic and the "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus" are Christian symbols if I'm not mistaken?

8th June 2020, 12:02 AM	#7
kwiatek Member Join Date: May 2019 Posts: 156	A pleasure. I’m really far from sure about the reading of the name as “Mikha’il”. It’s very unclear what it is, I probably shouldn’t have suggested anything. The Seven Sleepers are an Islamic tradition too, they’re in the Qur’an as the Ashab al-Kahf (the People of the Cave). Though the story had it’s origin in Christian martyrology, I’m not sure how important or well-known it continued to be in Christian tradition in fact