Le chevalier d’islam et son masque : son aspect irréel, quelque peu terrifiant, était accentué par la présence d’un masque métallique fixé au casque. L’usage d’un tel masque existait déjà à la période hellénistique…
L’art des chevaliers en pays d’islam reflète un héritage ancien, inhérent à la culture arabe et transmis au cours des siècles : celui de la furûsiyya (de faras, cheval), notion large regroupant l’art de la guerre et celui de la chasse, mais aussi les exploits et les jeux équestres, et certains divertissements comme les échecs, dont la tactique requiert réflexion, concentration, habileté et qualités morales.
Il n’est pas de victoire sans volonté divine, c’est pourquoi beaucoup d’armes ou pièces d’armement portent des inscriptions coraniques et d’autres destinées à conjurer le mauvais sort. [..]
De tous les temps, qu’il appartienne au monde divin, mythique ou littéraire, le héros est porteur d’un objet emblématique, le plus souvent une arme. Héraclès a sa massue, Moïse son bâton métamorphosable en serpent, le roi Arthur son épée Excalibur et Roland, Durandal. Dans le Shâhnâma de Firdawsi, Farîdûn, l’un des premiers rois d’Iran, arbore une masse à tête de vache… [..]
Selon différentes sources, le prophète Muhammad possédait plusieurs épées, chacune portant un nom. La plus importante était Dhu’l-faqâr, qu’il avait reçue dans sa part du butin de la bataille de Badr en 624. Dans des hadîth attribués à des imâm chiites, elle aurait été transmise à ‘Alî par Muhammad sur son lit de mort. Une autre tradition mentionne qu’elle lui aurait été donnée lors de la bataille d’Uhud par le Prophète qui aurait alors prononcé la phrase souvent inscrite sur de très nombreuses armes même tardives : « Il n’est d’autre épée que Dhu’l-faqâr et d’autre héros que ‘Alî ». [..]
La tradition rapporte aussi que Muhammad, puis ‘Alî, attachaient à l’épée un document, la Sahîfah, où étaient précisés les textes régissant la communauté musulmane, sa constitution, en quelque sorte. L’épée, de ce fait, est symbole non seulement de pouvoir, mais aussi de loi. [..] ”
You say that there is good and bad in every religion. When we talk about religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we mean the same type of religions that have one root. Whatever we call the Being we worship to, Yahowa, God or Allah, not religions, but languages define word for the same LORD. I think when we purify all these religions from the personal or social deeds of followers, we will realize that there is only good in religion, and nothing bad.
Related with the subject, the mask may fear you, but maybe the one who wore it had great love in his heart.
Dear Savita, As I have said many times, I live in Cyprus. Cyprus is the divided island just because of bad politics and in the … name of Religions!! Greek-Orthodox and Turks-Muslims.
In the past between Greece and Turkey there was a constant war, as it happens with all .. neighbours. Of course the main reason, I think was not … Religions, but .. power, lands and wealth. As it appears in every part of the world Churches and authorities are those who govern our lives! Religion is used, together with fear to manipulate people. I believe in freedom of belief. I believe there is only one .. God, just with many different names. This is the God of Love and He resides in every soul. It is the people who have created the .. system and armed the hands of people to kill and destroy our fellow citizens of this Planet. I do not believe in any discrimination. I am sad, because it is not Wise Paople who rule, but egoistic, greedy and evil. As for our children, they become as we..teach them. As for .. Cyprus, since I was born, there are ..talks for the solution of the …Problem.
LOVE,
Thelma
I couldn’t agree more – God is love. And we must remember that it takes two sides to make a war, “holy” or otherwise. I have no idea where Christians stand where you live, but as for the perspective they tend to adopt around here: “There is no God but the Christian God, and Christ is his messenger.” In their eyes, Islam is Satan incarnate and to fight and kill a Muslim, a “divinely inspired” act.
All I’m saying is that we should not be too quick to denounce Islam or any of its followers without first considering that 1. Islam is not the only religion that believes in Holy War, and 2. Every person is an individual and should be considered as such – never judged at first glance, merely by their religion or any other outward aspect. There is good and bad to be found among every religion, and every people.
Dear Walaa, thank you for the translation.
It is the … mask of Religion and the wars in the … name of God. And God in every religion is …. LOVE.
LOVE,
Thelma
When I see a mask like this at an antique dealer or in a museum – a real mask, an historical artifact – I wonder about the individual who wore it. I wonder about the face of the man behind the mask. What did he look like? Was he young, or old? What color were his eyes? What marvels and what horrors had they beheld? His lips – were they full, or thin? And what language did he speak? If my ear had been there to hear, would I have perceived a familiar word, a phrase the meaning of which I might have discerned? Of what far away wonders, or what simple pleasures did those lips speak? What were his fears, his desires, his life’s greatest concerns?
I believe that when we look for love courageously, it reveals itself, and we attract even more love. If one person really wants us, everyone does. But if we’re alone, we become even more alone. Life is strange…
Le chevalier d’islam et son masque : son aspect irréel, quelque peu terrifiant, était accentué par la présence d’un masque métallique fixé au casque. L’usage d’un tel masque existait déjà à la période hellénistique…
L’art des chevaliers en pays d’islam reflète un héritage ancien, inhérent à la culture arabe et transmis au cours des siècles : celui de la furûsiyya (de faras, cheval), notion large regroupant l’art de la guerre et celui de la chasse, mais aussi les exploits et les jeux équestres, et certains divertissements comme les échecs, dont la tactique requiert réflexion, concentration, habileté et qualités morales.
Il n’est pas de victoire sans volonté divine, c’est pourquoi beaucoup d’armes ou pièces d’armement portent des inscriptions coraniques et d’autres destinées à conjurer le mauvais sort. [..]
De tous les temps, qu’il appartienne au monde divin, mythique ou littéraire, le héros est porteur d’un objet emblématique, le plus souvent une arme. Héraclès a sa massue, Moïse son bâton métamorphosable en serpent, le roi Arthur son épée Excalibur et Roland, Durandal. Dans le Shâhnâma de Firdawsi, Farîdûn, l’un des premiers rois d’Iran, arbore une masse à tête de vache… [..]
Selon différentes sources, le prophète Muhammad possédait plusieurs épées, chacune portant un nom. La plus importante était Dhu’l-faqâr, qu’il avait reçue dans sa part du butin de la bataille de Badr en 624. Dans des hadîth attribués à des imâm chiites, elle aurait été transmise à ‘Alî par Muhammad sur son lit de mort. Une autre tradition mentionne qu’elle lui aurait été donnée lors de la bataille d’Uhud par le Prophète qui aurait alors prononcé la phrase souvent inscrite sur de très nombreuses armes même tardives : « Il n’est d’autre épée que Dhu’l-faqâr et d’autre héros que ‘Alî ». [..]
La tradition rapporte aussi que Muhammad, puis ‘Alî, attachaient à l’épée un document, la Sahîfah, où étaient précisés les textes régissant la communauté musulmane, sa constitution, en quelque sorte. L’épée, de ce fait, est symbole non seulement de pouvoir, mais aussi de loi. [..] ”
….masque , épée , pouvoir , amour infini , dieu ….
Dear Savita;
You say that there is good and bad in every religion. When we talk about religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we mean the same type of religions that have one root. Whatever we call the Being we worship to, Yahowa, God or Allah, not religions, but languages define word for the same LORD. I think when we purify all these religions from the personal or social deeds of followers, we will realize that there is only good in religion, and nothing bad.
Related with the subject, the mask may fear you, but maybe the one who wore it had great love in his heart.
Thanks ;-)
Sefer
Dear Savita, As I have said many times, I live in Cyprus. Cyprus is the divided island just because of bad politics and in the … name of Religions!! Greek-Orthodox and Turks-Muslims.
In the past between Greece and Turkey there was a constant war, as it happens with all .. neighbours. Of course the main reason, I think was not … Religions, but .. power, lands and wealth. As it appears in every part of the world Churches and authorities are those who govern our lives! Religion is used, together with fear to manipulate people. I believe in freedom of belief. I believe there is only one .. God, just with many different names. This is the God of Love and He resides in every soul. It is the people who have created the .. system and armed the hands of people to kill and destroy our fellow citizens of this Planet. I do not believe in any discrimination. I am sad, because it is not Wise Paople who rule, but egoistic, greedy and evil. As for our children, they become as we..teach them. As for .. Cyprus, since I was born, there are ..talks for the solution of the …Problem.
LOVE,
Thelma
:-) any mask always reminds of the movie Jim Carey -The mask !!
Blessings Tania
Dear Thelma,
I couldn’t agree more – God is love. And we must remember that it takes two sides to make a war, “holy” or otherwise. I have no idea where Christians stand where you live, but as for the perspective they tend to adopt around here: “There is no God but the Christian God, and Christ is his messenger.” In their eyes, Islam is Satan incarnate and to fight and kill a Muslim, a “divinely inspired” act.
All I’m saying is that we should not be too quick to denounce Islam or any of its followers without first considering that 1. Islam is not the only religion that believes in Holy War, and 2. Every person is an individual and should be considered as such – never judged at first glance, merely by their religion or any other outward aspect. There is good and bad to be found among every religion, and every people.
Blessings to all!
Savita
Dear Walaa, thank you for the translation.
It is the … mask of Religion and the wars in the … name of God. And God in every religion is …. LOVE.
LOVE,
Thelma
Never saw something like that.But reminds me the masks of the people from Peru.?
When I see a mask like this at an antique dealer or in a museum – a real mask, an historical artifact – I wonder about the individual who wore it. I wonder about the face of the man behind the mask. What did he look like? Was he young, or old? What color were his eyes? What marvels and what horrors had they beheld? His lips – were they full, or thin? And what language did he speak? If my ear had been there to hear, would I have perceived a familiar word, a phrase the meaning of which I might have discerned? Of what far away wonders, or what simple pleasures did those lips speak? What were his fears, his desires, his life’s greatest concerns?
Beautiful picture..
It looks a bit weird though that his mouth is covered..
Just a bit of translation, on the forehead:
“There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is his messenger”
<3
All is in the eye.
Love
Hildegarde
X
This mask reminded me the mask of V from the “V for Vendetta” movie.
Here is a picture of V’s mask: http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/img/V4V_cover.jpg
Makes me think of the movie The Kingdom of Heaven.