Dagger (kris)

In the old days Malay and Indonesian men routinely
wore a kris, or dagger. Today the weapon appears only at
ceremonial occasions but great krises are still treasured,
and not just for their beauty or venerable age. They have
significant symbolic associations, and some are said to
have the power to turn away flames, control floods, or
fly to their master's defense. This dagger's opulent goldand-
jewel ornamentation reflects the importance of
such protective powers for its wearer. For the weapon's
adversary, however, the hand-forged steel blade is a
dangerous threat.
AH
The blade of this dagger is hypnotizing to me in the ways
snakes are. It's not just its sinuous, slithering shape, but
also its glistening dark surface and its combination of
beauty and menace. I can't help wondering why a blade
was designed in such a shape and what kind of gruesome
wound it would make. In my imagination the elaborate
golden sheath serves not just to protect the dagger but
to contain its power and keep it under control.
FMcG