Jambiya
A jambiya, also spelled janbiya, jambya, jambia and janbia (
Types
The jambiya were taken by travelers to other cultures including the
Hilt or handle
A significant part of a jambiya is its hilt (handle). The saifani hilt is made of rhinoceros horn, which can cost up to $1500 per kilogram; poaching of Black Rhinos for this purpose has led them to become critically endangered. It is used on the daggers of wealthier citizens. Different versions of saifani hilts can be distinguished by their colour. Other janbiya hilts are made of a different types of horn, wood, metal and ivory from elephants and walrus. Apart from the material used for the hilt, the design and detail is a measure of its value and the status of its owner.[7]
Blade, sheath and belt
The double edged
Use
Despite the cultural significance of the jambiya, it is still a weapon. Although people have used it in times of dispute, there are societal norms that must be followed in order to avoid defamation. The jambiya should only come out of its sheath in extreme cases of conflict. It is also commonly used in traditional events, such as dances.
Like with some other curved knives, as the blade bends towards the opponent, the user need not angle the wrist, which makes it more comfortable as a stabbing weapon than straight-bladed knives. Its heavy blade enables the user to inflict deep wounds.[5]
Yemeni jambia
A jambia is a short dagger worn by men in Yemen. The handle of a jambiya tells the status of the man who wears it.
Structure and make
The jambia was given its name because it is worn on the side of a person – the word jambia is derived from the Arabic word janb (
The jambia handle often tells of the social status of the man who wears it. Jambias were often made with ivory handles. The manufacturers most often receive this material through smugglers, due to the international ban on the substance. As ivory has only ever had ornamental merit in such an application, those that recognize the jambia as a tool and/or weapon tend to prefer a hardwood handle anyway. Many street-side charlatans will proclaim to sell ivory-handled jambias whilst actually selling poorly-made blades with white plastic handles.
Qualities
The most famous sort of the jambia is that which has a "saifani" or ivory handle. It has a dim yellowish lustre. The more translucent ivory will turn a yellow colour with age. This is called "saifani heart". Some of the ivory handles are called "asadi", when they turn into greenish yellow. When the handle becomes whitish yellow, it is called "zaraf". There is also an albasali (onionish), kind whose colour resembles that of a white onion.
The ivory handle jambia is often worn as a sign of high social status. They are typically used by most Yemeni people, except those in the city of Aden where most of them have given up using it because it was banned during the rule of the Marxist government of south Yemen.[9] The Jambiya hasn't been specialized for a particular person in the country, but the valuable ones can be found with a particular persons, like judges, famous merchants and businessmen.
Antique jambias that have been worn by historic persons can fetch exorbitant prices, like that of the Sheikh of the
Popular culture
- T. E. Lawrence was famous for using a jambiya knife historically. He was portrayed using one in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia, the 1989 book Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence, the 1990 television film A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia, and the documentary Deadliest Warrior.
- Aladdin owns a jambiya left by his father, and uses it to fight Sa'Luk in the 1996 film Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
- Geralt of Rivia owns a dagger that resembles a jambiya in the 2007 game The Witcher.
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
- God of War: Ragnarök.
- In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Harbingers of Death wield daggers similar to jambiyas.
- In Battlefield 1 Ottoman medic and scout classes are seen carrying a jambiya on their belt.
See also
- Keris
- Jile
- Lawrence of Arabia
References
- ^ ""الجنابي الصينية".. تراث يمني مستورد".
- ISSN 1026-2881.
- ^ Cammann, Schuyler V. R. (1977). "Cult of the Jambīya. Dagger wearing in Yemen". www.penn.museum. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ISBN 9781849975001.
- ^ ISBN 978-90-04-17643-0.
- ISBN 9781440215056.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4402-1505-6.
- ^ Michael, Maggie (9 October 2018). "Yemeni smiths beat missiles into knives, not ploughshares". Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ISSN 1026-2881.
- ^ Hassan Al-Zaidi. "History of Yemeni Jambia - Yemen Times". www.yementimes.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ISBN 9781597269537. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
Sources
- Friedman, David; Cook, Elizabeth (1992). "Cariadoc's Miscellany: Notes on Islamic Clothing". www.pbm.com. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- "Ethnographic Arms & Armour - The Yemeni Jambiya". www.vikingsword.com. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
External links
- Heinze, Marie-Christine (January 2014). "The Yemeni 'jambiya' and its various parts". Jemen-Report 45 (1/2).