Salvete Omnes,
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| detail from Shahnama Ad 1525 |
We are in la Semana Santa (Holly Week) leading to Jesus Christ Great Friday Crucifixion, and then the pinnacle of Christianity - the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
There is also the illegal war in western Asia, US & Israel bombing Iran and Iran sending missiles and drones against the American and Israeli assets... Awfully dangerous conflict, that could lead to the nuclear world war III. There is also war against Christians, war in Ukraine (Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state).
Ad rem, the title of this post is the Latin name for a Caucasian leopard, the Western Asia- Southern Europe subspecies of the great cat. Here about the cat in present day Armenia. eg Pakistan here,
while looking at the Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid and Ottoman miniature illuminations we often see light spotted skins worn by heroes and warriors or soldiers.
I think the many of these leopard skins in these paintings were made from the hides of the Panthera Tulliana leopard.
. the hero of Shahnameh
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| Rustam astride Rakhsh in his leopard hat and tiger fur kaftan |
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| Rustam in his leopard hat, tiger coat/kaftan and his brave horse Rahksh |
even horses were covered in these pelts
Turkish Deli
from Raalamb Costume book - Ottoman Turkish soldiers Janissary Corps
enjoy
Valete
2 comments:
Fascinating post. You'd wonder whether all of those leopard skins for troops impacted the population, but their endangered status is more likely the result of loss of habitat/prey and proximity of humans.
Don't forget South Sudan and Burma. Too many conflicts when we have far more pressing problems and need to work together.
Best wishes, James
hello James,
thanks for your kindness.
Good question - in some Asian and African countries they used to breed wild cats like cheetah and leopard, but for the nobility to hunt with them. But I do not know how the early modern demand from soldiers impacted the cats populations.
Indeed, the wars seem to have no end in sight - from Ukraine to Burma.
all the best
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