Does anyone know any details about the tuareg cross?
By Reyachan
@Reyachan (589)
Romania
November 28, 2009 9:26am CST
A friend of mine found a medalion lige this one day on the street.It was her 30th birthday and she saw it as a gift from above. The jewel is made of filigrain gold, very delicate and strange.
This summer in camo i noticed a person wearing the same type of jewel and she explained that it's one of the rarest jewels,custom made and that it represents the south cross.It's purpose being to protect the owner. She said that in her familly it is passed down every 2 generations, from grandparent to nephew. Unfortunatelly I didn;t get to find out anymore details about it from her. I googled a little and found out it is called the tuareg cross and they come in different shapes and sizes. Im am particulary interested in the one in the picture bellow. It's exactly like the one my friend found.
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/qq135/Reyya/nr_7269a.jpg
Can anybody tell me more details about this kind of jewels and their meaning? What's the legend behind them? Why are there 8 or 9 models, always the same. And where does the model from above fit in this puzzle?
I appreaciate any further information you can give me about this!
Thank you and happy myloting!
1 person likes this
2 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
28 Nov 09
The tuareg cross is from nomads of the Saharian Desret or northern Nigera (depending on the source) known as Touareg, or Kel Tamashek. One source states that there are 21 designs that are associated with oases and villages of the Air and Azawagh regions. They refer to the pendents as 'teneghelt' having to do with the way they are made by pouring the melted silver in to a was mold. Thhe term cross is a european word.
Each cross is uneque to each tribe and are handed down from generation to generation as a talisman against the Evil Eye or bad luck
Any way this is some of what I found. It is an interesting subject.
@Reyachan (589)
• Romania
29 Nov 09
Hey deebomb! Thank you a lot for the information provided! This is exactly the kind of information I was expecting because I couldn't find very much on the symbolic part. Also I was hopping to find on mylot someone who actually wears such a jewel, someone willing to shed some light on this subject and share some information with us.
As for the term cross, I know the chrestin cross and the tuareg one are not related symbolicaly and only have similar shapes because the southern cross constelation insipred the tuareg. Though this similarity is a bit interesting, I know it's pure coincidence.
Again, thank you for your great response! Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@josga2008 (320)
• Canada
28 Nov 09
The Tuareg are a nomadic people from Northern Africa. They got their name from early explores who noticed that they wore face veils. Tuareg literally means "People of the Veil". The modern day country that you can say they are from is Lybia, although they range outside of it's borders also.
The Tuareg are mainly Muslim. Their cross is not a Christian symbol, nor is it a religious symbol really. It is a form of art. It has to do more with their culture and art , than with their religion.
@Reyachan (589)
• Romania
1 Dec 09
Hello,josga, thank you vey much for your reply! I'm sorry I didn't get to thank you sooner, I;ve been caught up with a lot of work. The informations you gave me are very interesting, I didn't know those things about the tuareg.
You reply opened my eyes a bit. I should've searched information about the people who make the artefact rather than the artifact itself!
Thanks again and happy mylotting!
