Mysticism of Azerbaijani weapons of Late Middle Ages

Baku /04.08.22/Turan: The exhibition "The mystical beauty of weapons (Azerbaijani weapons of the 16 – 19 centuries)", which opened on June 28 this year, continues with a bang at the National Museum of the History of Azerbaijan.

For the first time, about 300 copies of unique extraordinary weapons made by Azerbaijani masters are presented in the exhibition pavilions.

The uniqueness and uniqueness of these weapons lies in their individuality and uniqueness. The weapon of individual work of a high class, is, in essence, a work of gun art. For example, a steel shield with the image of fragments from the works of the Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi on it. Visitors can see firsthand the personal weapons of prominent figures, including the checkers of the great Azerbaijani philosopher Mirza Fatali Akhundov and the singer-singer Jabbar Karyagda with a unique ornament. There are also samples of weapons from the collection of the Azerbaijani poet Mir-Movsum Navvab: helmets, chain mail, battle axe, armor. The exhibition is decorated with the saber of the ruler of Azerbaijan Abbas Mirza Qajar, who fought against the Russian emperors for nearly two decades; the saber-zulfiqar of Nasreddin Shah Qajar made especially for him on the eve of the war with Great Britain; the dagger of the famous statesman and public figure, academician Aziz Aliyev; the mauser holster of the writer and playwright Najafbek Vezirov, the dagger of the deputy of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Ibrahim bey Heydarov, once taken to Turkey by him, but recently returned to his homeland by his descendants; the dagger of the Irevan Khanate from the collection of Prince Vorontsov, firearms and edged weapons of a soldier of the Azerbaijani platoon of the convoy of Russian emperors.

A special place at the exhibition is occupied by the exposition of weapons for children. This once again confirms the thesis that the possession of weapons and respect for them in the East was brought up from childhood, including in Azerbaijan, which, by the way, stunned Alexander Dumas-father wrote about with surprise. Some of the weapons presented at the exhibition were seized from repressed prominent figures of Azerbaijan and requisitioned by the NKVD, and later transferred to the National Museum of History.

Recall that the history and culture of each nation predetermines its identity and uniqueness. An eloquent testimony to this is the current exhibition. However, today in many museums of the world, the products of Azerbaijani craftsmen are presented as products of either Iranian or North Caucasian craftsmen. It is time to demand a reliable designation in the museum catalogues of the world of works of art created by the hands of Azerbaijanis. It is worth considering the return of Azerbaijani relics from foreign museums to their homeland - for example, banners, weapons and keys to the cities of the Azerbaijani khanates, stored in the Hermitage, as well as in the Military History Museum of Artillery, Signal Troops and Missile Troops (both museums are in St. Petersburg, Russia). The Greeks can demand the return of the Parthenon tiles from the British Museum, or the Egyptians can demand the treasures of the Pharaohs from the Louvre Museum. The museum teaches history, without which there is no future. Therefore, it is worth visiting the exhibition of weapons in Baku, to make sure that weapons are as integral a part of Azerbaijani culture as carpets, kalagai, shebeke or baklava.

The exhibition will continue to work until September, and then the exhibits will return to the funds.—0—