Discovery of Abu al-Abbas as-Saffahs Dagger in Taiz [Archives:2000/50/Last Page]

A dagger belonging to the founder of the Abbasid Dynasty, Caliph Abu al- Abbas as-Saffah, has been lately found in the city of Taiz. The Caliphs name is Al-Abbas Bin Ibrahim Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Al-Abbas. When Abu al- Abbas assumed the caliphate in 749, and during his reign, he began a campaign of extermination against the Umayyads and other claimants to power. He named himself as-Saffah the blood-shedder because of his savage attacks. He established a firm legal and dynastic base for the Abbasids. He died in al-Anbar. His successor moved the caliphate to Baghdad.
Director General of Taiz Antiquities Office Al-Izzi Musleh told Yemen Times that the dagger was found by chance when a citizen was trying to sell it. The citizen said that he inherited it from his grandfather. Mr. Musleh added that the dagger might have been brought from Iraq to Yemen as a piece of booties during past wars.
In his description of the dagger, he said that it was made of yellowish copper and down the hilt of the dagger written a phrase is wither reading Gods Hand helps Caliph Abul-Abbas. There was also the phrase In The Name Of God that was written in the shape of a gazelle head. Such inscriptions appeared in the Mesopotamia. There are also Arabesque decorations in circles and a branch on sheath. Written on the hilt is Oh, God the Al-Mighty on sheath Oh God, the Opener of the gates of profit and The Most Exalted. On sheath are drawn: river fish, triangles, patterns and other writing that is not deciphered yet. It may indicate to maker of the dagger. He added that this finding was a significant old Islamic antiquity.
Dr. Mutahar Al-Iryani said the dagger belonged to King Al-Afdhal Al-Rasouli Abbas, son of King Al-Mujahed Bin Ali Bin Al-Muayad Daud, son of King Al-Mudhaffar Yousof, a Rasouli king and a scholar who had many books on History and agriculture. He added that Caliph Al-Abbass name is Abi Al-Abbas, The blood-shedder and the dagger belonged to the Rasouli King Al-Abbas.
Mr. Al-Izzi Musleh thinks that the dagger belonged to the Caliph Abbas because what was written on it is Gods Hand Supports the Caliph and there were no caliphs except the Abbasids.


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