| in the event of illness. This indicates in part, its function on the helmet of a warrior, who faces both a real and invisible enemy. The old book from the tenth century tells us that the crests of Turkish tribal warriors usually consisted of yak tails, or were made of silk , and were worn as a badge in battle. The tradition is known to have existed among Kokturks anr the Uyghurs. A Manichean miniature shows an uyghur ruler with such a crest upon a golden helmet, while in both cultures, pairs of wings were known to have been attached to the helmet, generally peacock wings. Such crested helmets are thought to have been brought to Central Asia by the Mongols crests of various types are found among the Seljucks and Mamluks. The practice of cresting helmets being so widespread as to cause an Armenian king of the period to have his soldiers wear crests. |
| CRESTS |
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| There are always a talismanic element at the basis of decorative motifs, a necklace ofleopards teeth serving as a protective charm in a leopard hunt, both against the animalitself and against evil sprits. This element was always present in costume such as the animalpelts, stones and feathers used as decoration among Siberian tribes. Another function of these elements was a form of identification, a symbol of the social status of the wearer, for example, as |
| tribal marks, symbols of sexual role. In many cultures, the use of feathers as a sign of bravery, attached to head gear is known. The same function is seen in Turkish culture as a sign of a master archer or hunter as we learn from Chinese sources which also show huing-hu soldiers with feathered headdress. Feathers are used as a talisman by shamans in central and northern Asia against evil spirits |
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