The Tale of the Teneghilt
Tuareg, encamped in the shadow of their shields. Wood engraving, published in 1899.
The Tale of the Teneghilt
The young Tuareg nobleman visited a smith, his trusted friend from childhood. He explained his plight and sought his counsel. After considering the princely tale, the metalworker proposed a solution: he would combine the two syllables of the Kel Tamasheq word for love, Ta-rah, melting them into a silver object that would serve as a token of recognition between the nobleman and the princess. The two syllables of the word are "+" and "o."
The smith promptly fashioned this object from silver. The young man asked what name he should give it. The smith immediately replied, “Teneghilt,” which means "melted liquid" or "poured liquid." He explained that to sanctify the union with the young princess, he had melted together the two characters and syllables "+" and "o," ensuring that, with the help of the object, his love would come to a happy conclusion without a doubt. The young man, believing that the smith had imbued the metal object with some mysterious power, gave it to the princess’s servant, explaining its significance.
Each evening, as the servant brought dinner to the young princess, she placed the mysterious object on the lid of the bowl. Thus, the princess would know that her prince was waiting for her. Each time, she found a way to meet him. Eventually, moved by such love, ingenuity, and perseverance, the father agreed to their union.
“Tuareg Jewelry: Traditional Patterns and Symbols” by Helene E. Hagan