1

Ancient Near East figurines cylinder seals are Indus

Script deciphered khār blacksmith hypertexts

Figurines made by Ancient Near East artisans also have hieroglyh multiplex components as on

inscriptions of Indus Script Corpora-- rebus-metonymy-layered Meluhha Prakritam speech

signifying metalwork

What is shown as a hypertext on a potsherd is also shown on a Mohenjo-daro bronze figurine of

a dancers dance-step The gloss is meD dance (Remo) meTTU dance step (Telugu)

Rebus mẽṛhẽt meḍ iron (MuHo)

Similar hieroglyph multiplexes on figurines and cylinder seal hieroglyphs of Ancient Near East

also constitute metalwork catalogues of Meluhha smths

Why is a dancing girl glyph shown on a

potsherd discovered at Bhirrana Because dance-step is a hieroglyph written as hypertext cipher

Hieroglyph n pl ʻ wristlets bangles ʼ (Gujarati) Rebus khAr blacksmith

Dancers are depicted as hieroglyphs on a tablet m0493 as shown below

m0493Bt Pict-93 Three dancing figures in a row

Text 2843

Glyph Three dancers Kolmo lsquothreersquo meD lsquoto dancersquo

2

Rebus kolami lsquofurnace smithyrsquo meD lsquoironrsquo

Sign 44 (this glyph could be compared with the orthography of three dancers in a row the

glyph is a ligature showing a dance step and a rimless pot) Glyphs meD dance (Remo) rebus

meD iron bata pot bathi furnace

Rebus mẽṛhẽt meḍ iron (MuHo)

So why a dancing girl Because depiction of a dance pose is a hieroglyph to represent what was

contained in the pot The glyph encodes the mleccha word for iron med

Glyph meD to dance (F)[reduplicated from me-] me id (M) in Remo (Munda)(Source D

Stampes Munda etyma) meṭṭu to tread trample crush under foot tread or place the foot upon

(Te) meṭṭu step (Ga) mettunga steps (Ga) maḍye to trample tread (Malt)(DEDR

5057) (p 1027) [ meṭṭu ] meṭṭu [Tel] v a ampn To step walk tread

BD iv

1523 To tread on to trample on To kick to thrust with the foot meṭṭi n A step

(Telugu)

Rebus meD iron (Mundari Remo)

Hieroglyph 1

Ta patam cobras hood Ma paṭam id Ka peḍe id Te paḍaga id Go (S) paṛge (Mu) baṛak (

Ma) baṛki (F-H) biṛki hood of serpent (Voc 2154) Turner CDIAL no 9040 Skt (s)phaṭa-

sphaṭā- a serpents expanded hood Pkt phaḍā- id For IE etymology see Burrow The Problem

of Shwa in Sanskrit p 45(DEDR 45 Appendix) phaṭa n ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ MBh 2

phēṭṭa -- 2 [Cf phuṭ -- m degṭā -- f sphuṭ -- m lex degṭā -- f Pantildecat (Pk phuḍā -- f) sph ṭ -

- m degṭā -- f sphōṭā -- f lex and phaṇa -- 1 Conn words in Drav T Burrow BSOAS xii 386]

1 Pk ph ḍ -- mn ʻ snakes hood ʼ degḍā -- f M ph ḍā m degḍī f 2 A pheṭ phẽṭ(CDIAL 9040)

Hieroglyph 2

Ta paṭam instep Ma paṭam flat part of the hand or foot Pe paṭa key palm of hand M nḍ paṭa

kiy id paṭa kāl sole of foot Kuwi (Su) paṭa nakipalm of hand (DEDR 3843)

(p 0710) [ padunu ] or padunu [Tel + ] Temper sharpness

whetting Go (ASu) padnā sharpness Konḍ padnu being ready for use (as oilseed being

preparegraved for pressing) sharpening (of knife by heating and hammering) Ta patamsharpness (as

of the edge of a knife)Ko padm (obl padt-) temper of iron(DEDR 3907)

Hieroglyph kara hand

Rebus కరమ (p 0250) [ karamala ] karamala [Tel] n A blacksmith కమ కరకర (p

0249) [ karakara ] kara-kara [Tel] n Sharpness ర

కర (p 0250) [ karamu ] karamu [Skt] n The hand A ray of light ర An

elephants trunk

2

Rebus kolami lsquofurnace smithyrsquo meD lsquoironrsquo

Sign 44 (this glyph could be compared with the orthography of three dancers in a row the

glyph is a ligature showing a dance step and a rimless pot) Glyphs meD dance (Remo) rebus

meD iron bata pot bathi furnace

Rebus mẽṛhẽt meḍ iron (MuHo)

So why a dancing girl Because depiction of a dance pose is a hieroglyph to represent what was

contained in the pot The glyph encodes the mleccha word for iron med

Glyph meD to dance (F)[reduplicated from me-] me id (M) in Remo (Munda)(Source D

Stampes Munda etyma) meṭṭu to tread trample crush under foot tread or place the foot upon

(Te) meṭṭu step (Ga) mettunga steps (Ga) maḍye to trample tread (Malt)(DEDR

5057) (p 1027) [ meṭṭu ] meṭṭu [Tel] v a ampn To step walk tread

BD iv

1523 To tread on to trample on To kick to thrust with the foot meṭṭi n A step

(Telugu)

Rebus meD iron (Mundari Remo)

Hieroglyph 1

Ta patam cobras hood Ma paṭam id Ka peḍe id Te paḍaga id Go (S) paṛge (Mu) baṛak (

Ma) baṛki (F-H) biṛki hood of serpent (Voc 2154) Turner CDIAL no 9040 Skt (s)phaṭa-

sphaṭā- a serpents expanded hood Pkt phaḍā- id For IE etymology see Burrow The Problem

of Shwa in Sanskrit p 45(DEDR 45 Appendix) phaṭa n ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ MBh 2

phēṭṭa -- 2 [Cf phuṭ -- m degṭā -- f sphuṭ -- m lex degṭā -- f Pantildecat (Pk phuḍā -- f) sph ṭ -

- m degṭā -- f sphōṭā -- f lex and phaṇa -- 1 Conn words in Drav T Burrow BSOAS xii 386]

1 Pk ph ḍ -- mn ʻ snakes hood ʼ degḍā -- f M ph ḍā m degḍī f 2 A pheṭ phẽṭ(CDIAL 9040)

Hieroglyph 2

Ta paṭam instep Ma paṭam flat part of the hand or foot Pe paṭa key palm of hand M nḍ paṭa

kiy id paṭa kāl sole of foot Kuwi (Su) paṭa nakipalm of hand (DEDR 3843)

(p 0710) [ padunu ] or padunu [Tel + ] Temper sharpness

whetting Go (ASu) padnā sharpness Konḍ padnu being ready for use (as oilseed being

preparegraved for pressing) sharpening (of knife by heating and hammering) Ta patamsharpness (as

of the edge of a knife)Ko padm (obl padt-) temper of iron(DEDR 3907)

Hieroglyph kara hand

Rebus కరమ (p 0250) [ karamala ] karamala [Tel] n A blacksmith కమ కరకర (p

0249) [ karakara ] kara-kara [Tel] n Sharpness ర

కర (p 0250) [ karamu ] karamu [Skt] n The hand A ray of light ర An

elephants trunk

3

Rebus blacksmith khār 1 m (sg abl khāra 1 the pl dat of this word

is khāran 1 which is to be distinguished from khāran 2 qv sv) a blacksmith an iron

worker (cf bandūka-khār p 111b l 46 KPr 46 H xi 17) a farrier (El) This word is often a

part of a name and in such case comes at the end (W 118) as in Wahab khār Wahab the smith

(H ii 12 vi 17) khāra-bastakhāra-basta - f the skin bellows of a

blacksmith -buumlṭhuuml - ampabove ampbelow f the wall of a blacksmiths furnace or

hearth -bāy - f a blacksmiths wife (GrGr 34) -d kuru m a

blacksmiths hammer a sledge-hammer -g ji -गampabove ampbelow or -guumljuuml - f

a blacksmiths furnace or hearth -hāl - f (sg dat -houmljuuml -

ampabove ampbelow) a blacksmiths smelting furnace cf hāl 5 -kūruuml - ampbelow

f a blacksmiths daughter -koṭu m the son of a blacksmith esp a

skilful son who can work at the same profession -kuumlṭuuml f a blacksmiths

daughter esp one who has the virtues and qualities properly belonging to her fathers profession

or caste -meuml˘ʦuuml 1 f (for 2 see [khāra 3] ) blacksmiths earth ie iron-ore -

n cyuwu m a blacksmiths son -nay - f (for khāranay

2 see [khārun] ) the trough into which the blacksmith allows melted iron to flow after

smelting -ʦa ञ fpl charcoal used by blacksmiths in their furnaces -

wān m a blacksmiths shop a forge smithy (KPr 3) -waṭh -

m (sg dat -waṭas - ) the large stone used by a blacksmith as an anvil

(Kashmiri)

On Pict-103 a decrepit woman with hanging breasts is ligatured to the hindpart of a bovine

signifying a blacksmith dhokra decrepit woman Rebus dhokra cire perdue metalcasting

artisan

Hieroglyph eṛaka upraised arm (Tamil) rebus eraka = copper (Kannada) eraka molten cast

(Tulu)

kuTi tree Rebus kuThi smelter

kamaDha archer Rebus kampaTTa mint

4

Hieroglyph ḍh ṅg u ḍhiṅg u m ʻlean emaciated beastʼ(Sindhi) Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Maithili)

Hieroglyph karava pot with narrow neck karNaka rim of jar Rebus kharva nidhi wealth

karba iron karNI supercargo karNIka scribe

Cylinder seal bull-man combating lion nude

hero combating water buffalo inscription Akkadian ca 2250-2150 BCE Mesopotamia Albite

stone H 34 cm dia 23 cm Met Museum httpwwwmetmuseumorgcollectionthe-

collection-onlinesearch327600

Hypertext blacksmith working with solder pewter brass

Girdled nude hero attacking water buffalo

bull-man attacking lion inscription Kafaje Akkadianc 2300 BCE Iraq Museum Baghdad

From a cylinder seal in wo narrative frames flanking a star metonymy (Afer Fig 1d

in httpwwwdestinercomdestiner_titles_dark_sect01_mehtml)

Six curls on hair baTa six Rebus bhaTa furnace

(p 662) [ mēḍha ] The polar star (p 665) [ mēḍhēmata ] n ( Polar star Dogma

or sect) A persuasion or an order or a set of tenets and notions amongst the Shuacutedra-people

Founded upon certain astrological calculations proceeding upon the North star

Hence or (Marathi) Rebus mẽṛhẽt meḍ iron (MuHo)

The narrative of metalwork is explained as metonymy A horned person ligatured to the hindpart

of a bull ḍh ṅg u ḍhiṅg u m ʻlean emaciated beastʼ(Sindhi) Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Maithili)

His life-acti ity is in wrestling with lion (hieroglyph) (aryeh) lion

(Hebrew)Rebus ā āramBrass (Tamil) [ -ऋ- ञ ] 1 Brass -

5

Bhāg1412 Oxide of iron( The metonymy is thus a rebus rendering of alloy

metal)(Samskritam)

Hieroglyph r go buffalo ra ku m ʻ a species of deer ʼ ās uka -- m r kaṇṭhKu r go ʻ

buffalo bull ʼ ( D A 1 55 ) Rebus r gā m ʻ pewter tin ʼ (Punjabi)rā gā ʻ solder spelter ʼ

(Oriya)

Ligatures on ancient Mesopotamian-Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization artifacts

Frankfort Henri Stratified Cylinder Seals from the Diyala Region Oriental Institute

Publications 72 Chicago University of Chicago Press no 396

Terracotta This plaque depicts a creature with the

head and torso of a human but the horns lower body and legs of a bull Though similar figures

are depicted earlier in Iran they are first seen in Mesopotamian art around 2500 BC most

commonly on cylinder seals and are associated with the sun-god Shamash The bull-man was

usually shown in profile with a single visible horn projecting forward However here he is

depicted in a less common form his whole body above the waist shown in frontal view shows

6

that he was intended to be double-horned He may be supporting a divine emblem and thus

acting as a protective deity

Old Babylonian about 2000-1600 BCE From Mesopotamia Length 128 cm Width 7cm ME

103225 Room 56 Mesopotamia

Baked clay plaques like this were mass-produced using moulds in southern Mesopotamia from

the second millennium BCE While many show informal scenes and reflect the private face of

life this example clearly has magical or religious significance

Hieroglyph carried on a flagpost by the blacksmith (bull ligatured man Dhangar bull Rebus

blacksmith) karava pot with narrow neck karNaka rim of jar Rebus kharva nidhi wealth

karba iron karNI supercargo karNIka scribe

Terracotta Tiger bovine elephant Nausharo NS 92027004 h 676 cm w 442 l 697

cm Centre for Archaeological Research Indus Balochistan Museacutee Guimet Paris

Three-headed elephant buffalo bottom jaw of a feline NS 91023201LXXXII Dept of

Archaeology Karachi EBK 7712 Hieroglyph karabha trunk of elephant (Pali)

ibha elephant (Samskritam) Rebus karba iron rango buffalo bull Rebus ranga pewter solder

kola tiger Rebus kol working in iron

Hieroglyphs and rebus readings mũh face Rebus mũhe ingot kola woman kola tiger Rebus

kol working in iron ahali (kol lsquowomanrsquo) and Santali (kul lsquotigerrsquo kol lsquokolhe smelterrsquo)

harappacom Slide 88 Three objects

(harappacom) Three terra cotta objects that combine human and animal features These objects

may have been used to tell stories in puppet shows or in ritual performances On the left is a

6

that he was intended to be double-horned He may be supporting a divine emblem and thus

acting as a protective deity

Old Babylonian about 2000-1600 BCE From Mesopotamia Length 128 cm Width 7cm ME

103225 Room 56 Mesopotamia

Baked clay plaques like this were mass-produced using moulds in southern Mesopotamia from

the second millennium BCE While many show informal scenes and reflect the private face of

life this example clearly has magical or religious significance

Hieroglyph carried on a flagpost by the blacksmith (bull ligatured man Dhangar bull Rebus

blacksmith) karava pot with narrow neck karNaka rim of jar Rebus kharva nidhi wealth

karba iron karNI supercargo karNIka scribe

Terracotta Tiger bovine elephant Nausharo NS 92027004 h 676 cm w 442 l 697

cm Centre for Archaeological Research Indus Balochistan Museacutee Guimet Paris

Three-headed elephant buffalo bottom jaw of a feline NS 91023201LXXXII Dept of

Archaeology Karachi EBK 7712 Hieroglyph karabha trunk of elephant (Pali)

ibha elephant (Samskritam) Rebus karba iron rango buffalo bull Rebus ranga pewter solder

kola tiger Rebus kol working in iron

Hieroglyphs and rebus readings mũh face Rebus mũhe ingot kola woman kola tiger Rebus

kol working in iron ahali (kol lsquowomanrsquo) and Santali (kul lsquotigerrsquo kol lsquokolhe smelterrsquo)

harappacom Slide 88 Three objects

(harappacom) Three terra cotta objects that combine human and animal features These objects

may have been used to tell stories in puppet shows or in ritual performances On the left is a

7

seated animal figurine with female head The manner of sitting suggests that this may be a feline

and a hole in the base indicates that it would have been raised on a stick as a standard or puppet

The head is identical to those seen on female figurines with a fan shaped headdress and two cup

shaped side pieces The choker with pendant beads is also common on female

figurines Material terra cotta Dimensions 71 cm height 48 cm length 35 cm width Harappa

2384 Harappa Museum HM 2082 Vats 1940 300 pl LXXVII 67 In the center is miniature

mask of horned deity with human face and bared teeth of a tiger A large mustache or divided

upper lip frames the canines and a flaring beard adds to the effect of rage The eyes are defined

as raised lumps that may have originally been painted Short feline ears contrast with two short

horns similar to a bull rather than the curving water buffalo horns Two holes on either side allow

the mask to be attached to a puppet or worn as an amulet

Material terra cotta Dimensions 524 height 486 width Harappa Harappa Museum H93-

2093 Meadow and Kenoyer 1994 On the right is feline figurine with male human face The ears

eyes and mouth are filled with black pigment and traces of black are visible on the flaring beard

that is now broken The accentuated almond shaped eyes and wide mouth are characteristic of

the bearded horned deity figurines found at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro (no 122 123) This

figurine was found in a sump pit filled with discarded goblets animal and female figurines and

garbage It dates to the final phase of the Harappan occupation around 2000 B C

Harappa Lot 5063-1 Harappa Museum H94-2311 Material terra cotta Dimensions 55 cm

height 124 cm length 43 cm width

httpwwwharappacomindus88html

8

masksamulets and

Slide72 Two composite anthropomorphic animal figurines from Harappa Whether or not

the attachable water buffalo horns were used in magic or other rituals unusual and composite

animals and anthropomorphicanimal beings were clearly a part of Indus ideology The

ubiquitous unicorn (most commonly found on seals but also represented in figurines)

composite animals and animals with multiple heads and composite anthropomorphicanimal

figurines such as the seated quadruped figurines with female faces headdresses and tails offer

tantalizing glimpses into a rich ideology one that may have been steeped in mythology magic

andor ritual transformation

Approximate dimensions (W x H(L) x D) of the larger figurine 35 x 71 x 48 cm (Photograph

by Richard H Meadow)

Ligatured glyph on copper tablet m571B (serpent-like tail horns body of ram elephant trunk

hindlegs of tiger) Hieroglyph miṇḍāl markhor (Tōrwāl ) meḍho a ram a sheep Rebus meD

iron poLa zebu Rebus poLa magnetite paTam snake hood Rebus padm sharpness karabha

9

trunk of elephant (Pali) Rebus karba

iron

Slide 44 harappacom Elephant figurine head with painted designs from Harappa It is

unknown whether elephants were domesticated in the Indus Civilization However one of the

few elephant figurines from Harappa is a head with large stylized ears and red and white stripes

painted across the face This may mirror the custom of decorating domesticated elephants (red

and white are common colors) for ceremonies or rituals that is still practiced in South Asia

Elephant bones have also been found at Harappa Approximate dimensions (W x H(L) x D) 54

x 48 x 46 cm (Photograph by Richard H Meadow)

Elephant head with stylized

wide spread ears Traces of red and white paint bands are visible on the face Painting of

10

elephants for ritual processions is a common practice in traditional India and the main colors are

red and white This figurine may represent a tame elephant or an elephant that is being marked

for sacrifice Hand formed and incised Material terra cotta

Dimensions 48 cm height 54 cm width 46 cm breadth Harappa Lot 800-01 Harappa

Museum H87-348

Hieroglyph besi fan Rebus bese solder (metal)

Sumerian cylinder seal

m1186 (DK6847) [Pleiades scarfed framework ficus religiosa scarfed

person worshipper twigs (on head) horn markhor human face ligatured to

markhor stool ladle frame of a building]

Mohenjo-daro seal Ligaturing components horns of zebu human face tail-

hood of serpent elephant tusk scarves on neck bovine forelegs feline hind legs

p ṭ lsquohood of snakersquo Rebus p dm lsquotempered sharpness (metal)rsquo nāga serpent

Rebus nāga lead (alloy)

11

m h face Rebus m he ingot hu ṭ lsquo ebursquokhu ṭ lsquocommunity guildrsquo (Munda)

ibha elephant Rebus ib iron bbo lsquomerchantrsquo (Gujarati)

ḍh ng lsquobullrsquo Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Maithili) ḍ ng lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Hindi)

kol lsquotigerrsquo Rebus kol lsquoworking in ironrsquo

dh ṭu m (also dh ṭhu) m lsquoscarfrsquo (WPah) Rebus dhatu lsquomineral (ore)rsquo

Rebus reading of the lsquofacersquo glyph mũhe lsquofacersquo (Santali) mũh opening or hole (in a sto e for

stoking (Bi) ingot (Santali) mũh metal ingot (Santali) mũh = the quantity of iron produced at

one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like

a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and

formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā

akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) = milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha

should literally mean copper-ingot absorbing the Santali gloss mũh as a suffix

The composite animal (bovid) is re-configured by Huntington httphuntingtonwmcohio-

stateedupublicindexcfm

In a scintillating study of the orthography of Indus Script Dennys Frenez amp Massimo Vidale

provide an insight comparing two hieroglyph components on Indus Script corpora 1 elephant

trunk and 2 hand of a person seated in penance

m1177 m1175 m300

9

trunk of elephant (Pali) Rebus karba

iron

Slide 44 harappacom Elephant figurine head with painted designs from Harappa It is

unknown whether elephants were domesticated in the Indus Civilization However one of the

few elephant figurines from Harappa is a head with large stylized ears and red and white stripes

painted across the face This may mirror the custom of decorating domesticated elephants (red

and white are common colors) for ceremonies or rituals that is still practiced in South Asia

Elephant bones have also been found at Harappa Approximate dimensions (W x H(L) x D) 54

x 48 x 46 cm (Photograph by Richard H Meadow)

Elephant head with stylized

wide spread ears Traces of red and white paint bands are visible on the face Painting of

10

elephants for ritual processions is a common practice in traditional India and the main colors are

red and white This figurine may represent a tame elephant or an elephant that is being marked

for sacrifice Hand formed and incised Material terra cotta

Dimensions 48 cm height 54 cm width 46 cm breadth Harappa Lot 800-01 Harappa

Museum H87-348

Hieroglyph besi fan Rebus bese solder (metal)

Sumerian cylinder seal

m1186 (DK6847) [Pleiades scarfed framework ficus religiosa scarfed

person worshipper twigs (on head) horn markhor human face ligatured to

markhor stool ladle frame of a building]

Mohenjo-daro seal Ligaturing components horns of zebu human face tail-

hood of serpent elephant tusk scarves on neck bovine forelegs feline hind legs

p ṭ lsquohood of snakersquo Rebus p dm lsquotempered sharpness (metal)rsquo nāga serpent

Rebus nāga lead (alloy)

11

m h face Rebus m he ingot hu ṭ lsquo ebursquokhu ṭ lsquocommunity guildrsquo (Munda)

ibha elephant Rebus ib iron bbo lsquomerchantrsquo (Gujarati)

ḍh ng lsquobullrsquo Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Maithili) ḍ ng lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Hindi)

kol lsquotigerrsquo Rebus kol lsquoworking in ironrsquo

dh ṭu m (also dh ṭhu) m lsquoscarfrsquo (WPah) Rebus dhatu lsquomineral (ore)rsquo

Rebus reading of the lsquofacersquo glyph mũhe lsquofacersquo (Santali) mũh opening or hole (in a sto e for

stoking (Bi) ingot (Santali) mũh metal ingot (Santali) mũh = the quantity of iron produced at

one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like

a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and

formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā

akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) = milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha

should literally mean copper-ingot absorbing the Santali gloss mũh as a suffix

The composite animal (bovid) is re-configured by Huntington httphuntingtonwmcohio-

stateedupublicindexcfm

In a scintillating study of the orthography of Indus Script Dennys Frenez amp Massimo Vidale

provide an insight comparing two hieroglyph components on Indus Script corpora 1 elephant

trunk and 2 hand of a person seated in penance

m1177 m1175 m300

10

elephants for ritual processions is a common practice in traditional India and the main colors are

red and white This figurine may represent a tame elephant or an elephant that is being marked

for sacrifice Hand formed and incised Material terra cotta

Dimensions 48 cm height 54 cm width 46 cm breadth Harappa Lot 800-01 Harappa

Museum H87-348

Hieroglyph besi fan Rebus bese solder (metal)

Sumerian cylinder seal

m1186 (DK6847) [Pleiades scarfed framework ficus religiosa scarfed

person worshipper twigs (on head) horn markhor human face ligatured to

markhor stool ladle frame of a building]

Mohenjo-daro seal Ligaturing components horns of zebu human face tail-

hood of serpent elephant tusk scarves on neck bovine forelegs feline hind legs

p ṭ lsquohood of snakersquo Rebus p dm lsquotempered sharpness (metal)rsquo nāga serpent

Rebus nāga lead (alloy)

11

m h face Rebus m he ingot hu ṭ lsquo ebursquokhu ṭ lsquocommunity guildrsquo (Munda)

ibha elephant Rebus ib iron bbo lsquomerchantrsquo (Gujarati)

ḍh ng lsquobullrsquo Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Maithili) ḍ ng lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Hindi)

kol lsquotigerrsquo Rebus kol lsquoworking in ironrsquo

dh ṭu m (also dh ṭhu) m lsquoscarfrsquo (WPah) Rebus dhatu lsquomineral (ore)rsquo

Rebus reading of the lsquofacersquo glyph mũhe lsquofacersquo (Santali) mũh opening or hole (in a sto e for

stoking (Bi) ingot (Santali) mũh metal ingot (Santali) mũh = the quantity of iron produced at

one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like

a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and

formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā

akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) = milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha

should literally mean copper-ingot absorbing the Santali gloss mũh as a suffix

The composite animal (bovid) is re-configured by Huntington httphuntingtonwmcohio-

stateedupublicindexcfm

In a scintillating study of the orthography of Indus Script Dennys Frenez amp Massimo Vidale

provide an insight comparing two hieroglyph components on Indus Script corpora 1 elephant

trunk and 2 hand of a person seated in penance

m1177 m1175 m300

11

m h face Rebus m he ingot hu ṭ lsquo ebursquokhu ṭ lsquocommunity guildrsquo (Munda)

ibha elephant Rebus ib iron bbo lsquomerchantrsquo (Gujarati)

ḍh ng lsquobullrsquo Rebus dhangar lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Maithili) ḍ ng lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Hindi)

kol lsquotigerrsquo Rebus kol lsquoworking in ironrsquo

dh ṭu m (also dh ṭhu) m lsquoscarfrsquo (WPah) Rebus dhatu lsquomineral (ore)rsquo

Rebus reading of the lsquofacersquo glyph mũhe lsquofacersquo (Santali) mũh opening or hole (in a sto e for

stoking (Bi) ingot (Santali) mũh metal ingot (Santali) mũh = the quantity of iron produced at

one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like

a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and

formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā

akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo

(Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) = milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha

should literally mean copper-ingot absorbing the Santali gloss mũh as a suffix

The composite animal (bovid) is re-configured by Huntington httphuntingtonwmcohio-

stateedupublicindexcfm

In a scintillating study of the orthography of Indus Script Dennys Frenez amp Massimo Vidale

provide an insight comparing two hieroglyph components on Indus Script corpora 1 elephant

trunk and 2 hand of a person seated in penance

m1177 m1175 m300

12

Source (Dennys Frenez amp Massimo Vidale 2012 South Asian Studies Vol 28 No 2

September 2012 p115

Meluhha (Prakritam) glosses which decipher the hieroglyph components are consistent with this

insight of Frenez and Vidale comparing the snout of the elephants trunk with the hands of the

person seated in penance karabha trunk of elephant (Pali) kara hand (Rigveda) Gujarati gloss

expands the semantics of hand to include wristlets bangles

It is remarkable that samples of orthography on seated persons in penance on Indus seals the

hands are decorated with wristlets and bangles Obviously the artisan is conveying the

gloss wristlets bangles while signifying the hand kara (Rigveda Prakritam Pali)

Hieroglyph karabha trunk of elephant (Pali) 2803 karin m ʻ elephant ʼ [See karabhaacute --

]Pa karin -- m Pk kari -- degiṇ -- m degiṇī -- degiṇiyā -- f lt-gt Si i iyā larr Pa( D A 28 3)

Hieroglyph hand kar 1 ʻ doing causing ʼ A m ʻ hand ʼ R [ kr 1]

Pa Pk kara -- m ʻ hand ʼ S karu m ʻ arm ʼ Mth kar m ʻ hand ʼ (prob larr Sk) Si kara ʻ

hand shoulder ʼ inscr ā ʻ to ʼ lt āy -- Deriv S āī f ʻ wrist ʼ G n pl ʻ

wristlets bangles ʼ( D A 277 )

Rebus karba ajirda karba iron (Tulu) (Note cognate of ajirda is ayas metal aduru native

metal)

The ram glyph shows the animal with curved long horns and sometimes also gets ligatured with

a human face on some Indus script inscriptions The human face is also read rebus in mleccha

(meluhha) m he lsquofacersquo (Santali) rebusm h ingot (Santali) opening or hole (in a stove for

stoking (Bi)mũh = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the

Kolhes iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at

13

each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little

pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā akata = the Kolhes ha e to-day

produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) =

milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha should literally mean copper-ingot

absorbing the Santali gloss mu~h as a suffix See used in cmpds (Telugu)

mlēchha-mukhamu n Copper mlēchhamu n innabar క

Thus a ram glyph ligatured with human face glyph reads mũh meḍh ram face rebus (metal)

ingot merchant It is notable that meḍ meḍho has two rebus meanings 1 iron (metal) 2

merchant

Elephant trunk of elephant kar-ibha ib rebus karba iron ib iron

Ka bisu (becc-) besu bese to unite firmly solder join be united bisu soldering bisuge

besage besavu besike besige besuge id state of being soldered or firmly united close

connexion composition beccu state of being soldered or united Tu besigegrave soldering gold or

other metal (DEDR 5468)

Ta cu ( ci-) to throw fling (as a weapon) cast (as a net) flap (as wings) swing (as the arm)

fan wave flourish (as a sword) strike beat flog open out spread lengthen stretch spill strew

scatter lay aside throw off abandon drop blow (as the wind) be spread diffused (as fragrance

rays etc) ccu throw cast (as of a net) beat flap (as of wings) blow stroke swinging

oscillation length quickness rapidity ccam smell effluvium iciṟu ( iciṟi-) to fan wave to

and fro brandish fling hurl cast (as a net) whirl round pour forth sprinkle eject discharge

remove swing (as the arms in walking) iciṟi fan vicukk-eṉal onom expr of quick

movement vicai (-pp- -tt-) to hasten cause to move swiftly swing leap hop burst split be

forceful nhaste speed impetus elasticity spring force contrivance as a trap

lever Ma cuka to fan cast (nets) cci fan ccu throwing a net a backstroke yuka to fan

brandish swing wield the wind to blow vbn yal yikka to cause to fan etc śuka to fan

blow throw (a net) emit (as scent or rays) śikka to get oneself fanned śēṟi (Tiyya) śāla

yāla fan iśa spring-trap snare for birds lever viśari fan iśaṟu storm of rain iśaṟuka to fan

flutter with wings Ko ic- ( ic-) to exercise violence throw violently make a sweeping blow

grind with grinding stones (wind) blows ic violent blow vec force power speed vicm

(obl vict-) thunderbolt ek- ( eyk-) to winnow with a side-to-side motion to remove

stones To pis- (pisy-) to swing (arm) grind (grain) cast responsibility of (person) on

forsake pis a swing of the grinding stone Ka b su bisu to swing turn round whirl wave

brandish fan throw as a net blow as the wind mill grind cast (ie put bamboo rafters on a

sloping roof) n swinging etc b sisu to cause to turn round mill etc b saṇige

b saṇike fan b sāḍu to swing and let go from the hand fling throw away bisāḍu ike throwing

away bisuṭu bisuḍu bisur bisur to throw cast or fling away madly furiously carelessly

heedlessly hurl leave abruptly bese a swinge stroke with a whip etc a blow bow for dressing

cotton (Hav) b sāle fan (as the one made of areca spathe) Koḍ bij- (biji-) (Mercara

dialect) bid- (bidi-) to wave (tr) (wind) blows (tree cloth) waves grind with grinding

stones Tu b juni to swing blow as the wind b jāṭa waving swinging fanning

brandishing b jāḍuni b jā uni to brandish fan wave swing out fling b puni to cast a net

throw sling as a stone throw up earth wave the hand wash and clean rice blow as

14

wind b pu casting throwing blowing of wind b suni to fan grind wave swing cast blow

wave b sa quickly rapidly fast straightly b saṇigegrave b sanigegrave fan Kor (T) b - to

grind Te cu to blow as the wind wave (tr) (K also) fling throw with a sweep fan -

tencu to blow as the wind cōpu chowrie ana fan whisk ali wind visana-

kaṟṟa fan visaru visuru to throw fling cast hurl wave swing shake flourish brandish whisk

turn as a mill grind as in a mill blow as the wind spread as scent n waving throwing blowing

spreading vesa quickness vesa(n) (K) ē quickly bisa a spring a

catch bisabisa quickness bisi tension elasticityGo (Tr) winjānā ( h) vinj- to pull with a jerk

(Voc 3240) (W Ph) skānā to drag pull (Voc 3273) Konḍ visir (-t-) to throw off or away

fling (BB) ani a fan Kui nja ( nji-) to blow fan pl action ska ( ski-) ka ( ki-) to

blow a wind instrument a ( t-) to shoot throw cast fling pelt n act of shooting

throwing pl action pka ( pki-) viska swift quick Kur b xrnā to make the gesture of

commencing a certain action being at the same time within convenient distance for performing

it take ones aim for Malt b ṉg re to lift the arm preparatory to a blow Cf Skt j- vyaj- to

fan jana- vyajana- fanning a fan Turner CDIAL no 12043 Mayrhofer

sv vyajanam(DEDR 5450) jana n ʻ fanning ʼ Kā ʻ fan ʼ Bhpr 2 vyajana -- n ʻ fan ʼ Mn

[ j]1 Pa vīj n -- n degnī -- f ʻ fan ʼ Pk vīj ṇ -- vī ṇ -- n degṇī -- f vi ṇ -- n B biuni

Mth bian degni Si vidini -- ya -- Pk viṁj ṇ -- n ʻ fan ʼ S vintildeiṇo m degṇī f G vī˜jṇɔ m

M vj˜ h ṇ -- vā ā m ʻ air stirred by a fan ʼ v hṇā vi hṇā m ʻ fan ʼ -- NIA forms with -- j --

perh rather derivatives of MIA verb with vijj -- lt jyatē B bijani ʻ fan ʼ H bījnā m

G vijṇɔ vijhṇɔ m Mvi ṇā m vi hṇā m2 Bi b niy ʻ fan for jewellers fire ʼ OAw

H benā m ʻ fan ʼ( D A 12 43) jyatē ʻ is fanned ʼ MBh [ j] Pa vījiy ti ʻ is fanned ʼ

Pk vijjijjaiuml G v jv v jhv ʻ to fan (a fire) whirl round in the air ʼ (nasali ation and aspiration

unexpl) -- K vizun pp vyuzu ʻ to winnow sift ʼ (or esp in mng ʻ sift ( D A 12 44) ʼ

Hieroglyph go buffalo ra ku m ʻ a species of deer ʼ ās deguka -- m r kaṇṭhKu go ʻ

buffalo bull ʼ (CDIAL 10559)

ra ga3 n ʻ tin ʼ lex [ f nāga -- 2 a ga -- 1]Pk ṁg -- n ʻ tin ʼ P g f gā m ʻ pewter

tin ʼ (larr H) Ku āṅ ʻ tin solder ʼ gng N āṅ āṅo ʻ tin solder ʼ A B āṅ Or āṅg ʻ

tin ʼ āṅgā ʻ solder spelter ʼ Bi Mth gā OAw āṁg H g f gā m ʻ tin pewter ʼ

Si n g ʻ tin ʼ( D A 1 562)

S Kalyanaraman

Sarasvati Research Center

August 9 2015

13

each end mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little

pointed at each of four ends kolhe tehen mẽṛhẽt ko mūhā akata = the Kolhes ha e to-day

produced pig iron (Santalilex) kaula mengro lsquoblacksmithrsquo (Gypsy) mleccha-mukha (Skt) =

milakkhu lsquocopperrsquo (Pali) The Sanskrit loss mleccha-mukha should literally mean copper-ingot

absorbing the Santali gloss mu~h as a suffix See used in cmpds (Telugu)

mlēchha-mukhamu n Copper mlēchhamu n innabar క

Thus a ram glyph ligatured with human face glyph reads mũh meḍh ram face rebus (metal)

ingot merchant It is notable that meḍ meḍho has two rebus meanings 1 iron (metal) 2

merchant

Elephant trunk of elephant kar-ibha ib rebus karba iron ib iron

Ka bisu (becc-) besu bese to unite firmly solder join be united bisu soldering bisuge

besage besavu besike besige besuge id state of being soldered or firmly united close

connexion composition beccu state of being soldered or united Tu besigegrave soldering gold or

other metal (DEDR 5468)

Ta cu ( ci-) to throw fling (as a weapon) cast (as a net) flap (as wings) swing (as the arm)

fan wave flourish (as a sword) strike beat flog open out spread lengthen stretch spill strew

scatter lay aside throw off abandon drop blow (as the wind) be spread diffused (as fragrance

rays etc) ccu throw cast (as of a net) beat flap (as of wings) blow stroke swinging

oscillation length quickness rapidity ccam smell effluvium iciṟu ( iciṟi-) to fan wave to

and fro brandish fling hurl cast (as a net) whirl round pour forth sprinkle eject discharge

remove swing (as the arms in walking) iciṟi fan vicukk-eṉal onom expr of quick

movement vicai (-pp- -tt-) to hasten cause to move swiftly swing leap hop burst split be

forceful nhaste speed impetus elasticity spring force contrivance as a trap

lever Ma cuka to fan cast (nets) cci fan ccu throwing a net a backstroke yuka to fan

brandish swing wield the wind to blow vbn yal yikka to cause to fan etc śuka to fan

blow throw (a net) emit (as scent or rays) śikka to get oneself fanned śēṟi (Tiyya) śāla

yāla fan iśa spring-trap snare for birds lever viśari fan iśaṟu storm of rain iśaṟuka to fan

flutter with wings Ko ic- ( ic-) to exercise violence throw violently make a sweeping blow

grind with grinding stones (wind) blows ic violent blow vec force power speed vicm

(obl vict-) thunderbolt ek- ( eyk-) to winnow with a side-to-side motion to remove

stones To pis- (pisy-) to swing (arm) grind (grain) cast responsibility of (person) on

forsake pis a swing of the grinding stone Ka b su bisu to swing turn round whirl wave

brandish fan throw as a net blow as the wind mill grind cast (ie put bamboo rafters on a

sloping roof) n swinging etc b sisu to cause to turn round mill etc b saṇige

b saṇike fan b sāḍu to swing and let go from the hand fling throw away bisāḍu ike throwing

away bisuṭu bisuḍu bisur bisur to throw cast or fling away madly furiously carelessly

heedlessly hurl leave abruptly bese a swinge stroke with a whip etc a blow bow for dressing

cotton (Hav) b sāle fan (as the one made of areca spathe) Koḍ bij- (biji-) (Mercara

dialect) bid- (bidi-) to wave (tr) (wind) blows (tree cloth) waves grind with grinding

stones Tu b juni to swing blow as the wind b jāṭa waving swinging fanning

brandishing b jāḍuni b jā uni to brandish fan wave swing out fling b puni to cast a net

throw sling as a stone throw up earth wave the hand wash and clean rice blow as

14

wind b pu casting throwing blowing of wind b suni to fan grind wave swing cast blow

wave b sa quickly rapidly fast straightly b saṇigegrave b sanigegrave fan Kor (T) b - to

grind Te cu to blow as the wind wave (tr) (K also) fling throw with a sweep fan -

tencu to blow as the wind cōpu chowrie ana fan whisk ali wind visana-

kaṟṟa fan visaru visuru to throw fling cast hurl wave swing shake flourish brandish whisk

turn as a mill grind as in a mill blow as the wind spread as scent n waving throwing blowing

spreading vesa quickness vesa(n) (K) ē quickly bisa a spring a

catch bisabisa quickness bisi tension elasticityGo (Tr) winjānā ( h) vinj- to pull with a jerk

(Voc 3240) (W Ph) skānā to drag pull (Voc 3273) Konḍ visir (-t-) to throw off or away

fling (BB) ani a fan Kui nja ( nji-) to blow fan pl action ska ( ski-) ka ( ki-) to

blow a wind instrument a ( t-) to shoot throw cast fling pelt n act of shooting

throwing pl action pka ( pki-) viska swift quick Kur b xrnā to make the gesture of

commencing a certain action being at the same time within convenient distance for performing

it take ones aim for Malt b ṉg re to lift the arm preparatory to a blow Cf Skt j- vyaj- to

fan jana- vyajana- fanning a fan Turner CDIAL no 12043 Mayrhofer

sv vyajanam(DEDR 5450) jana n ʻ fanning ʼ Kā ʻ fan ʼ Bhpr 2 vyajana -- n ʻ fan ʼ Mn

[ j]1 Pa vīj n -- n degnī -- f ʻ fan ʼ Pk vīj ṇ -- vī ṇ -- n degṇī -- f vi ṇ -- n B biuni

Mth bian degni Si vidini -- ya -- Pk viṁj ṇ -- n ʻ fan ʼ S vintildeiṇo m degṇī f G vī˜jṇɔ m

M vj˜ h ṇ -- vā ā m ʻ air stirred by a fan ʼ v hṇā vi hṇā m ʻ fan ʼ -- NIA forms with -- j --

perh rather derivatives of MIA verb with vijj -- lt jyatē B bijani ʻ fan ʼ H bījnā m

G vijṇɔ vijhṇɔ m Mvi ṇā m vi hṇā m2 Bi b niy ʻ fan for jewellers fire ʼ OAw

H benā m ʻ fan ʼ( D A 12 43) jyatē ʻ is fanned ʼ MBh [ j] Pa vījiy ti ʻ is fanned ʼ

Pk vijjijjaiuml G v jv v jhv ʻ to fan (a fire) whirl round in the air ʼ (nasali ation and aspiration

unexpl) -- K vizun pp vyuzu ʻ to winnow sift ʼ (or esp in mng ʻ sift ( D A 12 44) ʼ

Hieroglyph go buffalo ra ku m ʻ a species of deer ʼ ās deguka -- m r kaṇṭhKu go ʻ

buffalo bull ʼ (CDIAL 10559)

ra ga3 n ʻ tin ʼ lex [ f nāga -- 2 a ga -- 1]Pk ṁg -- n ʻ tin ʼ P g f gā m ʻ pewter

tin ʼ (larr H) Ku āṅ ʻ tin solder ʼ gng N āṅ āṅo ʻ tin solder ʼ A B āṅ Or āṅg ʻ

tin ʼ āṅgā ʻ solder spelter ʼ Bi Mth gā OAw āṁg H g f gā m ʻ tin pewter ʼ

Si n g ʻ tin ʼ( D A 1 562)

S Kalyanaraman

Sarasvati Research Center

August 9 2015

14

wind b pu casting throwing blowing of wind b suni to fan grind wave swing cast blow

wave b sa quickly rapidly fast straightly b saṇigegrave b sanigegrave fan Kor (T) b - to

grind Te cu to blow as the wind wave (tr) (K also) fling throw with a sweep fan -

tencu to blow as the wind cōpu chowrie ana fan whisk ali wind visana-

kaṟṟa fan visaru visuru to throw fling cast hurl wave swing shake flourish brandish whisk

turn as a mill grind as in a mill blow as the wind spread as scent n waving throwing blowing

spreading vesa quickness vesa(n) (K) ē quickly bisa a spring a

catch bisabisa quickness bisi tension elasticityGo (Tr) winjānā ( h) vinj- to pull with a jerk

(Voc 3240) (W Ph) skānā to drag pull (Voc 3273) Konḍ visir (-t-) to throw off or away

fling (BB) ani a fan Kui nja ( nji-) to blow fan pl action ska ( ski-) ka ( ki-) to

blow a wind instrument a ( t-) to shoot throw cast fling pelt n act of shooting

throwing pl action pka ( pki-) viska swift quick Kur b xrnā to make the gesture of

commencing a certain action being at the same time within convenient distance for performing

it take ones aim for Malt b ṉg re to lift the arm preparatory to a blow Cf Skt j- vyaj- to

fan jana- vyajana- fanning a fan Turner CDIAL no 12043 Mayrhofer

sv vyajanam(DEDR 5450) jana n ʻ fanning ʼ Kā ʻ fan ʼ Bhpr 2 vyajana -- n ʻ fan ʼ Mn

[ j]1 Pa vīj n -- n degnī -- f ʻ fan ʼ Pk vīj ṇ -- vī ṇ -- n degṇī -- f vi ṇ -- n B biuni

Mth bian degni Si vidini -- ya -- Pk viṁj ṇ -- n ʻ fan ʼ S vintildeiṇo m degṇī f G vī˜jṇɔ m

M vj˜ h ṇ -- vā ā m ʻ air stirred by a fan ʼ v hṇā vi hṇā m ʻ fan ʼ -- NIA forms with -- j --

perh rather derivatives of MIA verb with vijj -- lt jyatē B bijani ʻ fan ʼ H bījnā m

G vijṇɔ vijhṇɔ m Mvi ṇā m vi hṇā m2 Bi b niy ʻ fan for jewellers fire ʼ OAw

H benā m ʻ fan ʼ( D A 12 43) jyatē ʻ is fanned ʼ MBh [ j] Pa vījiy ti ʻ is fanned ʼ

Pk vijjijjaiuml G v jv v jhv ʻ to fan (a fire) whirl round in the air ʼ (nasali ation and aspiration

unexpl) -- K vizun pp vyuzu ʻ to winnow sift ʼ (or esp in mng ʻ sift ( D A 12 44) ʼ

Hieroglyph go buffalo ra ku m ʻ a species of deer ʼ ās deguka -- m r kaṇṭhKu go ʻ

buffalo bull ʼ (CDIAL 10559)

ra ga3 n ʻ tin ʼ lex [ f nāga -- 2 a ga -- 1]Pk ṁg -- n ʻ tin ʼ P g f gā m ʻ pewter

tin ʼ (larr H) Ku āṅ ʻ tin solder ʼ gng N āṅ āṅo ʻ tin solder ʼ A B āṅ Or āṅg ʻ

tin ʼ āṅgā ʻ solder spelter ʼ Bi Mth gā OAw āṁg H g f gā m ʻ tin pewter ʼ

Si n g ʻ tin ʼ( D A 1 562)

S Kalyanaraman

Sarasvati Research Center

August 9 2015