Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/nmfwvnv
Now that the Indus Script Corpora has reached the size of a significant statistical data set of about 7000 inscriptions, deploying variables of over 600 hieroglyph-multiplexes (hypertexts of 500 signs with ligatures PLUS 100 multiplexed pictorial motifs), a reasonable deduction -- falsifiable by cryptography and statistical analyses -- can be made on the lexis of Meluhha (Proto-Prakritam) which was the language or vernacular of Indian sprachbund signified for cipher of the inscriptions.
Lexis, the vocabulary of Meluhha or Proto-Prakritam, is principally related to metalwork, since the Meluhha inscriptions are all catalogus catalogorum of metalwork. The metalwork catalogue lexis has over 1500 words in homophone (similar-sounding speech) sets of 750 pairs of words, since some components of hieroglyph-multiplexes are signified by allographs [i.e. hieroglyphs signified by distinct 'image' words as for e.g.: ibha'elephant'karibha'trunk of elephant' both read rebus: karba 'iron'(Tulu)].
From this structural evidential framework, it should be possible to reconstruct the morphology, syntax and semantics of Proto-Prakritam or Meluhha.
This note suggests three glosses for this Proto-Prakritam or Meluhha Lexis:
alloy: भरत bharat;
bronze: कुटिल kuṭila, katthīl;
zinc (pewter): sattva.
The suggested entries of the Lexis are based on rebus-metonymy renderings signified by hieroglyph-multiplexes of Indus Script Corpora.
There are 200 copper plate inscriptions in Indus Script Corpora. One set (demonstrated by Asko Parpola as B19 categor illustrated below) had 'hunter' hieroglyph PLUS text with 7 hieroglyph-multiplexes (as hypertexts). Rebus-metonymy rendering of the cipher in Proto-Prakritam was shown as: कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ कौटिलिकः A hunter.-Rebus: A blacksmith.
This expression कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ, 'blacksmith' has the root kuṭila'bronze' and hence, the expression should more precisely be signified semantically as 'bronze worker'.
kamaṭh a crab (Skt.) kamāṭhiyo=archer;kāmaṭhum =a bow; kāmaḍī ,kāmaḍum=a chip of bamboo (G.) kāmaṭhiyo bowman; an archer(Skt.lex.) kamaṛkom= fig leaf (Santali.lex.)kamarmaṛā(Has.), kamaṛkom(Nag.); the petiole or stalk of a leaf (Mundari.lex.)kamaṭha= fig leaf, religiosa(Skt.) dula‘tw' Rebus: dul 'cast metal ’Thus, cast loh ‘copper casting’ infurnace:baṭa= wide-mouthed pot; baṭa= kiln (Te.) kammaṭa=portable furnace(Te.) kampaṭṭam 'coiner,mint' (Tamil) kammaṭa (Malayalam)
Same inscription as on B19 sets of copper plates appears on C6 sets of copper plates but with a distinct hieroglyph-multiplex of ficus PLUS crab (pincers, tongs) on the obverse of the copper plate.
C6 copper plate epigraph: ficus PLUS pincers: metalsmith: लोह --कार [p= 908,3]
Since loha signifies 'copper' and kammaTa signifies 'mint' this hieroglyph multiplex on the obverse of C6 set of copper plate inscriptions (ficus PLUS crab+pincers) should more precisely signify semantically: mint-master, coppersmith.
The text of the epigraph common to both sets of copper plates (B16, hunter and C9 ficus+crab/pincers) has hieroglyph-multiplexes
Inscription message: Supercargo bronze cast metal, ingots (of different shapes), metal implements smithy/forge On C9 set of copper plates, these come from लोहकारः lohakAra kammaTa the mint-master, coppersmith's workshop. On B16 set of copper plates, these come from कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ bronze worker's (smithy/forge). 
mū̃h ‘ingot’ (Santali) PLUS (infixed) kolom 'sprout, rice plant' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge' Thus, ingot smithy 
mū̃h ‘ingot’ (Santali) dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' Thus, cast metal ingot.
dhollu 'drummer' (Western Pahari) Rebus: dul 'cast metal'
kola 'tiger' Rebus: kolle 'blacksmith' kol 'working in iron'
kolimi 'smithy, forge' j̈asta, dasta 'five' (Kafiri) jasta, sattva 'zinc'
dula ‘pair’ Rebus: dul ‘cast (metal)’ PLUS kana, kanac = corner (Santali); Rebus: kañcu = bronze (Telugu) Thus, cast bronze or bronze casting.
This is a hieroglyph-multiplex: slant PLUS notch: DhAL 'slanted' Rebus: DhALako 'large ingot' PLUS खांडा (p. 202) [ khāṇḍā ] A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Marathi) khaṇḍa id. (Santali)
kolom 'rice-plant, sprout' Rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'
goṭ 'seed, rounded object' Rebus: खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi)
The 'curve' hieroglyph is a splitting of the ellipse. kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, '
kaṇḍa kanka ‘rim of jar’ Rebus: karṇīka ‘account (scribe)’karṇī‘supercargo’.kaṇḍa ‘fire-altar’.
Zinc (Pewter)
jastaʿh, Pewter, Pl. يْ ey. جس jas, s.m. (6th) Pewter. Sing. and Pl. See also HI جست jast, s.m. (6th) Pewter. Sing. and Pl.(Pashto) These glosses are cognate with jasta 'zinc' (Hindi) svastika pewter (Kannada); jasta = zinc (Hindi) yasada (Jaina Prakritam)
hasta'hand' (Rigveda); Kafiri. *dasta -- < *j̈asta -- is a Meluhha homonym. The semantics 'hand' and 'five' are meanings signified by hath, ath ʻ hand, five ʼ(Gypsy). Thus, it is reasonably deduced that Proto-Prakritam (Meluhha) jasta signified numeral 'five'.
Zinc had its own hieroglyph. It was shown on two Mohenjo-daro seals now in British Museum.
Faience button seal (H99-3814/8756-01) with swastika motif found on the floor of Room 202 (Trench 43).Slide 315 harappa.com
Video on semantics and orthography of Svastika hieroglyph: http://youtu.be/jRjpJsZvNo8 (4:06) Zinc was alloyed with other mineral ores to create hard alloys. Svastika hieroglyph also denoted zinc in Meluhha: sattva which also meant the alloy 'pewter'. Archaeological evidence shows condensation retorts to produce zinc metal. A demonstration of Bronze Age competence in smelting and creating alloys.
Svastika hieroglyph was also shown on a Mohenjo-daro seal m1225 with inscriptions on two sides:
m1225a Side b: ‘svastika’ hieroglyph: Rebus: jasta, sattva , satthiya, zasath ‘zinc’PLUS ‘four’ strokes:
|||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa 'four' Rebus: kaṇḍa 'furnace, fire-altar' (Santali) PLUS |koḍa ‘one’ Rebus: koḍ ‘workshop’ Thus, zinc fire-altar, workshop
भरत bharat 'alloy'
bhāraṇ = to bring out from a kiln (G.) bāraṇiyo = one whose profession it is to sift ashes or dust in a goldsmith’s workshop (G.lex.) In the Punjab, the mixed alloys were generally called, bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin). In Bengal, an alloy called bharan or toul was created by adding some brass or zinc into pure bronze. bharata = casting metals in moulds; bharavum = to fill in; to put in; to pour into (G.lex.) Bengali. ভরন [ bharana ] n an inferior metal obtained from an alloy of coper, zinc and tin. baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi)
‘Backbone, spine’ hieroglyph: baraḍo = spine; backbone; the back; baraḍo thābaḍavo = lit. to strike on the backbone or back; hence, to encourage; baraḍo bhāre thato = lit. to have a painful backbone, i.e. to do something which will call for a severe beating (Gujarati)bārṇe, bāraṇe = an offering of food to a demon; a meal after fasting, a breakfast (Tulu) barada, barda, birada = a vow (Gujarati)bharaḍo a devotee of S’iva; a man of the bharaḍā caste in the bra_hman.as (Gujarati) baraṛ = name of a caste of jat- around Bhaṭiṇḍa; bararaṇḍā melā = a special fair held in spring (Punjabi) bharāḍ = a religious service or entertainment performed by a bharāḍi_; consisting of singing the praises of some idol or god with playing on the d.aur (drum) and dancing; an order of aṭharā akhād.e = 18 gosāyi_ group; bharād. and bhāratī are two of the 18 orders of gosāyi_ (Marathi).
m1225a Side b: ‘svastika’ hieroglyph: Rebus: jasta, sattva , satthiya,zasath ‘zinc’PLUS ‘four’ strokes:
|||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa ‘four’
|||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa ‘four’
Rebus: kaṇḍa ‘furnace, fire-altar’ (Santali) PLUS | koḍa‘one’ Rebus:koḍ ‘workshop’ Thus, zinc fire-altar, workshop
Side a: balad m. ʻox ʼ, gng. bald, (Ku.) barad, id. (Nepali. Tarai) Rebus:bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin)(Punjabi) pattar ‘trough’ Rebus: pattar ‘guild, goldsmith’. Thus, copper-zinc-tin alloy (worker) guild.
kanac ‘corner’ Rebus: kañcu ‘bronze’ (Telugu) dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul‘cast metal’ kolom ‘three’ Rebus: kolami ‘smithy, forge’ Numeral ||dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul ‘cast metal’ Numeral III kolom ‘three’ Rebus:kolami ‘smithy, forge’
kanac ‘corner’ Rebus: kañcu ‘bronze’ (Telugu) dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul‘cast metal’ kolom ‘three’ Rebus: kolami ‘smithy, forge’ Numeral ||dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul ‘cast metal’ Numeral III kolom ‘three’ Rebus:kolami ‘smithy, forge’
kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. Rebus:
Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) kastīra n. ʻtinʼ lex.H. kathīr m. ʻtin, pewterʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻpewterʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻtin, pewterʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻtinʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻlarge tin vesselʼ(CDIAL 2984) dula दुल । युग्मम् m. a pair, a couple, esp. of two similar things (Rām. 966) (Kashmiri); dol ‘likeness, picture, form’ (Santali) Rebus: dul ‘to cast metal in a mould’ (Santali) dul meṛeḍ cast iron (Mundari. Santali)
‘cast bronze’; it is a glyptic formed of a pair of brackets (): kuṭila ‘bent’; rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin)
‘cast bronze’; it is a glyptic formed of a pair of brackets (): kuṭila ‘bent’; rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin)
kana, kanac = corner (Santali); kañcu = bronze (Te.) dula ‘two’ Rebus: dul ‘cast metal’
dula ‘pair’ Rebus: dul ‘cast (metal)’ PLUS kana, kanac = corner (Santali); Rebus: kañcu = bronze (Telugu) Thus, cast bronze or bronze casting.
Sign 36: kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench. Thus, furnace for metals in mint + kamaḍha ‘crab’ Rebus: kammaṭa ‘mint, coiner’. ḍato = claws of crab (Santali) Rebus: dhātu ‘mineral ore’. Thus mineral ore mint, coiner.
Archer. Ligature one bow-and-arrow hieroglyphkamaḍha ‘archer, bow’ Rebus: kammaṭa ‘mint, coiner’. + kāṭi 'body stature; Rebus: fireplace trench. Thus, furnace for metals in mint.
Ligatures: Worshipper + rimless pot + scarf (on pigtail)Signs 45, 46: A variant of ‘adorant’ hieroglyph sign is shown with a ‘rimless, broad-mouthed pot’ which is baṭa read rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace’. If the ‘pot’ ligature is a phonetic determinant, the gloss for the ‘adorant’ is bhaṭa ‘worshipper’. If the ‘kneeling’ posture is the key hieroglyphic representation, the gloss is eragu ‘bow’ Rebus: erako ‘moltencast copper’. Thus moltencast copper furnace. + dhaṭu m. (also dhaṭhu) m. ‘scarf’ (Western Pahari) (CDIAL 6707) Rebus: dhatu ‘minerals’ (Santali). Thus Sign 46 read rebus: moltencast copper minerals furnace.
Hieroglyphs: backbone (Allographs of 'ox'barad signifying bharata alloy)
This pictorial motif gets normalized in Indus writing system as a hieroglyph sign: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus:baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) Tir. mar — kaṇḍḗ ʻ back (of the body) ʼ; S. kaṇḍo m. ʻ back ʼ, L. kaṇḍ f., kaṇḍām. ʻ backbone ʼ, awāṇ. kaṇḍ, °ḍī ʻ back ʼH. kã̄ṭā m. ʻ spine ʼ, G. kã̄ṭɔm., M. kã̄ṭā m.; Pk. kaṁḍa — m. ʻ backbone ʼ.(CDIAL 2670) Rebus:kaṇḍ ‘fire-altar’ (Santali) The hieroglyph ligature to convey the semantics of ‘bone’ and rebus reading is: ‘four short numeral strokes ligature’ |||| Numeral 4: gaṇḍa ‘four’ Rebus: kaṇḍa‘furnace, fire-altar’ (Santali)
baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi) PLUS gaṇḍa 'four' Rebus: kaṇḍa 'furnace, fire-altar' (Santali)
Seal published by Omananda Saraswati. In Pl. 275: Omananda Saraswati 1975. Ancient Seals of Haryana (in Hindi). Rohtak.भरत (p. 603) [ bharata ] n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin &c.भरताचें भांडें (p. 603) [ bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ ] n A vessel made of the metal भरत. 2 See भरिताचें भांडें.भरती (p. 603) [ bharatī ] aComposed of the metal भरत. (Molesworth Marathi Dictionary).
bharatiyo = a caster of metals; a brazier; bharatar, bharatal, bharataḷ= moulded; an article made in a mould; bharata = casting metals in moulds; bharavum = to fill in; to put in; to pour into (Gujarati) bhart= a mixed metal of copper and lead;bhartīyā = a brazier, worker in metal; bhaṭ, bhrāṣṭra = oven, furnace (Sanskrit.)
Repeating svastika hieroglyph five times on a seal: தட்டல் taṭṭal Five, a slang term; ஐந்து என்பதன் குழூஉக்குறி. (J .) The Tamil gloss taṭṭal denotes five in slang (vernacular or Proto-Prakritam, Meluhha)
தட்டு¹-தல் taṭṭu-To obstruct, hinder, ward off; தடுத்தல். தகையினாற் காறட்டி வீழ்க்கும் (கலித். 97, 17) Tu. taḍè hindrance, obstacle Ma. taṭa resistance, warding off (as with a shield), what impedes, resists, stays, or stops, a prop Ka. taḍa impeding, check, impediment, obstacle, delay(DEDR 3031)
Ta. taṭṭi screen as of cuscuss grass, rattan, etc., tatty; taṭṭu screen folded or plain;taṭukku screen, mat, seat. Ma. taṭṭi screen, tatty, mat used as a door; taṭukku little mat for sitting on, as of school children. Ka. taṭṭi frame of bamboos, etc., a tatti, matting, bamboo mat; taḍaku, taḍike frame of bamboos, straw, leaves, etc., used as a door, blind, screen, etc., tatty; daḍḍi tatty, screen, curtain, what screens or encloses, cage; flat roof of a house. Tu. taṭṭi screen or blind made of split bamboos, cadjan, palm-leaves, etc.; daḍèscreen, blind; taḍamè a kind of stile or narrow entrance to a garden. Kor. (O.) taḍambe a gate. Te. taḍaka hurdle or tatty, screen made of bamboos, etc.; daḍi screen of mats, leaves or the like, fence. Kol. (SR.) taḍkā plaited bamboos, thatch; (Kin.) taṛka mat; (W.) daṭam door Pali taṭṭikā- palmleaf matting; Pkt. (DNM) ṭaṭṭī- fence; Turner, CDIAL, no. 5990 (DEDR 3036)1. Pa. taṭṭikā -- f. ʻ mat ʼ, taṭṭaka -- m. ʻ flat bowl ʼ; Pk. taṭṭī -- f. ʻ hedge ʼ, ṭaṭṭī -- , °ṭiā -- f. ʻ screen, curtain ʼ; K. ṭāṭh, dat. °ṭas m. ʻ sackcloth ʼ; S. ṭaṭī f. ʻ Hindu bier ʼ; L. traṭṭī f. ʻ screen ʼ; P. taraṭṭī, ṭaṭṭī f. ʻ bamboo matting, screen ʼ(CDIAL 5990)
*ṭhaṭṭh ʻ strike ʼ. [Onom.?]N. ṭhaṭāunu ʻ to strike, beat ʼ, ṭhaṭāi ʻ striking ʼ, ṭhaṭāk -- ṭhuṭuk ʻ noise of beating ʼ; H.ṭhaṭhānā ʻ to beat ʼ, ṭhaṭhāī f. ʻ noise of beating ʼ.(CDIAL 5490)
Ta. taṭam road, way, path, route, gate, footstep. Ir. (Bhattacharya 1958; Z.) daḍḍa road. Ko. daṛv path, way.(DEDR 3014)
Rebus readings:
தட்டான்¹ taṭṭāṉ, n. < தட்டு-. [M. taṭṭān.] Gold or silver smith, one of 18 kuṭimakkaḷ, q. v.; பொற்கொல்லன். (திவா.) Te. taṭravã̄ḍu goldsmith or silversmith. Cf. Turner,CDIAL, no. 5490, *ṭhaṭṭh- to strike; no. 5493, *ṭhaṭṭhakāra- brassworker; √ taḍ, no. 5748, tāˊḍa- a blow; no. 5752, tāḍáyati strikes.
*ṭhaṭṭha ʻ brass ʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass? --N. ṭhaṭṭar ʻ an alloy of copper and bell metal ʼ. *ṭhaṭṭhakāra ʻ brass worker ʼ. 2. *ṭhaṭṭhakara -- 1. Pk. ṭhaṭṭhāra -- m., K. ṭhö̃ṭhur m., S. ṭhã̄ṭhāro m., P. ṭhaṭhiār, °rā m.2. P. ludh. ṭhaṭherā m., Ku. ṭhaṭhero m., N. ṭhaṭero, Bi. ṭhaṭherā, Mth. ṭhaṭheri, H. ṭhaṭherā m. (CDIAL 5491, 5493)
Ta. taṭṭi screen as of cuscuss grass, rattan, etc., tatty; taṭṭu screen folded or plain;taṭukku screen, mat, seat. Ma. taṭṭi screen, tatty, mat used as a door; taṭukku little mat for sitting on, as of school children. Ka. taṭṭi frame of bamboos, etc., a tatti, matting, bamboo mat; taḍaku, taḍike frame of bamboos, straw, leaves, etc., used as a door, blind, screen, etc., tatty; daḍḍi tatty, screen, curtain, what screens or encloses, cage; flat roof of a house. Tu. taṭṭi screen or blind made of split bamboos, cadjan, palm-leaves, etc.; daḍèscreen, blind; taḍamè a kind of stile or narrow entrance to a garden. Kor. (O.) taḍambe a gate. Te. taḍaka hurdle or tatty, screen made of bamboos, etc.; daḍi screen of mats, leaves or the like, fence. Kol. (SR.) taḍkā plaited bamboos, thatch; (Kin.) taṛka mat; (W.) daṭam door Pali taṭṭikā- palmleaf matting; Pkt. (DNM) ṭaṭṭī- fence; Turner, CDIAL, no. 5990 (DEDR 3036)1. Pa. taṭṭikā -- f. ʻ mat ʼ, taṭṭaka -- m. ʻ flat bowl ʼ; Pk. taṭṭī -- f. ʻ hedge ʼ, ṭaṭṭī -- , °ṭiā -- f. ʻ screen, curtain ʼ; K. ṭāṭh, dat. °ṭas m. ʻ sackcloth ʼ; S. ṭaṭī f. ʻ Hindu bier ʼ; L. traṭṭī f. ʻ screen ʼ; P. taraṭṭī, ṭaṭṭī f. ʻ bamboo matting, screen ʼ(CDIAL 5990)
*ṭhaṭṭh ʻ strike ʼ. [Onom.?]N. ṭhaṭāunu ʻ to strike, beat ʼ, ṭhaṭāi ʻ striking ʼ, ṭhaṭāk -- ṭhuṭuk ʻ noise of beating ʼ; H.ṭhaṭhānā ʻ to beat ʼ, ṭhaṭhāī f. ʻ noise of beating ʼ.(CDIAL 5490)
Ta. taṭam road, way, path, route, gate, footstep. Ir. (Bhattacharya 1958; Z.) daḍḍa road. Ko. daṛv path, way.(DEDR 3014)
Rebus readings:
தட்டான்¹ taṭṭāṉ, n. < தட்டு-. [M. taṭṭān.] Gold or silver smith, one of 18 kuṭimakkaḷ, q. v.; பொற்கொல்லன். (திவா.) Te. taṭravã̄ḍu goldsmith or silversmith. Cf. Turner,CDIAL, no. 5490, *ṭhaṭṭh- to strike; no. 5493, *ṭhaṭṭhakāra- brassworker; √ taḍ, no. 5748, tāˊḍa- a blow; no. 5752, tāḍáyati strikes.
*ṭhaṭṭha ʻ brass ʼ. [Onom. from noise of hammering brass? --
Tatta1 [pp. of tapati] heated, hot, glowing; of metals: in a melted state (cp. uttatta) Aii. 122≈(tattena talena osiñcante, as punishment); Dh 308 (ayoguḷa); J ii. 352 (id.); iv. 306 (tattatapo "of red -- hot heat," i. e. in severe self -- torture); Miln 26, 45 (adv. red -- hot); PvA 221 (tatta -- lohasecanaŋ the pouring over of glowing copper, one of the punishments in Niraya).(Pali)
தட்டுமுட்டு taṭṭu-muṭṭu, n. Redupl. of தட்டு² [T. M. Tu. taṭṭumuṭṭu.] 1. Furniture, goods and chattels, articles of various kinds; வீட்டுச்சாமான்கள். தட்டுமுட்டு விற்று மாற்றாது (பணவிடு. 225). 2. Apparatus, tools, instruments, utensils; கருவி கள். 3. Luggage, baggage; மூட்டைகள். (W .)Ta. taṭṭumuṭṭu furniture, goods and chattels, utensils, luggage. Ma. taṭṭumuṭṭu kitchen utensils, household stuff. Tu. taṭṭimuṭṭu id.(DEDR 3041)
A hieroglyph which is repeatedly deployed in Indus writing is svastika. What is the ancient reading and meaning?
அஞ்சுவர்ணத்தோன் añcu-varṇattōṉ, n. < id. +. Zinc;
துத்தநாகம். (R.) அஞ்சுவண்ணம் añcu-vaṇṇam, n. < அஞ்சு +. A trade guild; ஒருசார் வணிகர் குழு. (T. A. S . ii, 69.) அஞ்சுபஞ்சலத்தார் añcu-pañcalattār
, n. < அஞ்சு + பஞ்சாளத்தார். Pañca-kammāḷar, the five artisan classes; பஞ்சகம்மாளர். (I. M. P. C g. 371.)
Its color is usually yellow, brown, or gray to gray-black, and it may be shiny or dull. Itsluster is adamantine, resinous to submetallic for high iron varieties. It has a yellow or light brown streak, a Mohs hardness of 3.5–4, and a specific gravity of 3.9–4.1. Some specimens have a red iridescence within the gray-black crystals; these are called "ruby sphalerite." The pale yellow and red varieties have very little iron and are translucent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphalerite
I suggest that it reads sattva. Its rebus rendering and meaning is zastas 'spelter or sphalerite or sulphate of zinc.'
Zinc occurs in sphalerite, or sulphate of zinc in five colours.
The Meluhha gloss for 'five' is: taṭṭal Homonym is: ṭhaṭṭha ʻbrassʼ(i.e. alloy of copper + zinc).
Glosses for zinc are: sattu (Tamil), satta, sattva (Kannada) jasthजस्थ । त्रपु m. (sg. dat. jastas जस्तस् ), zinc, spelter; pewter; zasath ज़स््थ् or zasuth ज़सुथ् । त्रपु m. (sg. dat. zastas ज़स्तस् ), zinc, spelter, pewter (cf. Hindī jast).
jastuvu; । त्रपूद्भवः adj. (f. jastüvü), made of zinc or pewter.(Kashmiri).
Hence the hieroglyph: svastika repeated five times. Five svastika are thus read: taṭṭal sattva Rebus: zinc (for) brass (or pewter).See five svastika on Mohenjodaro prism tablet (m488)
Zinc occurs in sphalerite, or sulphate of zinc in five colours.
The Meluhha gloss for 'five' is: taṭṭal Homonym is: ṭhaṭṭha ʻbrassʼ(i.e. alloy of copper + zinc).
Glosses for zinc are: sattu (Tamil), satta, sattva (Kannada) jasth
jastuvu
Hence the hieroglyph: svastika repeated five times. Five svastika are thus read: taṭṭal sattva Rebus: zinc (for) brass (or pewter).See five svastika on Mohenjodaro prism tablet (m488)
The text inscription on the tablet reads: cast bronze supercargo. It is notable that sphalerite can also be of high iron varieties and hence, the use of ibha 'elephant' Rebus: ib 'iron' together with svastika on a Mohenjodaro tablet.
Hence, the gloss to denote sulphate of zinc: తుత్తము [ tuttamu ] or
சத்து³ cattu, n. prob. šilā-jatu. 1. A variety of gypsum; கர்ப்பூரசிலாசத்து. (சங். அக.) 2. Sulphate of zinc; துத்தம். (பைஷஜ. 86.)
कुटिल [ kuṭila ] a (S) Crooked or bent.
kuṭa2 , °ṭi -- , °ṭha -- 3 , °ṭhi -- m. ʻ tree ʼ lex., °ṭaka -- m. ʻ a kind of tree ʼ Kauś.
Pk. kuḍa -- m. ʻ tree ʼ; Paš. lauṛ. kuṛāˊ ʻ tree ʼ, dar. kaṛék ʻ tree, oak ʼ ~ Par. kōṛ ʻ stick ʼ IIFL iii 3, 98.(CDIAL 3228)
Copper plate m1457![]()
The set of hieroglyphs deciphered as: 1. zinc-pewter and 2. bronze:1. jasta, sattva and 2. kuṭila
The set of hieroglyphs deciphered as: 1. zinc-pewter and 2. bronze:1. jasta, sattva and 2. kuṭilaHieroglyph: sattva 'svastika hieroglyph'; j̈asta, dasta 'five'(Kafiri) Rebus: jasta, sattva 'zinc'
Hieroglyph: kuṛuk 'coil' Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, '
Ext. in H. kuṛuk f. ʻ coil of string or rope ʼ; M. kuḍċā m. ʻ palm contracted and hollowed ʼ, kuḍapṇẽ ʻ to curl over, crisp, contract ʼ. (CDIAL 3230)
Pa. kuṭila -- ʻ bent ʼ, n. ʻ bend ʼ; Pk. kuḍila -- ʻ crooked ʼ, °illa -- ʻ humpbacked ʼ, °illaya -- ʻ bent ʼ(CDIAL 3231)