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Yupa as flagpost, Indus Script evidences of proclamation from Girsu, Ancient Near East to Candi Sukuh, Ancient Far East

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I suggest that yupa inscriptions and yupa found in archaeological sites of Kalibangan and Binjor (in fact, in almost every single site of the civilization) are flags hoisted as proclamations of metalwork signified by Somayaga in the Vedic tradition. 
This Vedic tradition exemplified by flasposts is seen in an extensive civilizational contact area from Haifa, Israel to Hanoi, Vietnam which is, in effect, the Ancient Maritime Tin Road which preceded by 2 millennia, the Ancient Silk Road. The Tin Road linked the tin belt of the world with the regions which demanded tin to create tin-bronzes during the urban revolution unleashed by the Bronze Age.

This is an addendum to http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/casala-on-octagonal-sivalinga-as-yupa.html  

A flagpost is  proclamation. sangaDa 'lathe''portable furnace' as a device in front of the one-horned young bull is also sangara 'proclamation'. 

The significance of the yupa with caSAla in a somayaga gets replicated, as an abiding Indus Script hieroglyph-multiplex hypertext, on many artifacts from an extensive contact zone from the Ancient Near East to Ancient Far East. 

The tradition of processions of flagposts with hieroglyphs atop continued in Sumer/ Mesopotamia as may be seen from the following example:
 



Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes, ca. 2220–2159B.C.; Akkadian Mesopotamia Red jasper; H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm) (L.1992.23.5)
"Four representations of a nude hero with six sidelocks of hair appear on this cylinder seal. Each wears a three-strand belt with a tassel. In all cases, the hero kneels on one knee and with both hands holds up a gatepost standard in front of his raised leg. Two vertical lines of inscription, one placed before a hero and another placed behind a second hero, give the name as Shatpum, son of Shallum, but do not provide an official title. Placed vertically in the field, a serpent appears behind one hero. In the spaces between the tops of the standards are four symbols: a sun disk, a lunar crescent, a fish, and a vase with flowing streams of water."
The heroes carrying the standard are signified by six curls on hair.
baTa 'six' rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' meDh 'curl' rebus: meD 'iron (metal)'.
Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes, ca. 2220–2159 b.c.; Akkadian  Mesopotamia Red jasper H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)  Metropolitan Museum of Art - USA
Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge.  

The key hieroglyph is the hood of a snake seen as the left-most hieroglyph on this rolled out cylinder seal impression. I suggest that this denotes the following Meluhha gloss: 

Hierogyph: A. kulā 'hood of serpent' Rebus: kolle 'blacksmith'; kolhe 'smelter' kol 'working in iron'

Alternative: paṭam n. < phaṭa. ‘cobra's hood’  phaṭa n. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ MBh. 2. *phēṭṭa -- 2. [Cf. phuṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphuṭa -- m. lex., °ṭā -- f. Pañcat. (Pk. phuḍā -- f.), sphaṭa -- m., °ṭā-- f., sphōṭā -- f. lex. and phaṇa -- 1. Conn. words in Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 386]1. Pk.  phaḍa -- m.n. ʻ snake's hood ʼ, °ḍā -- f., M. phaḍā m., °ḍī f.2. A. pheṭ,  phẽṭ. (CDIAL 9040). Rebus: ‘sharpness of iron’: padm (obl.padt-) temper of iron (Kota)(DEDR 3907); patam ‘sharpness, as of the edge of a knife’ (Tamil) Alternative complementary reading: <naG bubuD>(Z)  {N} ``^cobra''.  |<naG> `?'.  ^snake.  *IA<naG>.  ??is IA form <naG> or <nag>?  #23502. nāgá1 m. ʻ snake ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ elephant ʼ BhP. [As ʻ ele- phant ʼ shortened form of *nāga -- hasta -- EWA ii 150 with lit. or extracted from nāga -- danta -- ʻ elephant tusk, ivory ʼ < ʻ snake -- shaped tusk ʼ].
1. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ snake ʼ, NiDoc. nāǵa F. W. Thomas AO xii 40, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Gy. as.  JGLS new ser. ii 259; Or. naa ʻ euphem. term for snake ʼ; Si. nay,nayā ʻ snake ʼ. -- With early nasalization *nāṅga -- : Bshk. nāṅg ʻ snake ʼ. -- Kt. Pr. noṅ, Kal. nhoṅ ʻ name of a god < nāˊga -- or ← Pers. nahang NTS xv 283. 2. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ elephant ʼ, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Si. nā. śiśunāka -- . (CDIAL 7039) Rebus: nāga2 n. ʻ lead ʼ Bhpr. [Cf. raṅga -- 3] Sh. naṅ  m. ʻ lead ʼ  (< *nāṅga -- ?), K. nāg m. (< *nāgga -- ?).(CDIAL 7040) cf. annaku, anakku 'tin' (Akkadian) நாகம் nākam  Black lead; காரீயம். (பிங்.) 9. Zinc; துத்தநாகம். (பிங்.) 10. A prepared arsenic; பாஷாணவகை (Tamil).

There is a possibility that the hieroglyph was intended to convey the message of an alloying metal like lead or tin or zinc which had revolutionised the bronze age with tin-bronzes, zinc-copper brass and other alloys to substitute for arsenical copper to make hard weapons and tools.  It is instructive that zinc was called tuthunāg which might have referred to the sublimate of zinc and calamine collected in the furnaces in Zawar. See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/02/metallurgists-of-mewad-meluhha.html


The leftmost hieroglyph shows ingots in a conical-bottom storage jar (similar to the jar shown on Warka vase (See Annex: Warka vase), delivering the ingots to the temple of Inanna). Third from left, the overflowing pot is similar to the hieroglyph shown on Gudea statues. Fourth from left, the fish hieroglyph is similar to the one shown on a Susa pot containing metal tools and weapons. (See Susa pot hieroglyphs of bird and fish: Louvre Museum) Hieroglyph: meṇḍā ʻlump, clotʼ (Oriya) On mED 'copper' in Eurasian languages see Annex A: Warka vase).

(similar to the jar shown on Warka vase (See Annex: Warka vase), delivering the ingots to the temple of Inanna). Third from left, the overflowing pot is similar to the hieroglyph shown on Gudea statues. Fourth from left, the fish hieroglyph is similar to the one shown on a Susa pot containing metal tools and weapons. (See Susa pot hieroglyphs of bird and fish: Louvre Museum) Hieroglyph: meṇḍā ʻlump, clotʼ (Oriya) 

On mED 'copper' in Eurasian languages:

Wilhelm von Hevesy wrote about the Finno-Ugric-Munda kinship, like "Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian link between the antipodes new tracks of Hungarian origins" and "Finnisch-Ugrisches aus Indien". (DRIEM, George van: Languages of the Himalayas: an ethnolinguistic handbook. 1997. p.161-162.) Sumerian-Ural-Altaic language affinities have been noted. Given the presence of Meluhha settlements in Sumer, some Meluhha glosses might have been adapted in these languages. One etyma cluster refers to 'iron' exemplified by meD (Ho.). The alternative suggestion for the origin of the gloss med 'copper' in Uralic languages may be explained by the word meD (Ho.) of Munda family of Meluhha language stream:
Sa. <i>mE~R~hE~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mE~RhE~d</i>(M).
Ma. <i>mErhE'd</i> `iron'.
Mu. <i>mERE'd</i> `iron'.
  ~ <i>mE~R~E~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mENhEd</i>(M).
Ho <i>meD</i> `iron'.
Bj. <i>merhd</i>(Hunter) `iron'.
KW <i>mENhEd</i>
@(V168,M080)
http://www.ling.hawaii.edu/austroasiatic/AA/Munda/ETYM/Pinnow&Munda
— Slavic glosses for 'copper'
Мед [Med]Bulgarian
Bakar Bosnian
Медзь [medz']Belarusian
Měď Czech
Bakar Croatian
KòperKashubian
Бакар [Bakar]Macedonian
Miedź Polish
Медь [Med']Russian
Meď Slovak
BakerSlovenian
Бакар [Bakar]Serbian
Мідь [mid'] Ukrainian[unquote]
Miedź, med' (Northern Slavic, Altaic) 'copper'.  
One suggestion is that corruptions from the German "Schmied", "Geschmeide" = jewelry. Schmied, a smith (of tin, gold, silver, or other metal)(German) result in med ‘copper’. 

Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge

Hieroglyph: staff: మేడెము [ mēḍemu ] or మేడియము mēḍemu. [Tel.] n. A spear or dagger. ఈటె, బాకు. The rim of a bell-shaped earring, set with ems.రాళ్లుచెక్కిన౛మికీ అంచుయొక్క పనితరము. "క ఓడితినన్నన్ వారక మేడెముపొడుతురె." BD. vi. 116.


Hieroglyph: meṇḍa 'bending on one knee': మండి [ maṇḍi ] or మండీ manḍi. [Tel.] n. Kneeling down with one leg, an attitude in archery, ఒక కాలితో నేలమీద మోకరించుటఆలీఢపాదముमेट [ mēṭa ] n (मिटणें) The knee-joint or the bend of the knee. मेटेंखुंटीस बसणें To kneel down. Ta. maṇṭi kneeling, kneeling on one knee as an archerMa. maṇṭuka to be seated on the heels. Ka. maṇḍi what is bent, the knee. Tu. maṇḍi knee. Te. maṇḍĭ̄ kneeling on one knee. Pa. maḍtel knee; maḍi kuḍtel kneeling position. Go. (L.) meṇḍā, (G. Mu. Ma.) minḍa knee (Voc. 2827). Konḍa (BB) meḍa, meṇḍa id.  Pe. menḍa id.  Manḍ.  menḍe id.  Kui menḍa id.  Kuwi (F.) menda, (S. Su. P.) menḍa, (Isr.) meṇḍa id. Cf. 4645 Ta. maṭaṅku (maṇi-forms). / ? Cf. Skt. maṇḍūkī- part of an elephant's hind leg; Mar. meṭ knee-joint. (DEDR 4677) Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.)


Hieroglyph: எருவை eruvai European bamboo reed. See கொறுக்கச்சி. (குறிஞ்சிப்.) Rebus: 817 Ta. eruvai blood, (?) copper. Ka. ere a dark-red or dark-brown colour, a dark or dusky colour; (Badaga) erande sp. fruit, red in colour. Te. rēcu, rēcu-kukkaa sort of ounce or lynx said to climb trees and to destroy tigers; (B.) a hound or wild dog. Kol. resn a·te wild dog (i.e. *res na·te; see 3650). Pa. iric netta id. Ga.(S.3rēs nete hunting dog, hound. Go. (Ma.) erm ney, (D.) erom nay, (Mu.) arm/aṛm nay wild dog (Voc. 353); (M.) rac nāī, (Ko.) rasi ney id. (Voc. 3010). For 'wild dog', cf. 1931 Ta. ce- red, esp. the items for 'red dog, wild dog'.


patākā f. ʻ flag ʼ MBh. 2. paṭākā -- f. lex. 3. *phaṭākā -- . [Prob. ← a non -- Aryan word containing p(h)aṭ aryanized with t EWA ii 200] 1. Pa. patākā -- f. ʻ flag ʼ. 2. Pa. paṭāka -- n., Pk. paḍāga -- m., paḍāyā -- , paḍāiā -- f., mh. paḍāha -- m.; G. paṛāi f. ʻ paper kite ʼ.

3. Kal.rumb. phŕā ʻ flag ʼ; Or. phaṛkā (perh. influenced by Or. phaṛa -- phaṛa ʻ with a sudden movement ʼ s.v. *phaṭ -- ). Addenda: patākā -- . 2. paṭākā -- : S.kcch. paṛāī f. ʻ paper kite ʼ.(CDIAL 7726)

mūhā mẽṛhẽt 'iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends.' (Note ingots in storage pot superfixed on the crucible hieroglyph).

paTam 'snake hood' Rebus: padm 'sharpness' paṭa ‘hood of snake’. Rebus: padm ‘tempered, sharpness (metal)’. nāga 'serpent' Rebus: nāga 'lead (alloy)'


Ta. paṭam instep. Ma. paṭam flat part of the hand or foot. Pe. paṭa key palm of hand. Manḍ. paṭa kiy id.; paṭa kāl sole of foot. Kuwi. (Su.) paṭa nakipalm of hand. (DEDR 3843)
పదును (p. 0710) [ padunu ] or పదను padunu. [Tel. పది+ఉను.] Temper, sharpness, whetting,  Go. (ASu.) padnā sharpness. Konḍa padnu being ready for use (as oilseed being preparèd 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)

Ta. patam cobra's hoodMa. 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 serpent's 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. phuṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphuṭa -- m. lex., °ṭā -- f. Pañcat. (Pk. phuḍā -- f.), sphaṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphōṭā -- f. lex. and phaṇa -- 1. Conn. words in Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 386] 1. Pk. phaḍa -- m.n. ʻ snake's hood ʼ, °ḍā -- f., M. phaḍā m., °ḍī f. 2. A. pheṭphẽṭ.(CDIAL 9040)






Hieroglyph: मेढा (p. 665) [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi. Molesworth)Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.)


The top of each of the four posts is signified by an 'octagonal' (?) vajra rebus: 'thunderbolt weapon'. The flagpost also has a ring comparable to the ring described for a Somayaga Yupa in Satapatha Brahmana. Somayaga is a Soma सं-√ स्था a [p=1121,2]A1. -तिष्ठते ( Pa1n2. 1-3 , 22 ; ep. and mc. also P. -तिष्ठति ; Ved. inf. -स्थातोस् A1pS3r. ) , to stand together , hold together (pf. p. du. -तस्थान्/ए , said of heaven and earth) RV.  ; to build (a town) Hariv.  ; to heap , store up (goods) VarBr2S. occupation , business , profession W.
Shapes of Yupa: A. Commemorative stone yupa, Isapur – from Vogel, 1910-11, plate 23; drawing based on Vedic texts – from Madeleine Biardeau, 1988, 108, fig. 1; cf. 1989, fig. 2); C. Miniature wooden yupa and caSAla from Vaidika Samsodana Mandala Museum of Vedic sacrificial utensils – from Dharmadhikari 1989, 70) (After Fig. 5 in Alf Hiltebeitel, 1988, The Cult of Draupadi, Vol. 2, Univ. of Chicago Press, p.22)

Isapur Yupa inscription (102 CE, dated in year 24 in Kushana king Vasishka's reign) indicates performance of a sattra (yajna) of dvadasarAtra, 'twelve nights'. (Vogel, JP, The sacrificial posts of Isapur, Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India, 1910-11: 40-8).The Isapur yupa is comparable to the ring and vajra atop the flagpost of Jasper cylinder seal. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/octagonal-yupo-bhavati-satapatha.html
(See the comparable orthography of the vajra carried by Vajrapani on a sculptural frieze from Peshawar).


Relief narrating the visit of Buddha and Vajrapani to an ascetic. From Hoti Mardan Guide Mess, Peshawar, n. 2066, 2nd-3rd cent. CE c. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/12/binjor-fire-altar-with-octagonal-yasti.html

This is an announcement of four shops, पेढी (Gujarati. Marathi). पेंढें rings Rebus: पेढी shop.āra ‘serpent’ Rebus; āra ‘brass’. kara'double-drum' Rebus: kara'hard alloy'.
Specific materials offered for sale/exchange in the shop are: hard alloy brass metal (ayo, fish); lokhaṇḍ(overflowing pot) metal tools, pots and pans, metalwarearka/erka  copperkammaa (a portable furnace for melting precious metals) coiner, mint  Thus, the four shops are: 1. brass alloys, 2. metalware, 3. copper and 4. mint (services).
erãguḍu bowing, salutation (Telugu) iṟai (-v-, -nt-) to bow before (as in salutation), worship (Tamil)(DEDR 516). Rebus: eraka, eaka any metal infusion (Kannada.Tulu) eruvai ‘copper’ (Tamil); ere dark red (Kannada)(DEDR 446).
puṭa Anything folded or doubled so as to form a cup or concavity; crucible. Alternative: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
Allograph: ढाल [ ḍhāla ] f (S through H) The grand flag of an army directing its march and encampments: also the standard or banner of a chieftain: also a flag flying on forts &c. ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखांब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household or other commonwealth. 5583 ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- . 1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f. WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f. (CDIAL 5583).

They are four Glyphs: paṭākā ‘flag’ Rebus: pāṭaka, four quarters of the village.

kã̄ḍ reed Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’. 
1. Pk. kamaḍha -- , °aya -- m. ʻ bamboo ʼ; Bhoj. kōro ʻ bamboo poles ʼ. 2. N. kāmro ʻ bamboo, lath, piece of wood ʼ, OAw.  kāṁvari ʻ bamboo pole with slings at each end for carrying things ʼ, H. kã̄waṛ°arkāwaṛ°ar f., G. kāvaṛf., M. kāvaḍ f.; -- deriv. Pk. kāvaḍia -- , kavvāḍia -- m. ʻ one who carries a yoke ʼ, H. kã̄waṛī°ṛiyā m., G. kāvaṛiyɔ m. 3. S. kāvāṭhī f. ʻ carrying pole ʼ, kāvāṭhyo m. ʻ the man who carries it ʼ. 4. Or. kāmaṛā°muṛā ʻ rafters of a thatched house ʼ; G. kāmṛũ n., °ṛī f. ʻ chip of bamboo ʼ, kāmaṛ -- koṭiyũ n. ʻ bamboo hut ʼ. 5. B. kāmṭhā ʻ bow ʼ, G. kāmṭhũ n., °ṭhī f. ʻ bow ʼ; M. kamṭhā°ṭā m. ʻ bow of bamboo or horn ʼ; -- deriv. G. kāmṭhiyɔ m. ʻ archer ʼ. 6. A. kabāri ʻ flat piece of bamboo used in smoothing an earthen image ʼ. 7. kã̄bīṭ°baṭ°bṭī,  kāmīṭ°maṭ°mṭī,  kāmṭhīkāmāṭhī f. ʻ split piece of bamboo &c., lath ʼ.(CDIAL 2760). kambi f. ʻ branch or shoot of bamboo ʼ lex. Pk. kaṁbi -- , °bī -- , °bā -- f. ʻ stick, twig ʼ, OG. kāṁba; M. kã̄b f. ʻ longitudinal division of a bamboo &c., bar of iron or other metal ʼ. (CDIAL 2774). कंबडी [ kambaḍī ] f A slip or split piece (of a bamboo &c.)(Marathi)
The rings atop the reed standard: पेंढें [ pēṇḍhēṃ ] पेंडकें [ pēṇḍakēṃ ] n Weaver's term. A cord-loop or metal ring (as attached to the गुलडा of the बैली and to certain other fixtures). पेंडें [ pēṇḍēṃ ] n (पेड) A necklace composed of strings of pearls. 2 A loop or ring. Rebus: पेढी (Gujaráthí word.) A shop (Marathi)Alternative: koiyum [ko, koṭī  neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (Gujarati) Rebus:ācāri koṭṭya = forgekammārasāle (Tulu)

Six curls shown on the hairstyle of carriers of flagposts:

Allograph: The six curls on the kneeling person’s head denote an copper-brass smelter:

erugu = to bow, to salute or make obeisance (Telugu) Rebus: eraka ‘copper’.
Glyphs: six (numeral) + ring of hair: आर [ āra ] A term in the play of इटीदांडू,--the number six. (Marathi) आर [ āra ] A tuft or ring of hair on the body. (Marathi) Rebus:  arā ‘brass’.

मेढा mēḍhā A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl. (Marathi) Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.)bha‘six (hair-curls)’ Rebus: bhaa  ‘furnace’.  

saman = to offer an offering, to place in front of; front, to front or face (Santali) Rebus: samobica, stones containing gold (Mundari) samanom = an obsolete name for gold (Santali) [bica ‘stone ore’ (Munda):meṛed-bica = iron stone ore, in contrast to bali-bica, iron sand ore (Munda]
"... head and torso of a human but the horns, lower body and legs of a bull...Baked clay plaques like this were mass-produced using moulds in southern Mesopotamia from the second millennium BCE. British Museum. WCO2652Bull-manTerracotta plaque. Bull-man holding a post. Mesopotamia, ca. 2000-1600 BCE." 
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 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: 12.8 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'.

Archaeologically attested yupa. 
Girsu (Tlloh) archaeological find. 11 ft. tall copper plated flagpost. This may relate to a period when 
Girsu (ca. 2900-2335 BCE) was the capital of Lagash at the time of Gudea. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-unravels-announcement-of.html
A soldier and a Mari dignitary who carries the standard of Mari. Detail of a victory parade, from the Ishtar temple, Mari, Syria. 2400 BCE Schist panel inlaid with mother of pearl plaques. Louvre Museum.
One reedpost has a 'scarf' hieroglyph ligatured at the top (the context of metalwork is seen from a 'fish' hieroglyph: aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'metal'). This reedost is seen on Warka vase. Another reedpost has a 'ring' hieroglyph ligatured at the top.  This flagpost is seen on a jasper cylinder seal.

Such a flagpost is seen on a Gudea cup, held by Mus-hussu (dragon):

On this cylinder seal, the flagposts with rings are shown together with hieroglyphs of: a person carrying an antelope (like the hioeroglyph shown on Shu-ilishu Meluhha translator cylinder seal), overflowing water, fishes, crucible, mountain range, sun (Source: http://enenuru.net/html/gal/urukprocexpl.htm)

The context of metalwork is seen from the 'scarf' hieroglyph: dhatu 'scarf' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral'. 

The context of a smithy/forge is seen from the 'ring' hieroglyph: koiyum [ko, koṭī  neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (Gujarati)  Rebus: ācāri koṭṭya = forge, kammārasāle (Tulu)

Two types of flagposts are seen in some Ancient Near East artifacts in the context of metalwork: 1. reedpost with scarf; and 2. reedpost with ring. 

Hieroglyph: Ta. eruvai European bamboo reed; a species of Cyperus; straight sedge tuber. Ma. eruva a kind of grass.(DEDR 819) Rebus: Ta. eruvai blood, (?) copper. Ka. ere a dark-red or dark-brown colour, a dark or dusky colour (DEDR 817)

The reedpost with scarf occurs in a pair: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' and denotes the warehouse which receives ingots of cast metal.

The reedpost with ring occurs on a jasper cylinder seal with four holders of four reedposts. The holders have six locks of hair as semantic determinatives.  Hieroglyph: पेंडें [ pēṇḍēṃ ] n (पेड) A loop or ring.Rebus:  पेठ or पेंठ (p. 527) [ pēṭha or pēṇṭha ] f ( H) A manufacturing or trading town, an emporium, a mart: also a markettown.  pēṭhpēṭaka 'caravanserai'. The hieroglyph multiplexed signify a caravensarai from a trading emporium or trading town of copper, metal implements and products from smithy/forge.

Hieroglyph: baTa 'six' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace'.

Hieroglyph: मेढा (p. 665) [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi. Molesworth)Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.). Thus the hieroglyph multiplex signifies iron furnace. 

On the jasper cylinder seal the four reedpost holders (with six hair curls) are signified by semantic determinatives of four hieroglyphs: 1. crucible PLUS storage pot of ingots, 2. sun, 3. narrow-necked pot with overflowing water, 4. fish 

A hooded snake is on the edge of the composition. (The dark red color of jasper reinforces the semantics: eruvai 'dark red, copper' Hieroglyph: eruvai 'reed'; see four reedposts held. 

1. Hieroglyph: OP. koṭhārī f. ʻ crucible ʼ(CDIAL 3546) Rebus: koṭhār 'treasury, warehouse'
2. Hieroglyph: arka 'sun' (Kannada) Rebus: arka, eraka 'copper'
3. Hieroglyph: overflowing pot: lokhaNDa 'overflowing pot' Rebus: lokhANDa 'metalware, pots and pans of metal, metal implements'
4. Hieroglyph: aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal' (Rigveda)

Thus, the four holders of four reedposts with attached ring display metalwork of a smithy/forge announcing metal implements, iron, copper and iron.


On many hierolyph multiplexes, water-buffalo (rã̄go) is associated with kANDa 'overflowing water'. The rebus renderings are: rāṅgā khaNDA 'zinc alloy implements'. The semantics of khaNDa 'implements' is attested in Santali: me~r.he~t khaNDa 'iron implements'. 

Santali glosses

A lexicon suggests the semantics of Panini's compound अयस्--काण्ड [p= 85,1]  m. n. " a quantity of iron " or " excellent iron " , (g. कस्का*दि q.v.)( Pa1n2. 8-3 , 48)(Monier-Williams).


From the example of a compound gloss in Santali, I suggest that the suffix -kANDa in Samskritam should have referred to 'implements'. Indus Script hieroglyphs as hypertext components to signify kANDa 'implements' are: kANTa, 'overflowing water' kANDa, 'arrow' gaNDa, 'four short circumscript strokes'.

Hieroglyph: kāṇḍam காண்டம்² kāṇṭam, n. < kāṇḍa. 1. Water; sacred water; நீர். துருத்திவா யதுக்கிய குங்குமக் காண் டமும் (கல்லா. 49, 16). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’ (Marathi) 

Hieroglyhph: <lo->(B)  {V} ``(pot, etc.) to ^overflow''.  See <lo-> `to be left over'.  @B24310.  #20851. <lo->(B)  {V} ``to be ^left over, to be ^saved''.  Caus. <o-lo->.  @B24300.  #20861.(Munda etyma)

Rebus: loh ‘copper’ (Hindi) 

The hieroglyph multiplex clearly refers to the metal tools, pots and pans of copper.  लोहोलोखंड [ lōhōlōkhaṇḍa ] n (लोह & लोखंड) Iron tools, vessels, or articles in general.रुपेशाई लोखंड [ rupēśāī lōkhaṇḍa ] n A kind of iron. It is of inferior quality to शिक्केशाईलोखंड [ lōkhaṇḍa ] n (लोह S) Iron. लोखंडाचे चणे खावविणें or चारणें To oppress grievously. लोखंडकाम [ lōkhaṇḍakāma ] n Iron work; that portion (of a building, machine &c.) which consists of iron. 2 The business of an ironsmith. लोखंडी [ lōkhaṇḍī ] a (लोखंड) Composed of iron; relating to iron. 2 fig. Hardy or hard--a constitution or a frame of body, one's हाड or natal bone or parental stock. 3 Close and hard;--used of kinds of wood. 4 Ardent and unyielding--a fever. 5 लोखंडी, in the sense Hard and coarse or in the sense Strong or enduring, is freely applied as a term of distinction or designation. Examples follow. लोखंडी [ lōkhaṇḍī ] f (लोखंड) An iron boiler or other vessel. लोखंडी जर [ lōkhaṇḍī jara ] m (लोखंड & जर) False brocade or lace; lace &c. made of iron.लोखंडी रस्ता [ lōkhaṇḍī rastā ] m लोखंडी सडक f (Iron-road.) A railroad. 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/ancient-near-east-rosetta-stones-of.html


Alternative: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
Allograph: ढाल [ ḍhāla ] f (S through H) The grand flag of an army directing its march and encampments: also the standard or banner of a chieftain: also a flag flying on forts &c. ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखांब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household or other commonwealth. 5583 ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- . 1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f. WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f. (CDIAL 5583).

The yupa shown next to the dancing Ganesa on Candi Sukuh frieze is also comparable to the Yupa held on Jasper cylinder seal.

Spoked-wheel standard, safflower hierolyph. Fire-altar pedestal of Tukulti-Ninurta I, 1243-1208 BCE Ishtar temple, Assur. Shows the king standing flanked by two standard-bearers; the standard has a spoked-wheel hieroglyph on the top of the staffs and also on the volutes of the altar frieze. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/02/wheel-meluhha-bronze-age-hieroglyph-of.html करंडा [karaṇḍā] A clump, chump, or block of wood. 4 The stock or fixed portion of the staff of the large leaf-covered summerhead or umbrella. करांडा [ karāṇḍā ] m C A cylindrical piece as sawn or chopped off the trunk or a bough of a tree; a clump, chump, or block.

करडी karaḍī ] f (See करडई) Safflower: also its seed.

Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' of arka 'copper'. Rebus: fire-god: @B27990.  #16671. Remo <karandi>E155  {N} ``^fire-^god''.(Munda)

Glyphic element: erako nave; era = knave of wheel. Glyphic element: āra ‘spokes’. Rebus: āra ‘brass’ as in ārakūṭa (Skt.) Rebus: Tu. eraka molten, cast (as metal); eraguni to melt (DEDR 866) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) cf. eruvai = copper (Ta.lex.) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tu.lex.) Glyphic element: kund opening in the nave or hub of a wheel to admit the axle (Santali) Rebus: kunda ‘turner’ kundār turner (A.); kũdār, kũdāri (B.); kundāru (Or.); kundau to turn on a lathe, to carve, to chase; kundau dhiri = a hewn stone; kundau murhut = a graven image (Santali) kunda a turner's lathe (Skt.)(CDIAL 3295). 


arká1 m. ʻ flash, ray, sun ʼ RV. [√arc] Pa. Pk. akka -- m. ʻ sun ʼ, Mth. āk; Si. aka ʻ lightning ʼ, inscr. vid -- äki ʻ lightning flash ʼ.(CDIAL 624) அருக்கன் arukkaṉ, n. < arka. Sun; சூரி யன். அருக்க னணிநிறமுங் கண்டேன் (திவ். இயற். 3, 1).(Tamil) agasāle ‘goldsmithy’ (Kannada) అగసాలి [ agasāli ] or అగసాలెవాడు agasāli. n. A goldsmith. కంసాలివాడు. (Telugu) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) cf. eruvai = copper (Tamil) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tulu) Rebus: eraka = copper (Ka.) eruvai = copper (Ta.); ere - a dark-red colour (Ka.)(DEDR 817). eraka, era, er-a = syn. erka, copper, weapons (Ka.) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) akka, aka (Tadbhava of arka) metal; akka metal (Te.) arka = copper (Skt.) erako molten cast (Tulu)  

At the head of each nome was a nomarch. Each ruler Menes claims unification of nomes demonstrated on standards carried in processions holding aloft hieroglyphs on flagposts. 
Image result for meluhha processionm0490, m0491 
Nahal Mishmar arsenical-copper artifacts (with hieroglyphs), 4th millennium BCE.

 Flagposts on boat. Dong Son bronze drum hieroglyphs.

Processions with flagposts was a signature tune of the metalworkers of the Bronze Age in an extensive area stretching from Haifa, Israel to Hanoi, Vietnam.


S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 8, 2016

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