The suggested rebus readings of hieroglyphs on Shalamanezer III Black Obelisk are an addendum to:
Nimrud (Kalhu), black obelisk with Indus Script hieroglyphs, materialities of Assyrian knowledge production https://tinyurl.com/y4mhg8br
There are four monkey anthropomorphs on the sculptural friezes of Black Obelisk of Shalamanesar III. These are deciphered as Meluhha rebus readings.
-- ratnī medhā , ‘dhanam of gems/jewels’; कुठारु 'armourer', ukku'steel', kamar'blacksmith'pōḷa'steel'dhāvaḍ'smelter'; कुठारु 'monkey, armourer' on Black Obelisk of Shalamanesar III
![]()
panja 'claws' rebus: panja'kiln, furnace'.
रत्नी ratnī f (रत्न) In monkey-sports. A term given to the female monkey habited as a woman. (Marathi) Rebus: रत्न ratna n (S) A gem, a jewel, a precious stone. 2 A common term for the fourteen precious things produced by the ocean when it was churned by the gods and giants. See चौदा रत्नें. 3 fig. A term of praise for an excellent thing in general, a jewel.
Hieroglyph of twisted chain as a leash: meḍhi'twist' Rebus: meḍ'iron' (Mu.Ho.) med 'copper' (Slavic languages) Rebus: medhā 'dhanam, yajna'Thus, the expression signifiedby the hypertexts of two monkey anthropomorphs held on leash with twisted chains are:
रत्नी ratnī medhā , ‘dhanam of gems/jewels’
Two monkey anthropomorphs are held in leash following the elephant.
The first monkey is read rebus as: कुठारु 'monkey' (Monier-Williams) Rebus: कुठारु 'armourer' (Monier-Williams)
The second monkey anthropomorph turns its head backwards. The rebus readings of this second animal are:
ūkam , 'Female monkey' rebus: ukku'steel' PLUS kammara'turn back' rebus: kamar 'blacksmith'.Thus, steelsmith. This reinforces the semanics signified by the elephant: karibha, ibha 'elephant' rebus; karba, ib'iron' PLUS panja'claws' rebus: panja'kiln, furnace'
ūkam
Hieroglyph: Female monkey: ஊகம்1 ūkam , n. 1. Female monkey; பெண் குரங்கு. (திவா.) 2. Black monkey; கருங் குரங்கு. பைங்க ணூகம்பாம்பு பிடித்தன்ன (சிறுபாண் . 221). 3. cf. ஊகை2 . இயூகம் iyūkam , n. < ஊகம் . Black monkey; கருங்குரங்கு . (பெருங். வத்தவ . 17, 14.) வல்லூகம்2 val-l-ūkam , n. < வல்1 + ஊகம்1 . (W .) 1. Male monkey; ஆண்குரங்கு . 2. Large ape; முசு . கருவிரலூகம் karu-viral-ūkam , n. < கரு-மை +. A catapultic machine, of the shape of a monkey with black claws, mounted on the walls of a fort in ancient times and intended to seize and bite the approaching enemy; கரிய விரல்களையுடைய குரங்குபோலிருந்து சேர்ந்தாரைக் கடிக்கும் மதிற்பொறி. கருவிரலூகமுங் கல்லுமிழ் கவ ணும் (சிலப் . 15, 208). காரூகம் kār-ūkam , n. < கார் + ஊகம் . Black monkey; கருங்குரங்கு. (திவா.) யூகம்1 yūkam , n. < ஊகம்1 . 1. Black monkey; கருங்குரங்கு. யூகமொடு மாமுக முசுக்கலை (திருமுரு . 302). (பிங் .) 2. Female monkey; பெண்குரங்கு. (திவா.)
Ko. uk steel. Ka. urku, ukku id. Koḍ. ur- (uri-) to melt (intr.); urïk- (urïki-) id. (tr.); ukkï steel. Te.ukku id. Go. (Mu.) urī-, (Ko.) uṛi- to be melted, dissolved; tr. (Mu.) urih-/urh- (Voc. 262). Konḍa (BB) rūg- to melt, dissolve. Kui ūra (ūri-) to be dissolved; pl. action ūrka (ūrki-); rūga (rūgi-) to be dissolved. Kuwi (Ṭ.) rūy- to be dissolved; (S.) rūkhnai to smelt; (Isr.) uku, (S.) ukku steel. (DEDR 661)

ukṣán
https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/ancient_records_assyria1.pdf
Hieroglyph: scarf on the shoulder of the bovine: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√
I suggest that the Meluhha expression which is consistent with the iconography and the cuneiform inscription is that the animal is a zebu. Thus, the animal with the scarf on its neck is read rebus as: पोळ pōḷa, 'zebu, bos indicus' signifies pōḷa 'magnetite, ferrous-ferric oxide Fe3O4' PLUS dhatu 'scarf' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral'. Thus, the animal signifies the wealth resource tribute of iron magnetite ore PLUS circle as horn: vaṭṭa'circle'. Thus, the expression of scarf PLUS horns is read as: dhã̄i 'mineral ore' PLUS vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: dhāvaḍ 'smelter'. Thus, the mineral wealth as a tribute signified by this composite animal signifies smelted iron, magnetite ore.