Side C: There are female elephants, female monkeys (and) apes. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin. The anthropomorph monkey who looks back signifies krammara'turn back' rebus: kamar'blacksmith'. Thus, a blacmsith armourer. This semantics is reinforced by the person who holds the anthromorph on leash; he holds a monkey on his shoulder.kuṭhāruकुठारु 'monkey' rebus:kuṭhāruकुठारु 'armourer'. Thus she is a kamar kuṭhāruकुठारु 'blacksmith armourer'. The two anthropomorph monkeys follow the elephant which signifies: karibha, ibha 'iron' rebus: karba, ib 'iron'. Thus the blackismith armourers are ironworkers who produce iron weapons and armour.

Rebus: रत्निन् m. pl. N. of certain persons in whose dwelling the रत्न-हविस् (q.v.) is offered by a king (viz. the ब्राह्मण , राजन्य , महिषी , परिवृक्ती , सेना-नी , सूत , ग्राम-णी , क्षत्तृ , संग्रहीतृ , भाग-दुघ , and अक्षावाप) TBr. S3Br. ( °नि-त्व n. तैत्तिरीय-ब्राह्मण ) రత్నము  ratnamu. [Skt.] n. A jewel, precious stone, gem. మణి. A masterpiece of fine thing, the best of its kind of species స్వజాతి శ్రేష్ఠము, నవరత్నములు the nine precious stones, viz., మౌక్తికము a pearl, పద్మరాగము an emerald, వజ్రము a diamond. ప్రవాళము a coral, మరకతము. an emerald నీలము a sapphire, గోమేధికము an agate. పుష్యరాగము a ruby, వైడూర్యము a cat's eye. అశ్వరత్నము a jewel of a horse, i.e., a noble stead. స్త్రీరత్నము an unrivalled woman. గగనరత్నము the sun, as the gem of heaven. అప్సరోరత్నములు the most lovely of nymphs. రత్నకంబళము ratna-kamba-lamu. n. A carpet. తివాసీ. రత్నగర్భ .ratna-garbha n. The earth; as producing gems. భూమి. "వైశ్యకన్యకల్ గీరనగింజలాడుతరి క్రిందనునిచిన దివ్యరత్నముల్ పౌరులు ద్రొక్కుచున్ జనగపాతుకొనంధరణీ పురంధ్రికిన్వారకరత్నగర్భయను నామము బెట్టిరి సత్కవీశ్వరుల్." T. ii. 20. రత్నగర్భుడు ratna-garbhuḍu. n. Kubēra, the god of wealth, కుబేరుడు. The god of the sea, సముద్రుడు. రత్నసానువు ratna-sānuvu. n. An epithet of Mount Meru as having " gems in its slopes."మేరుపర్వతము, హేమాద్రి. రత్నాకరము ratn-ākaramu. n. The abode of gems, that is, the ocean. సముద్రము. రత్నావళి ratnā-vaḷi. n. A necklace of gems.रत्नम्   ratnam रत्नम् [रमते$त्र रम्-न तान्तादेशः Uṇ.3.14] 1 A gem, jewel, a precious stone; किं रत्नमच्छा मतिः Bv.1.86; न रत्नमन्विष्यति मृग्यते हि तत् Ku.5.45. (The ratnas are said to be either five, nine or fourteen; see the words पञ्चरत्न, नवरत्न, and चतुर्दशरत्न respectively.) -2 Anything valuable or precious, any dear treasure. -3 Anything best or excellent of its kind; (mostly at the end of comp.); जातौ जातौ यदुत्कृष्टं तद् रत्नमभिधीयते Malli; कन्यारत्नमयोनिजन्म भवतामास्ते वयं चार्थिनः Mv.1.3; अग्रेसरीभवतु काञ्चनचक्ररत्नम् Nāg.5.37; so पुत्र˚, स्त्री˚ V.4.25; अपत्य˚ &c. -4 A magnet. -5 Water. -Comp. -अङ्कः N. of Viṣṇu's car. -अङ्गः coral. -अचलः, -रोहणः legendary mountain located in Ceylon and supposed to produce jewels at the rumbling of clouds for the benefit of all comers; श्रेणीवर्जनदुर्यशोनिबिडितव्रीडस्तु रत्नाचलः N.12.67. -अधिपतिः a superintendent of precious stones. -अतुविद्ध a. set or studded with jewels. -आकरः 1 a mine of jewels. -2 the ocean; रत्नेषु लुप्तेषु बहुष्वमर्त्यैरद्यापि रत्नाकर एव सिन्धुः Vikr. 1.12; रत्नाकरं वीक्ष्य R.13.1. -आभरणम् an ornament of jewels. -आलोकः the lustre of a gem. -आवली 1 a necklace of jewels. -2 N. of a Nāṭikā attributed to Śrīharṣa. -कन्दलः coral. -करः N. of Kubera. -कर्णिका an ear-ring with jewels. -कुम्भः a jar set with jewels. -कूटः N. of a mountain. -खचित a. set or studded with gems. -गर्भः 1 Kubera. -2 the sea. (-र्भा) the earth. -च्छाया splendour of jewels. -त्रयम् 1(with Buddhists) बुद्ध, धर्म and संघ. -2 (with Jainas) सम्यग् दर्शन, सम्यग् ज्ञान and सम्यक् चारित्र. -दर्पणः a mirror studded with jewels. -दीपः, -प्रदीपः 1 a jewel-lamp. -2 a gem serving as a lamp; अर्चिस्तुङ्गानभिमुखमपि प्राप्य रत्नप्रदीपान् Me.7. -धेनुः a cow symbolically represented by jewels. -नखः a poniard with its hilt set with jewels; कटितटनिविष्टरत्ननखः Dk.2.1. -नाभः N. of Viṣṇu. -नायकः a ruby. -निधिः 1 the ocean. -2 N. of Viṣṇu. -3 of Meru. -4 a wag-tail. -पञ्चकम् the 5 jewels (viz. gold, silver, pearls, the राजावर्त diamond and coral). -पारायणम् the sheet-anchor of all jewels; रत्नपारायणं नाम्ना लङ्केति मम मैथिलि Bk.5.89. -प्रभा the earth. -माला a jewel-necklace. -मुख्यम् a diamond. -राज् m. a ruby. -राशिः 1 a heap of gems. -2 the ocean. -वरम् gold. -वर्षुकम् the Puṣpaka car. -षष्ठी a vow or fast to be observed on the 6th day of a particular fortnight; it is a ग्रीष्मव्रत; अहं खलु रत्नषष्ठीमुपोवितासम् Mk.3. -सानुः N. of the mountain Meru. -स् a. producing jewels; न मामवति सद्वीपा रत्नसूरपि मेदिनी R.1.65. -सूः, -सूतिः f. the earth.

Decipherment of Triple Monkey Figurine

kuṭhāru कुठारु m. a tree L.; a monkey Rebus: kuṭhāru कुठारु 'armourer' PLUS kolom 'three' rebus; kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus, armourer's forge.    

                                                                                                              

Triple monkey figurine amulet with hole in center. This miniature carved faience bead or pin ornament shows three monkeys in tight embrace with amused expressions on their faces. Possibly placed on a stick or cord. Possibly molded and carved. 

Material: yellow-brown glazed faience

Dimensions: 1.6 cm height, 1.4 cm dia.

Mohenjo-daro, HR 1053

National Museum, Karachi, NMP 50.870

Marshall 1931: pl. CLVIII, 5 

Seated faience monkey figurine or amulet from Mohenjo-daro. Its broken feet suggest that it was once attached to another object, possibly a second monkey as in the Triple Monkey Figurine. Molded and carved.

Courtesy: https://www.harappa.com/category/blog-subject/art?page=5

Of all the objects in the National Museum of Pakistan's Indus Gallery in Karachi, none quite so grabs your attention with its innate character as this tiny faience monkey from Mohenjo-daro. Just over 3 cm in height, made of blue-green faience, probably in a wooden mold according to Mark Kenoyer (Ancient Cities, p. 230), it arrests you with the richness of its persona through the glass casing. It seems to have its character pushed from the inside out, so regal is it in the surrounding space. Broken feet suggest it might have once been part of a triple monkey figurine. John Marshall wrote "The monkey is now extinct in Sind, but that it existed there in ancient times is suggested by the fact that models of it are found in Mohenjo-daro made in faience, pottery, and steatite. It is always represented in a squatting position with a hand on each knee." (Marshall 1931: 349, 351, pl. XCVI, 13).

Courtesy: https://www.harappa.com/blog/indus-monkey-figurine

https://www.harappa.com/content/looking-dilmun

Courtesy: http://www.sindhishaan.com/gallery/images/animal/indusmonkey.jpg

Courtesy: https://www.harappa.com/indus/64.html

Indus Valley Climbing Monkey Toy 

Annotation

The monkey figurine shown in two views is mounted on a wooden platform for display, but it was apparently designed with the ability to slide down a string or thin rod so as to appear to climb or jump. The figurine is hand-modeled from terracotta and features a fully rounded body in a complicated, lifelike pose with a realistic facial expression, ears, and incised lines representing its fur. The monkey was excavated from the Indus Valley archaeological site called Mohenjo-Daro, dated to ca. 2500 B.C.E. Excavations from sites in the Indus Valley included many figurines made from terracotta, some of which were clearly for entertainment, including whistles shaped like birds, small animals including bulls with moveable heads and horns, and toy carts. Archaeologists classified the monkey figurine as a toy. The figurine is 5.5 centimeters (2.1 inches) high.

Source

Climbing Monkey hand-modeled, Indus Valley, Delhi National Museum; Set 61: Indian Terracottas I: From Indian Earth 6103; copyright ACSAA Slide (c)AAAUM.

How to Cite This Source

"Indus Valley Climbing Monkey Toy [Object]," in Children and Youth in History, Item #312, http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/items/show/312 (accessed June 23, 2019). Annotated by Susan Douglass 

http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/primary-sources/312

Decipherment of six two-sided tablets with identical inscriptions related to repertoire of kuṭhāru 

'armourer'

          

Terracotta sealing from Mohenjo-daro depicting a collection of animals and some script symbols. https://www.harappa.com/indus/32.html

Centrepiece is a scorpion, surrounded by a pair of oxen (bulls), rhinoceros, monkey, elephant, a tiger looking back, a standing person with spread legs. This hieroglyph cluster is duplicated on six tablets. 



                                                                                                      Obverse of m0442 and m1395 have three interlocked or multi-headed tigers. m1395 [PLUS hieroglyphs on obverse of tablet: haematite (ferrite ore), blacksmith artisan, iron implements merchant, armourer, hard alloy metalcasting].

m0295
Location: Mohenjo Daro, Larkana Dt., Sind, Pakistan

Text1386 Note how the hieroglyph components of the text are displayed in the space available on the seal after the pictorial motif hieroglyphs have been put together as part of the hypertext. The broken corner of the seal may have included other 'text hieroglyphs called signs'. The text messageis: bronze workshop, scribe/account iron supercargo, helmsman, smithy/forge/temple.

कर्णक kárṇaka कर्णक kárṇaka, kannā m. du. the two legs spread out AV. xx , 133 'spread legs'; (semantic determinant) rebus: kárṇaka, kannā कर्णक 'helmsman'.PLUS 

meḍ ‘body’ Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.) 

kaṇḍ kanka ‘rim of jar’; Rebus: karnI 'supercargo', karṇika ‘scribe’; 

kaṇḍ ‘furnace, fire-altar’. Thus the ligatured Glyph is decoded: 

kaṇḍkarṇaka ‘furnace scribe'

kole.l smithy, temple in Kota village (Ko.)

kōnṭa corner (Nk.); tu. kōṇṭu angle, corner (Tu.); rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (Bengali) Alternative reading; kanac 'corner' rebus: kañcu 'bronze'

Text message

Sign 267 is read rebus as a Meluhha hypertext kancu  mũhã̄ 'bell-metal ingot'. 

The " hieroglyph is sal 'splinter' Rebus: sal 'workshop'

Together with the splinter hieroglyph, the first two signs from the right are read as: 

kancu mũh sal 'bell-metal ingot workshop'

karṇaka karṇika ‘helmsman, supercargo, furnace scribe'

कर्णक m. du. the two legs spread out AV. xx , 133 'spread legs'; (semantic determinant) Rebus: kanahār'helmsman', karNI 'scribe, account''supercargo'. कर्णक 'spread legs' rebus: 'helmsman', karNi 'supercargo'; meṛed 'iron' rebus: meḍh 'merchant' ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal'; 2. कर्णक 'spread legs' rebus: 'helmsman', karṇi 'supercargo'  Indicative that the merchant is seafaring metalsmith. karṇadhāra m. ʻ helmsman ʼ Suśr. [kárṇa -- , dhāra -- 1]Pa. kaṇṇadhāra -- m. ʻ helmsman ʼ; Pk. kaṇṇahāra -- m. ʻ helmsman, sailor ʼ; H. kanahār m. ʻ helmsman, fisherman ʼ.(CDIAL 2836) Decipherment: कर्णक 'helmsman' PLUS mē̃d, mēd 'body' rebus: mē̃d, mēd 'iron', med 'copper' (Slavic). Thus the body hieroglyph signifies mē̃d कर्णक karṇi 'an iron helmsman seafaring, supercargo merchant.'

kolimi 'smithy, forge'Rebus: kole.l 'temple'.

Thus, together, the text message  reads:

kancu mũh sal 'bell-metal ingot workshop'

mē̃d कर्णक karṇi 'an iron helmsman seafaring, supercargo merchant.'

kole.l 'smithy, temple'.

This text message is composed together with the three intertwined tigers: The hypertext of both the pictorial motifs and text message is: kola 'tiger' rebus; kol 'working in iron' kolhe 'smelter' PLUS kolom 'three' rebus: kolimi 'smithy,forge' of bell-metal ingot workshop supercargo merchant, smithy/temple. Thus, the inscription on Obverse side is a wealth-accounting ledger of bell-metal smelting ingots ,smithy/forge work for onward shipment as cargo.

The second side of the tablet shows a number of animals including a monkey.  kuṭhāru ‘monkey’ rebus: kuṭhāru ‘armourer’ is shown working with other animals which signify other metalwork resources: blacksmith haematite ferrite ore, iron implements, factitious alloy of copper, pewter, tin. Thus, together with the bell-metal ingot workshop, the armourer (monkey) is workig with the resources provided by smithy/forge of a variety of alloys and metals including iron, copper, pewter, tin and implements. These constitute the resources for the armourer to produce weapons such as arrowheads, other weapons and protective armour shields.

Decipherment of Mohenjodaro sealing with a number of animals:

1. bica ‘scorpion’ rebus ‘haematite, ferrite ore’  

2. krammara ‘look back’ rebus: kamar ‘smith’ PLUS kola 'tiger' rebus: kol, kolle 'blacksmith'

3. karabha ‘trunk of elephant’ ibha ‘elephant’ rebus: karba ‘iron’ ib ‘iron’ ibbo ‘merchant’ 

4. kaṇḍa ‘rhinoceros’ rebus; kaṇḍa ‘implements’ 

5. kuṭhāru ‘monkey’ rebus: kuṭhāru ‘armourer’ 

6. dula ‘two’ rebus: dul ‘metal casting’ dhangar ‘bull’ rebus; dhangar ‘blacksmith’. barada, balad 'ox' rebus: bharata,baran 'factitious alloy of copper, pewter, tin'. 

The message is: haematite (ferrite ore), blacksmith artisan, iron implements merchant, armourer, hard alloy metalcasting.

Sign 267 is oval=shape variant, rhombus-shape of a bun ingot. Like Sign 373, this sign also signifies mũhã̄ 'bun ingot' PLUS kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal'.kaṁsá1 m. ʻ metal cup ʼAV., m.n. ʻ bell -- metal ʼ Pat. as in S., but would in Pa. Pk. and most NIA. lggs. collide with kāˊṁsya -- to which L. P. testify and under which the remaining forms for the metal are listed. 2. *kaṁsikā -- .1. Pa. kaṁsa -- m. ʻ bronze dish ʼ; S. kañjho m. ʻ bellmetal ʼ; A. kã̄h ʻgong ʼ; Or. kãsā ʻ big pot of bell -- metal ʼ; OMarw. kāso (= kã̄ -- ?) m. ʻ bell -- metal tray for food, food ʼ; G. kã̄sā m. pl. ʻ cymbals ʼ; -- perh. Woṭ. kasṓṭ m. ʻ metal pot ʼ Buddruss Woṭ 109.2. Pk. kaṁsiā -- f. ʻ a kind of musical instrument ʼ;  A. kã̄hi ʻ bell -- metal dish ʼ; G. kã̄śī f. ʻ bell -- metal cymbal ʼ, kã̄śiyɔ m. ʻ open bellmetal pan ʼ. (CDIAL 2756)

Sign 267 is oval=shape variant, rhombus-shape of a bun ingot. Like Sign 373, this sign also signifies mũhã̄ 'bun ingot' PLUS kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal'.kaṁsá1 m. ʻ metal cup ʼAV., m.n. ʻ bell -- metal ʼ Pat. as in S., but would in Pa. Pk. and most NIA. lggs. collide with kāˊṁsya -- to which L. P. testify and under which the remaining forms for the metal are listed. 2. *kaṁsikā -- .1. Pa. kaṁsa -- m. ʻ bronze dish ʼ; S. kañjho m. ʻ bellmetal ʼ; A. kã̄h ʻgong ʼ; Or. kãsā ʻ big pot of bell -- metal ʼ; OMarw. kāso (= kã̄ -- ?) m. ʻ bell -- metal tray for food, food ʼ; G. kã̄sā m. pl. ʻ cymbals ʼ; -- perh. Woṭ. kasṓṭ m. ʻ metal pot ʼ Buddruss Woṭ 109.2. Pk. kaṁsiā -- f. ʻ a kind of musical instrument ʼ;  A. kã̄hi ʻ bell -- metal dish ʼ; G. kã̄śī f. ʻ bell -- metal cymbal ʼ, kã̄śiyɔ m. ʻ open bellmetal pan ʼ. (CDIAL 2756) Sign 272 cyphertext is a composite of Sign 267 and smoke, flame signifying a portable furnace. Lozenge, corner, signifier of portable furnace smoke/fire. Lozenge or oval shapes are mũhã̄ 'bun-ingot' shapes.  kammaṭa 'portable furnace to melt metals', rebus: Ta. kampaṭṭam coinage, coin. Ma. kammaṭṭam, kammiṭṭam coinage, mint. Ka. kammaṭa id.; kammaṭi a coiner (DEDR 1236). Thus, kancu ʼmũh kammaṭa bronze, bell-metal ingot mint. Sign 276 Variant Sign 278.  The hypertext is composed of Sign 267 and a hieroglyph,'splinter': sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'.  Thus Sign 276 reads, kancu ʼmũh sal 'bell-metal ingot workshop'.  Sign 278 has a circumscript: four short strokes: gaṇḍā 'four' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar'. kã̄dur m. ʻ oven ʼ (Kashmiri).: kándu f. ʻ iron pot ʼ Suśr., °uka -- m. ʻ saucepan ʼ.Pk. kaṁdu -- , kaṁḍu -- m.f. ʻ cooking pot ʼ; K. kō̃da f. ʻ potter's kiln, lime or brick kiln ʼ; -- ext. with -- ḍa -- : K. kã̄dur m. ʻ oven ʼ. -- Deriv. Pk. kaṁḍua -- ʻ sweetseller ʼ (< *kānduka -- ?); H. kã̄dū m. ʻ a caste that makes sweetmeats ʼ. (CDIAL 2726)*kandukara ʻ worker with pans ʼ. [kándu -- , kará -- 1]K. kã̄dar, kã̄duru dat. °daris m. ʻ baker ʼ. (CDIAL 2728) Tu. kandůka, kandaka ditch, trench. Te. kandakamu id. Konḍa kanda trench made as a fireplace during weddings. Pe.kanda fire trench. Kui kanda small trench for fireplace. Malt. kandri a pit.(DEDR 1214) Thus, Sign 278 reads: kancu ʼmũh kaṇḍa sal 'bell-metal ingot implements workshop'.  Sign 277 Sign 277 The hypertext is composed of Sign 267 and a hieroglyph,'notch': खांडा  khāṇḍā .A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). A rough furrow, ravine, gully. (Marathi) rebus: khāṇḍa 'tools, pots and pans and metal-ware' (Marathi). Thus Sign 277 reads,  kancu ʼmũh khāṇḍa 'bell-metal ingot, metalware' Sign 279 Sign 279 signifies two corners and is a variant of Sign 277. Thus, Sign 27o reads dul kañcu ʼmũh khāṇḍa 'castings bell-metal ingot, metalware'. PLUS खांडा  khāṇḍā .A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). A rough furrow, ravine,gully. (Marathi) rebus:khāṇḍa tools, pots and pans and metal-ware' (Marathi). Vikalpa to 'notch' is 'splinter' of two notches: sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'.

Sign 280 The hypertext of Sign 280 is composed of Sign 267, notch and lid of pot. Sign 280 The hypertext of Sign 280 is composed of Sign 267, notch and lid of pot. The reading is: kancu ʼmũh dhakka khāṇḍa 'bell-metal ingot, bright,blazing metal tools, pots and pans and metalware'. 

Circumscript: four short strokes: gaṇḍā 'four' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar'. 

Sign 281 The hypertext is Sig 280 PLUS circumscript 'four short vertical strokes'. The reading is: kaṇḍa kancu ʼmũh dhakka khāṇḍa 'fire-altar (for) bell-metal ingot, bright,blazing metal tools, pots and pans and metalware'.

Sign 284Variants of Sign 284 

Circumscript: four short strokes: gaṇḍā 'four' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar'. Sign 285 is a composite of hieroglyphs: Sign 267  four corners, four short linear strokes as circumscript.  kaṇḍa kancu mũh khāṇḍā 'bell-metal ingot, implements (from) fire-altar'. 

The rebus reading of hieroglyph spoked-wheel is: arā 'spoke' rebus: āra 'brass' PLUS eraka 'nave of wheel' rebus: eraka 'moltencast,copper'.

Sign 286Variants of Sign 286 kaṇḍa āra eraka kancu mũh khāṇḍā  'fire-altar (for) brass, moltencast copper, bell-metal ingot, implements.'