Indus Script decipherment has been announced as wealth cargo on 8000 inscriptions.
See Announcement: Indus Script deciphered. Inscriptions are wealth cargo of artisans, seafaring merchants of Meluhha (Bharat) https://tinyurl.com/y5ftm8zo
"The Black Obelisk 6 1/2 feet tall of Shalmaneser III is a black limestone
Assyrian sculpture with many scenes in bas-relief and inscriptions. It comes from Nimrud (ancient Kalhu; known in the Bible as Calah), in northern Iraq,
The Obelisk contains 5 rows of bas-relief (carved) panels on each of the 4 sides.
Shalmaneser III ruled ancient Assyria from 858-824 BC., and was the son of Assurnasirpal II.
The obelisk commemorates the deeds of King Shalmaneser III (reigned 858–824 BC).
It is on display at the British Museum in London, and several other museums have cast. Replicas can be found at the Oriental Institute in Chicago, Illinois; Harvard's Semitic Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts; the ICOR Library in the Semitic Department at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; Corban University's Prewitt–Allen Archaeological Museum in Salem, Oregon; the Siegfried H. Horn Museum at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI; Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand; the Museum of Ancient Art at Aarhaus University in Denmark, and in the library of the Theological University of the Reformed Churches in Kampen, the Netherlands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Obelisk_of_Shalmaneser_III
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Since the tributes received from Musri include the three animal hieroglyphs which are normally shown on Indus Script inscriptions, though the iconographic style may be from recollected memory, the cuneiform inscription related to these tributes (or animal hieroglyphs) as: river ox (water buffalo?), sakea (translated as rhinoceros), susu (translated as antelope), elephants, bazitu/uqupu (translated as monkeys). See Ancient Records, Univ. of Chicago, Oriental Institute:
(p.211) https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/ancient_records_assyria1.pdf
The five registers refer to tributes from:
1. Sua of Gilzanu (in north-west Iran)
2. Jehu of Bit Omri (ancient northern Israel) The tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.
3. Gifts and tributes brought to Shalamaneser include water-ox, rhino, antelope, elephant, monkeys, two-humped camels Who is the unnamed ruler of Musri (probably Egypt, probably Muciri of western coast of Bharat) who gave the tributes listed on the Third Register from top? "I received tribute from Muṣri: two-humped camels, a water buffalo TT , a rhinoceros, an antelope, female elephants, female monkeys and apes."
4. Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi (middle Euphrates, Syria and Iraq) Shalmaneser says that “I received tribute from Marduk-apla-usur, the Suhean, silver, gold, pails, ivory, spears, byssus, garments with multi-coloured trim and linen.”
5. Qalparunda of Patin (Antakya region of Turkey) Shalmaneser says that “I received tribute from Qarparunda the Patinean, silver, gold, tin, bronze compound, bronze cauldrons, ivory and ebony.”
What were the tributes from Musri symbolised by sculptural friezes of animals?
The animals depicted on the Third Register are Indus Script hieroglyphs:
The black obelisk of shalmaneser III (858 - 824 bce)
1. camels
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Clik here to view.![Side A: Attendants bring tribute from Muṣri in the form of two-humped camels. Unlike the upper tregisters, neither Shalmaneser III nor the subdued ruler appear. Photo é Osama S. M. Amin. Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III.]()
Side A: Attendants bring tribute from Musri in the form of two-humped camels. Unlike the upper registers on side A, neither Shalmaneser III nor the subdued ruler appear. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
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Clik here to view.![The black obelisk of shalmaneser III (858 - 824 bc) From left to right : a river ox (water buffalo), an Indian rhinoceros and an antelope. As the British museum plaque next to the obelisk explained: the sculptor had clearly never seen a rhinoceros! #britishmuseum #obelisk #shalmaneseriii #limestone #nimrud #riverox #waterbuffalo #indian #rhinoceros #antelope #assyria #assyrian]()
Side B: This register depicts exotic animals from Musri in the form of a river-ox, a rhinoceros (and) an antelope. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin. As the British museum plaque next to the obelisk explained: the sculptor had clearly never seen a rhinoceros!
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Clik here to view.![Side C: There are female elephants, female monkeys (and) apes. Photo é Osama S. M. Amin. Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III.]()
Side C: There are female elephants, female monkeys (and) apes. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
2.
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Side D: There are more monkeys with their keepers. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
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Detail from Scene 3, Side D of the Black Obelisk. A monkey or ape from Muṣri PGP ? This strange-looking humanoid figure, chained by its leg and restrained by a keeper, is described as one of the "female monkeys and apes" brought as tribute to Shalmaneser from the country of Muṣri. View high-quality large image of Scene 3 (1.6 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.
Monkeys and tails:
vána -- 1 ]
Pa. vānara -- m. ʻ monkey ʼ, Pk. vāṇara -- m., Sh.gur. vandur m. (← L. *vāndur), K. wã̄dur, wānur m., S. vānaru m., P.ludh. bāndar (→ L.awān. bã̄drī f.), WPah.bhal. bānar n., bhiḍ. bã̄dar n., Ku. bānar, N. bã̄dar, bã̄dhar, bānar, A. bāndar, B. bã̄dar, Or. bāndara, Bi. Mth. bānar, OAw. bānara, lakh. bã̄dar, H. bã̄dar, bã̄drā m., ˚rī f., Marw. bã̄dro m., G. vã̄dar, vã̄drɔ m., ˚rī f., ˚rũ n., M. vã̄dar m.n., Ko. vāṁdar, Si. van̆durā, f. vän̆durī, ˚diri; -- Gy. as. (Baluči) banur ← Ind.Addenda: vāˊnara -- : WPah.kṭg. bandər m. ʻ monkey ʼ (← H.?), poet. bandro ʻ brown ʼ, J. bāndar m. ʻ monkey ʼ, poet. bandri f. ʻ she -- monkey ʼ, Garh. bã̄dar m..(CDIAL 11515)
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On the top and the bottom of the reliefs there is a long cuneiform inscription recording the annals of Shalmaneser III. It lists the military campaigns which the king and his commander-in-chief headed every year, until the thirty-first year of reign. Some features might suggest that the work had been commissioned by the commander-in-chief, Dayyan-Assur.
Tribute offerings are shown being brought from identifiable regions and peoples. It was erected as a public monument in 825 BC at a time of civil war, in the central square of Nimrud, close to the much earlier White Obelisk of Ashurnasirpal I. It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Austen Henry Layard in 1846 and is now in the British Museum.
Translation of the 5 relief narratives:
a. Tribute of Sûa, the Gilzânite. I received from him: silver, gold, lead, copper vessels, staves for the hand of the king, horses, two-humped camels.
b. “Tribute of Jehu, [Ia-ú-a] of house of Omri. [Bīt-Ḫumrî] I received from him: silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden goblet, golden cups, golden buckets, tin, a staff of the king’s hand, javelins.” (COS 2.113F)
c. Tribute of the land of Musri. I received from him: two-humped camels, a river-ox, a sakêa, a sûsu, elephants, monkeys, apes.
d. Tribute of Marduk-apal-usur of Suhi. I received from him: silver, gold, pitchers of gold, ivory, javelins, bûia, brightly colored linen garments.
e. Tribute of Karparunda of Hattina. I received from him: silver, gold, lead, copper, copper vessels, ivory, cypress (timbers).
Source: http://www.bible.ca/manuscripts/bible-archeology-Shalmaneser-III-Assyria-inscriptions-annals-Black-Obelisk-Jehu-bowing-House-son-Omri-Nimrud-Calah-827BC.htmIt features twenty relief scenes, five on each side. They depict five different subdued kings, bringing tribute and prostrating before the Assyrian king. From top to bottom they are: (1) Sua of Gilzanu (in north-west Iran), (2) "Jehu of Bit Omri" (Jehu of the House of Omri), (3) an unnamed ruler of Musri (probably Egypt), (4) Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi (middle Euphrates, Syria and Iraq), and (5) Qalparunda of Patin (Antakya region of Turkey). Each scene occupies four panels around the monument and is described by a cuneiform script above them.
The Black Obelisk has five registers of four sculptural friezes on each of the four sides. The Third register from the top is a Musiri panel depicting tributes from the land of Musri. The sculptures signify tributes offered to Shalamaneser III. This is mentioned in the inscription on the Third Register from top.
(p.211) https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/ancient_records_assyria1.pdf
The five registers refer to tributes from:
1. Sua of Gilzanu (in north-west Iran)
2. Jehu of Bit Omri (ancient northern Israel) The tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.
3. Gifts and tributes brought to Shalamaneser include water-ox, rhino, antelope, elephant, monkeys, two-humped camels Who is the unnamed ruler of Musri (probably Egypt, probably Muciri of western coast of Bharat) who gave the tributes listed on the Third Register from top? "I received tribute from Muṣri: two-humped camels, a water buffalo TT , a rhinoceros, an antelope, female elephants, female monkeys and apes."
4. Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi (middle Euphrates, Syria and Iraq) Shalmaneser says that “I received tribute from Marduk-apla-usur, the Suhean, silver, gold, pails, ivory, spears, byssus, garments with multi-coloured trim and linen.”
5. Qalparunda of Patin (Antakya region of Turkey) Shalmaneser says that “I received tribute from Qarparunda the Patinean, silver, gold, tin, bronze compound, bronze cauldrons, ivory and ebony.”
What were the tributes from Musri symbolised by sculptural friezes of animals?
It appears that the tributes from the land of Musri may ultimately from Meluhha since the hieroglyphs used are from Indus Script Cipher. I suggest that the cuneiform inscription refers to the animals specified as tributes. This is consistent with the decipherment of most of Indus Script Corpora as wealth-accounting ledgers of metalwork.
- Side A: Attendants bring "tribute from Muṣri: two-humped camels". Muṣri, meaning 'borderland', probably refers to a country far to the east.
- Side B: Exotic animals from Muṣri: "a river-ox [water-buffalo], an [Indian] rhinoceros (and) an antelope". The sculptor seems never to have seen a rhinoceros.
- Side C: "Female [Indian] elephants, female monkeys (and) apes" from Muṣri.
- Side D: More "monkeys" and their keepers from Muṣri. The way the monkeys are carved suggests that the sculptor had not seen them himself. This may not be the case, however. Monkeys were not new sights for the Assyrian court at this time.
1.Water-buffalo: Hieroglyph: rã̄go 'water-buffalo' rebus: Pk. raṅga 'tin' P. rã̄g f., rã̄gā m. ʻ pewter, tin ʼ Ku. rāṅ ʻ tin, solder ʼOr. rāṅga ʻ tin ʼ, rāṅgā ʻ solder, spelter ʼ, Bi. Mth. rã̄gā, OAw. rāṁga; H. rã̄g f., rã̄gā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼraṅgaada -- m. ʻ borax ʼ lex.Kho. (Lor.) ruṅ ʻ saline ground with white efflorescence, salt in earth ʼ *raṅgapattra ʻ tinfoil ʼ. [raṅga -- 3, páttra -- ]B. rāṅ(g)tā ʻ tinsel, copper -- foil ʼ.(CDIAL 10562) ranga 'alloy of copper, zinc, tin'.
2. River ox: Hieroglyph, short-horned bull: barad, balad, 'ox' rebus: bharata 'metal alloy' (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin).
3. Does sakea in the black obelisk inscription signify 'unicorn' i.e. animal shown on Indus Script with one horn? " I suggest that this signifies the 'one-hored young bull with a curved, s-shaped, mutilated horn' shown on thousands of Indus Script Inscriptions.
4. Elephant, camel: Hieroglyphs: karibha, ibha 'elephant' karabhá m. ʻ camel ʼ MBh., ʻ young camel ʼ Pañcat., ʻ young elephant ʼ BhP. 2. kalabhá -- ʻ young elephant or camel ʼ Pañcat. [Poss. a non -- aryan kar -- ʻ elephant ʼ also in karḗṇu -- , karin -- EWA i 165] 1. Pk. karabha -- m., ˚bhī -- f., karaha -- m. ʻ camel ʼ, S. karahu, ˚ho m., P. H. karhā m., Marw. karhau JRAS 1937, 116, OG. karahu m., OM. karahā m.; Si. karaba ʻ young elephant or camel ʼ.2. Pa. kalabha -- m. ʻ young elephant ʼ, Pk. kalabha -- m., ˚bhiā -- f., kalaha -- m.; Ku. kalṛo ʻ young calf ʼ; Or. kālhuṛi ʻ young bullock, heifer ʼ; Si. kalam̆bayā ʻ young elephant ʼ Rebus: karba, ib 'iron'Addenda: karabhá -- : OMarw. karaha ʻ camel ʼ.
5. Monkeys: hieroglyphs: Four monkeys shown as tributes are:
kuṭhāru कुठारु monkey; rebus: kuṭhāru, कुठारु an armourer.
korg 'black monkey' rebus: kuro silver (Kol.Nk.)
रत्नी ratnī 'female monkey dressed as woman'Rebus: ratnin 'possessing gifts', rátna n. ʻ gift ʼ RV., ʻ treasure, jewel ʼ Mn. [√raṇ 1 ]Pa. ratana -- n. ʻ jewel ʼ
markaṭa मर्कट ( Un2. iv , 81) a monkey , ape VS. &c Rebus: marakata n. ʻ emerald ʼ R.Pk. maraada -- , maragaya -- m.n.; Si. marā ʻ emerald ʼ, adj. ʻ greenʼ(CDIAL 9868) मरकत marakata m S An emerald. (Marathi)
Hieroglyphs: tails: picha ʻ tail, feather' Rebus: picchalā ʻDalbergia sissoo, Bombax heptaphyllumʼ
Thus, the tributes received are iron implements, metal armour, lapidary metalwork wealth from Meluhha and tin ore (ranku 'antelope' rebus; ranku 'tin').
[quote] There were animals with one horn such as the narwal (a small whale with a long horn); the "sakea" which was a kind of goat like deer depicted by the Assyrians with one horn. In some opinions the sakea was a mythical animal (THE ARAB FRINGE. AN ENQUIRY CONCERNING Mutsri, KUSH, MELUHHA AND MAGAN by Michael Banyai http://www.abara2.de/chronologie/fringe.php)...The Lion and Unicorn were representative of Israel in its aspect of power in the End Times. The lion and unicorn are on the coat of arms officially symbolizing Britain. Bilaam the heathen prophet foresaw that in the End Times the descendants of Israel would be very powerful. He likened them to a lion and a raem or unicorn. [unquote] http://www.britam.org/Proof/Joseph/joUnicorn.html
Surprise!
The black obelisk of shalmaneser III (858 - 824 bce)
1. camels
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Side A: Attendants bring tribute from Musri in the form of two-humped camels. Unlike the upper registers on side A, neither Shalmaneser III nor the subdued ruler appear. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
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Side B: This register depicts exotic animals from Musri in the form of a river-ox, a rhinoceros (and) an antelope. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin. As the British museum plaque next to the obelisk explained: the sculptor had clearly never seen a rhinoceros!
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Side C: There are female elephants, female monkeys (and) apes. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
2.
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Side D: There are more monkeys with their keepers. Photo © Osama S. M. Amin.
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Detail from Scene 3, Side D of the Black Obelisk. A monkey or ape from Muṣri PGP ? This strange-looking humanoid figure, chained by its leg and restrained by a keeper, is described as one of the "female monkeys and apes" brought as tribute to Shalmaneser from the country of Muṣri. View high-quality large image of Scene 3 (1.6 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.Monkeys and tails:
हरिगण harigaṇa m S A troop of monkeys. Ex. सुग्रिवें घालुनि आपुली आण ॥ आणविले सप्तद्वीपाचे ह0 ॥. हरि hari m (S) In Sanskrit, and, accordingly, in old Prákrit books, the word signifies A horse; a lion; an ape or monkey; a frog (Marathi.Molesworth)
हरिन्मणि harinmaṇi m S (Green gem.) An emerald.
pravaṁga, ˚vaga -- m. ʻ monkey ʼ lex., plavaṁga -- , ˚vaga -- m. MBh. [Cf. plava -- m. ʻ monkey, frog ʼ lex., plavaga<-> m. also ʻ frog ʼ R., plavaka -- m. ʻ frog ʼ lex., plavaṁgama<-> (= pra˚ lex.) m. ʻ monkey ʼ Mn., ʻ frog ʼ R. Forms with -- aṁga -- infl. by pataṁgá. -- √pru -- ]
Pk. pavaṁga -- m. ʻ monkey ʼ; Si. pavan̆ga, ˚vaga ʻ the black monkey Presbytes cephalopterus ʼ.(CDIAL 8772)
vānara m. ʻ monkey ʼ Mn. [Der. vanar -- in cmpd. ʻ forest ʼ RV. -- Pk. pavaṁga -- m. ʻ monkey ʼ; Si. pavan̆ga, ˚vaga ʻ the black monkey Presbytes cephalopterus ʼ.(CDIAL 8772)
Pa. vānara -- m. ʻ monkey ʼ, Pk. vāṇara -- m., Sh.gur. vandur m. (← L. *vāndur), K. wã̄dur, wānur m., S. vānaru m., P.ludh. bāndar (→ L.awān. bã̄drī f.), WPah.bhal. bānar n., bhiḍ. bã̄dar n., Ku. bānar, N. bã̄dar, bã̄dhar, bānar, A. bāndar, B. bã̄dar, Or. bāndara, Bi. Mth. bānar, OAw. bānara, lakh. bã̄dar, H. bã̄dar, bã̄drā m., ˚rī f., Marw. bã̄dro m., G. vã̄dar, vã̄drɔ m., ˚rī f., ˚rũ n., M. vã̄dar m.n., Ko. vāṁdar, Si. van̆durā, f. vän̆durī, ˚diri; -- Gy. as. (Baluči) banur ← Ind.Addenda: vāˊnara -- : WPah.kṭg. bandər m. ʻ monkey ʼ (← H.?), poet. bandro ʻ brown ʼ, J. bāndar m. ʻ monkey ʼ, poet. bandr
Ta. kuraṅku monkey, ape; kuraṅkaṉ mischievous fellow, as a monkey; kōnti ape (< Te.). Ma. kuraṅṅu, (hon.) kuraṅṅan monkey, chiefly macaco. Ko. korg black monkey. To. kwarg monkey. Ka. koraṅgi, kōti id. Tu. kuraṅga, kōti id. Te. k(r)ō̃ti id. Kol. ko·ti red-faced monkey. Nk. kōti id. Ga. (S) kōnti monkey; (S.2 ) kōti red-faced monkey. Konḍa kōnti monkey(DEDR 1769) Rebus: Ta. kuru brilliancy, lustre, effulgence; (-pp-, -tt-) to glisten; kuruku, kuruttu whiteness; kurumai lustre, brightness; ? kuricil illustrious person. Ko. kurj beautiful or handsome person. Kol. (Hislop) kuro silver. Nk. (Hislop) kuro id. Nk. (Ch.) khuraid. Go. (Hislop, L.) kuro id. (Voc. 777); ? (Hislop) kural king (Voc. 771). (DEDR 1782)
Location of Musri
I have suggested that the reference to Musri is to a region in Kurdistan.
"Musri (Assyrian: Mu-us-ri), or Muzri, was a small ancient kingdom, in northern areas of Iraqi Kurdistan. The area is now inhabited by Muzuri (Mussouri) Kurds.
Musri is also a geographical name mentioned in several Neo-Assyrian
inscriptions and referring to Egypt, and not to a country in northern Arabia as once believed. Compare Hebrew Mizraim." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musri)
Could the reference to Musri on the Black Obelisk of Shalamaneser II be a reference to Muciri port in India's west coast, Kerala?
मुचिर mfn. liberal , munificent , Un2. , i , 52 Sch.; charity, virtue; wind; a deity (Monier-Williams) முசிரம் muciram வள்ளன்மை . (W .)
[quote] Muziris (Tamil: Muchiri, (A. Sreedhara Menon (1967). "Muchiri - A Survey of Kerala History") roughly identified with medieval Muyirikode, or
Mahodaya/Makotai Puram) was an ancient harbour - possible seaport and urban centre - on the Malabar Coast (modern-day Indian state of Kerala) that dates from at least the 1st century BCE, if not earlier. Muziris, or Muchiri, found mention in the bardic Tamilpoems and a number of classical sources. [unquote] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muziris
"The important known commodities "exported" from Muziris were spices (such as black pepper and malabathron), semi-precious stones (such as beryl), pearls, diamonds, sapphires, ivory, Chinese silk, Gangetic spikenard and tortoise shells. The Roman navigators brought gold coins, peridots, thin clothing, figured linens, multicoloured textiles, sulfide of antimony, copper, tin, lead, coral, raw glass, wine, realgar and orpiment." (Steven E. Sidebotham. Berenike and the Ancient Maritime Spice Route, pp 191. University of California Press 2011; George Gheverghese Joseph (2009). A Passage to Infinity. New Delhi: SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 13.)
"the city where the beautiful vessels, the masterpieces of the Yavanas [Ionians], stir white foam on the Culli [Periyar], river of the Chera, arriving with gold and departing with pepper-when that Muciri, brimming with prosperity, was besieged by the din of war." (Akanaṉūṟu Eṭṭuttokai 149.7-11; loc.cit.Kulke, Hermann; Dietmar Rothermund (2004). A History of India. Routledge. I).
Purananuru described Muziris as a bustling port city where interior goods were exchanged for imported gold. (Peter Francis. Asia's Maritime Bead Trade: 300 B.C. to the Present, pp . 120 University of Hawaii Press,) "With its streets, its houses, its covered fishing boats, where they sell fish, where they pile up rice-with the shifting and mingling crowd of a boisterous river-bank were the sacks of pepper are heaped up-with its gold deliveries, carried by the ocean-going ships and brought to the river bank by local boats, the city of the gold-collared Kuttuvan (Chera chief), the city that bestows wealth to its visitors indiscriminately, and the merchants of the mountains, and the merchants of the sea, the city where liquor abounds, yes, this Muciri, were the rumbling ocean roars, is give to me like a marvel, a treasure. " (Raoul McLaughlin. Rome and the Distant East: Trade Routes to the Ancient Lands of Arabia, India and China. pp 48-50, Continuum (2010)).
Periplus describes Muziris as a main trade port of Chera chiefdom.
Pliny also refers to this port town. "To those who are bound for India, Ocelis (on the Red Sea) is the best place for embarkation. If the wind, called Hippalus (south-west Monsoon), happens to be blowing it is possible to arrive in forty days at the nearest market in India, Muziris by name. This, however, is not a very desirable place for disembarkation, on account of the pirates which frequent its vicinity, where they occupy a place called Nitrias; nor, in fact, is it very rich in articles of merchandise. Besides, the road stead for shipping is a considerable distance from the shore, and the cargoes have to be conveyed in boats, either for loading or discharging. At the moment that I am writing these pages, the name of the King of this place is Celebothras." (Pliny's Natural History. In Thirty-seven Books, Volumes 1-3 by Pliny (the Elder.) p.135.)
Ilango Adigal described the port town in Cilapadikaram and refers to Greek traders arriving in their ships to barter their gold to buy pepper and since barter trade is time-consuming, they lived in homes living a lifestyle that he termed as "exotic" and a source of "local wonder". The text refers to spice trade with Romans, "When the broadrayed sun ascends from the south and white clouds start to form in the early cool season, it is time to cross the dark, bellowing ocean. The rulers of Tyndis dispatch vessels loaded with eaglewood, silk, sandalwood, spices and all sorts of camphor." (McLaughlin, Raoul (11 September 2014). The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean: The Ancient World Economy and the Kingdoms of Africa, Arabia and India. Pen and Sword.)
A Misnomer in Political Economy
Classical Indo-Roman Trade
An independent evaluation of the latest archaeological data unearthed at ancient port-sites of the Egyptian desert and Indian west coast confirms that the classical overseas trade, celebrated in ancient Indian historiography as the "Indo-Roman trade", was an exchange of serious imbalance, because of its being between an empire and a region of uneven chiefdoms. The Tamil south was a region characterised by the interactive coexistence of several unevenly evolved and kinship-based redistributive economies structured by the dominance of agro-pastoral means of subsistence and predatory politics. It was distinct for its semi-tribal political economy that precluded any demand for Mediterranean luxury goods. Even the presumption that the chieftain had shipped his goods only up to the Red Sea coast, and had depended on intermediaries for the remaining jobs, is difficult to accept.
The location of Musri in westcoast of Bharat is further strengthened by the find of sewn boat from Kerala dated to ca. 19th cent. BCE (using coir ropes to make boats) found in Ayn Soukhna (north of Suez canal)
https://tinyurl.com/y9n2pa3j
"The Indian ships are much bigger than ours. Their bases are made of three boards .. face formidable storms." See, R. H. Major, ed. (1857), "The travels of Niccolo Conti"
archive.org/stream/indiain…
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Catamarans built in Malabar coast compare with sewn boats of 19th cent. BCE Ain Sukhna, a Red sea port Image may be NSFW.
Sewn boats of Kerala CEAlexandrie
Feb. 5, 2013 The technique of assembly by lashings is one of the world's oldest for constructing boats. It was in use in antiquity in egypt and in homeric greece. In the present day, this method is still used in the indian ocean, most notably in india itself, at kerala, where, nevertheless, the technique is unfortunately dying out. This film takes us to kerala on the malabar coast, and into a network of lakes and lagoons and canals known as the backwaters, where the last of these "sewn" boats are still employed. We shall follow the work of traditional carpenters who continue to practise this ancient technique and begin to understand its subtleties. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtpzpvprmr4 (26:00)
"The Indian ships are much bigger than ours. Their bases are made of three boards .. face formidable storms." See, R. H. Major, ed. (1857), "The travels of Niccolo Conti"
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The boards are very thick: 9 to 13 cm. Retained widths are usually between 30 and 50 cm, but some are up to 70 cm. The analysis shows that the boards are predominantly cedar wood and sometimes oak. The posts are acacia. The structural parts are made of wood imported from Mediterranean while the connecting pieces are common species in Egypt.
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Catamarans built in Malabar coast compare with sewn boats of 19th cent. BCE Ain Sukhna, a Red sea port Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![Image result for ce alexandrie ain sokhna sewn boat]()
Sewn boats of Kerala CEAlexandrie
Feb. 5, 2013 The technique of assembly by lashings is one of the world's oldest for constructing boats. It was in use in antiquity in egypt and in homeric greece. In the present day, this method is still used in the indian ocean, most notably in india itself, at kerala, where, nevertheless, the technique is unfortunately dying out. This film takes us to kerala on the malabar coast, and into a network of lakes and lagoons and canals known as the backwaters, where the last of these "sewn" boats are still employed. We shall follow the work of traditional carpenters who continue to practise this ancient technique and begin to understand its subtleties. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtpzpvprmr4 (26:00)
The proof for reading the 'unicorn' is given below.
The etyma are from Marathi language.
खोंड khōṇḍa m A young bull, a bullcalf.
खोंड khōṇḍa खोंडा khōṇḍā m A variety of जोंधळा. खोंडें khōṇḍēṃ n A description of जोंधळा. It is grown in the hot weather on garden-land. There are varieties of जोंधळा jōndhaḷā m A cereal plant or its grain, Holcus sorghum. Eight varieties are reckoned, viz. उता- वळी, निळवा, शाळू, रातडी, पिवळा जोंधळा, खुंडी, काळबोंडी जोंधळा, दूध मोगरा. There are however many others as केळी, अरगडी, डुकरी, बेंदरी, मडगूप &c. The list includes खुंडी (variant pronunciation of खोंड khōṇḍa खोंडा khōṇḍā
खोंडा khōṇḍā m A कांबळा of which one end is formed into a cowl or hood.
The young bull is often shown with a खोंडा khōṇḍā m A कांबळा On this pectoral the pannier ofr कांबळा is vividly shown on the shoulder of the young bull.
Mohenjo-daro pectoral
The Mari procession shows the young bull carried on a flagpost which is a खोंड khōṇḍa खोंडा khōṇḍā m A variety of जोंधळा. See the picture.
Location of Mari on Euphrates river, Mesopotamia
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Procession in Mari palace Zimri-Lim in the 18th century BCE. Marble plaque from Louvre Museum
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Procession in Mari palace Zimri-Lim in the 18th century BCE. Marble plaque from Louvre MuseumSo, the young bull which is shown on thousands of inscriptions is खोंड khōṇḍa 'young bull' read rebus: kunda 'fine gold' (Marathi); kō̃da कोँद । कुलालादिकन्दुः f. a kiln; a potter's kiln (Rām. 1446; H. xi, 11); a brick-kiln (Śiv. 1033); a lime-kiln.(Kashmiri)
Thus, the young horned bull signifies a furnace.
The young bull is horned.
Santali gloss.
शृङ्गिन्् sriṅg-ín horned (V., C.); m. (C.) horned animal (Monier-Williams) शिंग śiṅga n (शृंग S) A horn. Pr. म्हशीचीं शिंगें म्हशीस जड नाहींत (Marathi) Rebus: singi 'ornament gold' Singī & singi (f.) [cp. Sk. śṛngī] 1. gold Vin i.38; S ii.234; J i.84.(Pali) शृङ्गिः śṛṅgiḥ शृङ्गिः Gold for ornaments (Skt. Apte)
Thus, the horned young bull is a composite signifier fine gold, ornament gold.
The pictorial motif is deciphered as a cargo fine gold and ornament gold by seafaring merchants of Meluhha (mleccha).
Almost all Indus Script inscriptions document wealth cargo of seafaring merchants of Meluhha (Bharat). Bharat itself is a word derived from and associated with metalwork.
भरती bharatī a Composed of the metal भरत. भरत bharata n A factitious metal compounded of copper, pewter, tin &c.भरताचें भांडें bharatācē mbhāṇḍēṃ n A vessel made of the metal भरत.
The word which signifies an accounting ledger is खरडा kharaḍā This is signified by Sign 176
Sign 176 is like a currycomb. The sign signifies daybook of कुळकरणी kuḷakaraṇī m (कुल & कारणी S) An officer of a village under the पांटील. His business is to keep the accounts of the cultivators with Government and all the public records. The word karaṇī is the most frequently used word in the script. The sign is Sign 342
This sign reads: कर्णक m. (ifc. f(आ).) a prominence or handle or projection on the side or sides (of a vessel &c ) , a tendril S3Br. Ka1tyS3r. Rebus: कर्णिक a steersman (Skt.) कारणी or कारणीक kāraṇī or kāraṇīka a (कारण S) That causes, conducts, carries on, manages. Applied to the prime minister of a state, the supercargo of a ship &38;c. 2 Useful, serviceable, answering calls or occasions.(Marathi).
Artisans and seafaring merchants of Bharat created the Hindu civilization which evolved under śreṇi dharma of guilds to contribute 33% of world GDP in 1 Common Era. śreṇi dharma is a restatement of the dictum of ईशोपनिषद
शावास्यं इदं सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥ १ ॥
Meaning of ईशोपनिषद statement governed wealth-creation activities of Sarasvati Sindhu Civilization:
All this is for habitation by the Supreme Divinity. Whatsoever is individual universe of movement is the universal motion.
S. Kalyanaraman, Ph.D., D.Litt.
Sarasvati Research Centre