Jasper cylinder seal c.

2220 BCE deciphered Indus script

proclamations of iron, copper-, gold-smithy, mint-work
Jasper cylinder seal is a stunning example of the power of
hypertexts (using hieroglyph-multiplexes) to convey precise,
detailed technical information.

The cylinder seal, 2.8 cm. high and 1.6 cm dia, signifies -- in an
extraordinarily crisp hypertext, within limited writing space-- Indus
script proclamations of iron, copper, gold-smithy, mint-
work. ḍhangar bhaṭa पेढी 'blacksmith furnace shop' kamar कारणी
arka lokhaṇḍa aya kammaṭa 'blacksmith supercargo, copper, gold,
metal implements, mint'

Red jasper H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm) cylinder
Seal with four hieroglyphs and four kneeling persons (with six curls
on their hair) holding flagposts, c. 2220-2159 B.C.E., Mesopotamia.
Akkadian (Metropolitan Museum of Art) Cylinder Seal (with modern
impression). Cuneiform inscription: Sharpum, son of Shallum. The
rest of the hieroglyph-multiplexes are a cypher signifying Sharpum's
occupation as a merchant with diverse metallurgical competence

The four hieroglyphs are: from l. to r. 1. moon or crucible PLUS

storage pot of ingots, 2. sun, 3. narrow-necked pot with overflowing

1
water, 4. fish (with fins emphasised). 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.

koṭhāri 'crucible' Rebus: koṭhāri 'treasurer, warehouse'; kuṭhāru

'armourer' If the hieroglyph on the leftmost is moon, a possible
rebus reading: ‫ قمر‬ḳamar A ‫ قمر‬ḳamar, s.m. (9th) The moon. Sing.
and Pl. See ‫ سپوږمي‬or ‫( سپوګمي‬Pashto) Rebus: kamar 'blacksmith'

कारणी or कारणीक 'supercargo of a ship' (Marathi) of ingots are held in

a conical jar (storage pot).

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). 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).

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'

Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling

persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge.

2
The four persons carry four maces with rings on top register. The
maces are comparable in shape to the mace held by a bull-man on
a terracotta plaque (British Museum number103225, see picture
appended with decipherment). The mace
is: ḍã̄g (Punjabi) ḍhaṅgaru 'bull' (Sindhi) -- as a phonetic
determinant; rebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’.
Mth. ṭhākur ʻ blacksmith ʼ (CDIAL 5488).

The four persons (kamar) may be recognized as soldiers based on

the Pashto gloss: kamar kīsaʿh, s.f. (3rd) A waist-belt with powder
horn, and other furniture for a soldier.

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 మోకరంచుట, ఆలీఢపాదము. मेट [ mēṭa
] n (ममटणें) The knee-joint or the bend of the knee. मेटेंखुंटीस बसणें To
kneel down. Ta. maṇṭi kneeling, kneeling on one knee as an
archer. Ma. 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.)

The four persons are worshippers in a kneeling

posture: bhaTa 'worshipper' Pk. bhuaga -- m. ʻ worshipper in a
temple ʼ, G. bhuvɔ m. (rather than < bhūdēva -- ). rebus: bhaTa
'furnace' bhaṭa -- m. ʻ hired soldier, servant ʼ MBh. Pali. bhaṭa -- m. ʻ
hireling, servant, soldier ʼKu.bhaṛ m. ʻ hero, brave man ʼ, gng. adj. ʻ
mighty ʼ; B. bhaṛ ʻ soldier, servant, nom. prop. ʼS.kcch. bhaṛ ʻ brave
ʼ; Garh. (Śrīnagrī dial.) bhɔṛ, (Salānī dial.) bheṛ ʻ warrior ʼ.(CDIAL
9588) Ku. bhaṛau ʻ song about the prowess of ancient heroes
ʼ.(CDIAL 9590)

3
The kamar is semantically reinforced by orthographic determinative
of six curls of hair: baTa 'six' Rebus: baTa 'iron' (Gujarati) bhaTa
'furnace' PLUS PLUS meDh 'curl' Rebus: meD 'iron' to signify that
the message conveyed is of four smelters for iron (metal).

The four hieroglyphs are: from l. to r. 1. moon 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.

kamar 'moon' Rebus: kamar 'blacksmith'

arka 'sun' Rebus: arka, eraka 'copper, gold, moltencast'
lokāṇḍa 'overflowing pot' Rebus: lokhaṇḍa 'metal implements,
excellent implements'

aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron' (Gujarati) ayas 'metal'

(Rigveda) khambhaṛā m. ʻ fin ʼ (Lahnda) kammaṭa 'coiner, coinage,
mint' (Note on the emphasis on the fins of the fish)
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.)
baṭa 'six' Rebus: bhaṭa 'furnace' PLUS meḍh 'curl' Rebus: meḍ 'iron'

This is a proclamation of four shops, पेढी (Gujarati.

Marathi). पेंढें ‘rings’ Rebus: पेढी ‘shop’.āra ‘serpent’ Rebus; āra
‘brass’. karaḍa 'double-drum' Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'.

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-
hieroglyphs-signify-dhatu.html

4
Citation

"Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes [Mesopotamia]"

(L.1992.23.5) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/L.1992.23.5.
(October 2006)

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 nude hero is often shown with this very explicit type of
gatepost, which perhaps is the emblem of a specific god or group of
deities. The heroes with gateposts, the flowing vase, and the fish
suggest that the iconography of this seal is somehow connected
with Ea, god of sweet water and wisdom. However, the meaning of
individual symbols could change in different contexts. The sun,
moon, vase, and fish are undoubtedly astral or planetary symbols—
the vase with streams and the fish are forerunners of what in much
later times become zodiacal signs.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/L.1992.23.5

Girsu (Tlloh) archaeological find. 11 ft.

tall copper plated flagpost. This may relate to a period when Girsu

5
(ca. 2900-2335 BCE) was the capital of Lagash at the time of
Gudea.

Hieroglyph: ढाल (p. 356) [ ḍhāla ] 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. v दे . ढालकाठी (p. 356) [
ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखाुं ब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or
standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household
or other commonwealthढालपट्टा (p. 356) [ ḍhālapaṭṭā ] m (Shield and
sword.) A soldier's accoutrements comprehensively.ढालाईत (p. 356) [
ḍhālāīta ] That bears the great flag with proceeds in front of an
army in march.ढाळणें (p. 356) [ ḍhāḷaṇēṃ ] v c (Active of ढळणें) To
wave over or around (a fan, brush &c.) Ex. सेवक वरर ढाळमत चामरें
॥.ढालकरी (p. 356) [ ḍhālakarī ] m The bearer or or attendant upon
the ढाल of an army or a cheiftain. 2 fig. The staff, support, or
upholding person of a family or community. (Marathi) ḍhālā a tall
banner (Kannada)

Rebus: ḍhālu 'cast, mould' (Kannada) J. ḍhāḷṇu ʻ to cause to

melt ʼ; P.ḍhalṇā ʻ to be poured out, fall, melt ʼ(CDIAL 5582) ढाळ (p.
356) [ ḍhāḷa ] Cast, mould, form (as ofmetal vessels, trinkets
&c.(Marathi)

A ‫ قمر‬ḳamar, s.m. (9th) The moon. Sing. and Pl.

See ‫ سپوږمي‬or ‫ سپوګمي رښړه‬rabaṟṟṉaʿh, s.f. (3rd) Moonshine, the light of

the moon, moonlight. Pl. ْ‫ ي‬ey. See ‫( سپوږمي‬Pashto)
Rebus: karmāˊra m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ RV. [EWA i 176 < stem *karmar -
- ~ karman -- , but perh. with ODBL 668 ← Drav. cf. Tam. karumā ʻ
smith, smelter ʼ whence meaning ʻ smith ʼ was transferred also to
karmakāra -- ] Pa. kammāra -- m. ʻ worker in metal ʼ; Pk. kammāra
-- , °aya -- m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ, A. kamār, B. kāmār; Or. kamāra ʻ
blacksmith, caste of non -- Aryans, caste of fishermen ʼ; Mth. kamār
ʻ blacksmith ʼ, Si. kam̆burā.*karmāraśālā -- .Addenda: karmāˊra --
: Md. kan̆buru ʻ blacksmith ʼ.(CDIAL 2898) కమమ టము [ kammaṭamu
] Same as కమటము. కమ్మ టీడు kammaṭīḍu. [Tel.] A man of the
goldsmith caste.కమమ రము [ kammaramu ] kammaramu. [Tel.] n.

6
Smith's work, iron work. కమ్మ రవాడు, కమ్మ రి or కమ్మ రీడు kammara-
vāḍu. n. An iron-smith or blacksmith. బైటికమమ రవాడు an itinerant
blacksmith. (Telugu) Kammāra [Vedic karmāra] a smith, a worker
in metals generally D ii.126, A v.263; a silversmith Sn 962= Dh
239; J i.223; a goldsmith J iii.281; v.282. The smiths in old India do
not seem to be divided into black -- , gold -- and silver -- smiths,
but seem to have been able to work equally well in iron, gold, and
silver, as can be seen e. g. from J iii.282 and VvA 250, where the
smith is the maker of a needle. They were constituted into a guild,
and some of them were well -- to -- do as appears from what is said
of Cunda at D ii.126; owing to their usefulness they were held in
great esteem by the people and king alike J iii.281. -- uddhana a
smith's furnace, a forge J vi.218; -- kula a smithy M i.25; kūṭa a
smith's hammer Vism 254; -- gaggarī a smith's bellows S i.106;
J vi.165; Vism 287 (in comparison); -- putta "son of a smith," i. e.
a smith by birth and trade D ii.126; A v.263; as goldsmith J vi.237,
Sn 48 (Nd2 ad loc.: k˚ vuccati suvaṇṇakāro); -- bhaṇḍu (bhaṇḍ, cp.
Sk. bhāṇḍika a barber) a smith with a bald head Vin i.76; -- sālā a
smithy Vism 413; Mhvs 5, 31.(Pali)

<kamar>(B),<karma>(B) {N} ``^black^smith''. Fem. <kamar-

boi>'. *Des. @B05220. #16371. <kamar=gana>(B) {N}
``^bellows of a ^black^smith''. *Des. |<gana>
`'. @B05230. #10713.<kamar>(P) {N} ``^blacksmith''. *Sa.,
Mu.<kamar>, Sad.<kAmAr>, B.<kamarO>, O.<kOmarA>; cf.
Ju.<kamar saRe>, ~<kOjOG>. %16041. #15931. <kamar
saRe>(P) {N} ``blacksmith's shop''. |<saRe>
`shop'. %16050. #15940. (Munda etyma)

British Museum number103225 Baked clay plaque showing a bull-

man holding a post. Old Babylonian 2000BC-1600BCE Length: 12.8
centimetres Width: 7 centimetres Barcelona 2002 cat.181,
p.212 BM Return 1911 p. 66

Hieroglyph: ḍã̄g m. ʻ club, mace ʼ(Kashmiri)

Rebus: K. ḍangur (dat. °garas) m. ʻ fool ʼ; P. ḍaṅgar m. ʻ stupid
man ʼ; N. ḍāṅro ʻ term of contempt for a blacksmith ʼ, ḍāṅre ʻ large
and lazy ʼ; A.ḍaṅurā ʻ living alone without wife or children ʼ;
H. ḍã̄gar, ḍã̄grā m. ʻ starveling ʼ.N. ḍiṅgar ʻ contemptuous term for
7
an inhabitant of the Tarai ʼ; B. ḍiṅgar ʻ vile ʼ;
Or. ḍiṅgara ʻ rogue ʼ, °rā ʻ wicked ʼ; H. ḍiṅgar m. ʻ rogue ʼ;
M. ḍĩgar m. ʻ boy ʼ.(CDIAL 5524)
I ‫ ډانګ‬ḏḏāng, s.m. (2nd) A club, a stick, a bludgeon.
Pl. ‫ ډانګونه‬ḏḏāngūnah. ‫ ډانګ لکئِي‬ḏḏāng lakaʿī, s.f. (6th) The name of a
bird with a club-tail. Sing. and Pl. See ‫ توره آنا ډانګور ِئي‬ḏḏāngoraʿī, s.f.
(6th) A small walking- stick, a small club. Sing. and Pl. (The dimin.
of the above). (Pashto) ḍã̄g डााँ ग् । स्थूलदण्डः m. a club, mace (Gr.Gr.
1); a blow with a stick or cudgel (Śiv. 13); a walking-stick.
Cf. ḍã̄guvu. -- dini -- मदमि&below; । ताडिम् m. pl. inf. to give clubs; to
give a drubbing, to flog a person as a
punishment. (Kashmiri) ḍakka2 ʻ stick ʼ. 2. *ḍaṅga -- 1. [Cf. other
variants for ʻ stick ʼ: ṭaṅka -- 3, *ṭiṅkara -- , *ṭhiṅga -- 1, *ḍikka -
- 1 (*ḍiṅka -- )]1. S. ḍ̠aku m. ʻ stick put up to keep a door
shut ʼ, ḍ̠akaru ʻ stick, straw ʼ; P. ḍakkā m. ʻ straw ʼ, ḍakkrā m. ʻ bit
(of anything) ʼ; N. ḍã̄klo ʻ stalk, stem ʼ.2. Pk. ḍaṅgā -- f. ʻ stick ʼ;
A. ḍāṅ ʻ thick stick ʼ; B. ḍāṅ ʻ pole for hanging things on ʼ;
Or. ḍāṅga ʻ stick ʼ; H. ḍã̄g f. ʻ club ʼ (→ P. ḍã̄g f. ʻ stick ʼ;
K. ḍã̄g m. ʻ club, mace ʼ); G. ḍã̄g f., °gɔ,ḍãgorɔ m., °rũ n. ʻ stick ʼ;
M. ḍãgarṇẽ n. ʻ short thick stick ʼ, ḍã̄gḷī f. ʻ small
branch ʼ, ḍã̄gśī f.Addenda: *ḍakka -- 2. 2. *ḍaṅga -
- 1: WPah.kṭg. ḍāṅg f. (obl. -- a) ʻ stick ʼ, ḍaṅgṛɔ m. ʻ stalk (of a
plant) ʼ; -- poss. kṭg. (kc.) ḍaṅgrɔ m. ʻ axe ʼ, poet. ḍaṅgru m., °re f.;
J. ḍã̄grā m. ʻ small weapon like axe ʼ, P. ḍaṅgorī f. ʻ small staff or
club ʼ (Him.I 84).(CDIAL 6520)

Allograph Hieroglyph: ḍhaṅgaru, ḍhiṅgaru m. ʻlean emaciated

beastʼ(Sindhi)

Rebus: dhangar ‘blacksmith’

(Maithili) ḍhangra ‘bull’. Rebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’.Mth. ṭhākur ʻ bl
acksmith ʼ (CDIAL 5488) N. ḍāṅro ʻ term of contempt for
a blacksmith ʼ S. ḍhaṅgaru m. ʻ lean emaciated beast ʼ ; L.
(Shahpur) ḍhag̠g̠ā ʻ small weak ox ʼ(CDIAL 5324).

S. Kalyanaraman Sarasvati Research Center April 13, 2016

8