Image: Lynn Fawcett
Image: Lynn Fawcett

In this composite character, a stylised pictograph of a grub or larva (representing insects) is surrounded by four points of light. A speck of light at each of the cardinal points indicates that something is true regardless of the position of the sun in the sky, in other words always. Hence, the meaning is insects always.


Illustrative Text Reference:

Harappa: Seal: H-79 a: Jagat Pati Joshi and Asko Parpola, 1987: Corpus of Indus Seals and Inscriptions: Volume 1: Page 186: Collections in India: Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia.

Comment:

This is Mahadevan's sign number 5060 which I have redrawn to better reflect the grub shape of the original.

Inscription H-79 is very short. However, the seal's motif may give us the key to understanding the inscription. The motif appears to depict a water buffalo with bowl shaped horns. There is a food dish beneath his muzzle. This suggests a low-sided cart and foodstuffs. In other words, a food cart.


Image Credit:

Insects Always: Lynn Fawcett, 2017.