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Deciphering the Indus Script by Asko Parpola (University of Helsinki) at Abbey's Bookshop,
Deciphering the Indus Script
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Asko Parpola (University of Helsinki)

Deciphering the Indus Script

Asko Parpola (University of Helsinki)

$79.95

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English
Cambridge University Press
01 October 2009
Palaeography (history of writing)
Of the writing systems of the ancient world which still await deciphering, the Indus script is the most important. It developed in the Indus or Harappan Civilization, which flourished c. 2500-1900 BC in and around modern Pakistan, collapsing before the earliest historical records of South Asia were composed. Nearly 4,000 samples of the writing survive, mainly on stamp seals and amulets, but no translations. Professor Parpola is the chief editor of the Corpus of Indus Seals and Inscriptions. His ideas about the script, the linguistic affinity of the Harappan language, and the nature of the Indus religion are informed by a remarkable command of Aryan, Dravidian, and Mesopotamian sources, archaeological materials, and linguistic methodology. He outlines what is known about the Harappan culture and its script, presents a decipherment of a small number of interlocking Indus signs, and proposes a method which will permit further progress in decipherment. His fascinating study confirms that the Indus script was logo-syllabic, and that the Indus language belonged to the Dravidian family. He also argues that Indian astronomy was started by the Harappans, and that the Indus religion was genetically related to those of the ancient Near East and Hindu India.
By:  
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 280mm,  Width: 210mm,  Spine: 21mm
Weight:   890g
ISBN:   9780521795661
ISBN 10:   0521795664
Pages:   400
Publication Date:  
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Primary ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Part I. Introduction: 1. The Indus Civilization and its historical context; Part II. The Indus Script: 2. Early writing systems; 3. Deciphering an unknown script; 4. Approaches to the Indus script; 5. Internal evidence for the type of script used in the Indus Valley; 6. Internal evidence on the structure of the Indus language; 7. External clues to the Indus script; Part III. The Linguistic Context: 8. In search of the Indus language; 9. Dravidian languages and the Harappan culture; Part IV. Interpretations of Indus Pictograms: 10. The 'fish' signs of the Indus script; 11. The astronomical and astrological background; 12. The trefoil motif: further evidence for astral religion; 13. Evidence for Harappan worship of the god Muruku; 14. Evidence for Harappan worship of the Goddess; 15. Epilogue; Appendix; Bibliographical notes; References; Index.

Reviews for Deciphering the Indus Script

'This book is substantial, in every sense of the word ... does make a forceful case for a partial decipherment ... it will become the standard reference work and the basis for any further debate.' Stuart Blackburn, South Asia Research '... deserves much credit for having pursued this enquiry to the very limits of what is now possible.' John Chadwick, Times Higher Education Supplement '... indispensable research tool ... a book of lasting value.' Florian Coulmas, Language 'The best informed, most cogently argued, and important work to date on the Indus script.' Richard Salomon, Journal of the American Oriental Society 'By far the most comprehensive and well researched study of the Indus script ... It will certainly remain a classic source book for many years to come.' Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, American Anthropologist '... doubtless the most important study of the Indus script ...' Thomas Oberlies, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies '... most complete and best-informed treatment of the subject.' Michael D. Coe, Antiquity


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