On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c6.19

c6.19

As regards the second important point, to which attention has been called above, viz., the occurrence of numerous apparently or really advanced forms, identical or closely agreeing with those of the later times, its significance will become best apparent, if all such signs, found in the Edicts, are placed together. The subjoined little table, for the preparation of which [39] I have to acknowledge the help of Dr. W. Cartellieri, gives in the lines, marked *A*, the advanced Aśoka letters photolithographed according to cuttings from the facsimiles, and in those, marked *B*, the corresponding characters from the later inscriptions of Hāthigumphā, the Nānāghāt, Mathurā and the Western caves. The dates of the latter vary between the middle of the second century B. C. and of the second century A. D., and in every case the oldest available counterpart has been chosen.