On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c7.s1.21

c7.s1.21

No 13. The identification of the Brāhma *ma* with the Semitic *Mem* is also due to Professor Weber. He, as well as M. Halévy, derive it from the Aramaic sign of the seventh century¹ B. C., 𐡌. Though this derivation is no doubt tempting it seems to me that it is equally possible to connect the Brāhma *ma* with a sign like that of the Mesa inscription, which likewise shows a curve at the end of the down-stroke. A little stronger development of this curve would necessarily lead to a sign, like the hypothetical one, entered in Col. IV, which is almost the same as the first Pehlevī *Mem* of Col. 58 in Professor Euting's Tabula Script. Aram. And in support of this view I may appeal to the development of the looped *ka*, Northern ꦏ and Southern ꦏ from the dagger-shaped *ka* with a curve at he foot ꦏ, as well as of the round ad Southern *ra* 𑀭 from 𑀭, which show analogous changes on purely Indian ground. The superposition of the angle, which originally remained at the side, over *ña* (Col. VI, a), which consists of the hypothetical form, turned from right to left, and of a small bar at the top, indicating that it belongs to a different class or Varga.