On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c8.46

c8.46

No 14. The identity of *sa* with the Aramaic *Samech* (Col. I) has hitherto not been recognised. Nevertheless the not uncommon form of *sa* with the polygonal or angular head, given in Col. III, permits us to assert that also in this case the Gandharians used for the notation of their dental sibilant the sign which one would expect to be employed for the purpose. The top stroke and the upper portion of the right side of the Kharoṣṭhī *sa* correspond very closely to the upper hook of the *Samech* of Teima, being only made a little broader. The little slanting bar in the centre of the *Samech* may be identified with the downward stroke, attached to the left of the top line of *sa*, and the lower left side of *sa* appears to be the corresponding portion of the *Samech*, turned round towards the left in order to effect a connexion with the downward stroke. These remarks will become most easily intelligible, if the component parts of the two letters are separated. Then we have for *Samech* [Figure:] and for *sa* [Figure:]. The forms, in which the right portion of the head of *sa* is rounded, are of course cursive. The Teima form of the *Samech* with the little horn at the left end of the top stroke is unique in the older inscriptions. But the Palmyrenian letters (Euting, Cols. 24—29, 32—33, 37, 39—40), though otherwise considerably modified, prove that the *Samech* with an upward twist must have been common. Finally, the corresponding Nabataean characters (Euting, Cols. 46—47), are almost exactly the same as the Kharoṣṭhī *sa* and show that the changes, assumed above, are easy and have actually been made again in much later times. The signs of the Papyri are again far advanced and unsuited for comparison.