The Script of Harappa and Mohenjodaro and its Connection with Other Scripts c10.s27.1

c10.s27.1

It will be observed in Nos. 14-26 we have the familiar sequence AN-I. If we were right in analysing this as meaning 'To (the god) AN', it is probable that what precedes is in the nature of a preliminary formula 'For (the life of) Dungi', 'for my life', 'for the patesi' etc. It will be observed that while that which follows in these texts is normally proper names, sometimes prefixed by the 'fish' sign 'son of', that which precedes the dedicatory words " is not found elsewhere either as a complete text or in such a position on a text that we might infer it to be a proper name. This confirms us in our inference that what precedes " is a formula rather than a name. With regard to the remainder of the texts in this table, it is probable that that which follows " is in every case a proper name (with or without the usual prefixes to proper names such as , ). In many cases there can be no doubt about this, viz. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14-16, 18-22, 25, 26, 28, 32-35, 37, 40, 43, 44, 46, 47-50, 53-57, 61-63, 66, 67, 70, 72, i.e. 44 out of 74. This proportion of certainties is so high that it will probably be not rash to assume till evidence to the contrary that in every case that which follows " is a proper name and utilize this knowledge for the purpose of elucidating those texts which do not contain ".