[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c25.s16 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s16: 5.16 Numerals Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s16 - **Language:** English ### 5.16 Numerals ### [c25.s16.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16.1) The only occurrence of a numeral character in the cave inscriptions is 3 represented by three short horizontal parallel strokes at Tondur (\*\*No. \*76\*,\*\* ca. 3rd century A.D.). Even in the Late Period, the numeral has preserved the earliest primitive form of the Brāhmī script.¹ The form seen in this inscription is distinctly earlier than the one with curved lines seen in the Gunapadeya Plates of Queen Cārudēvī (ca. 4th century A.D.).² Numeral characters occur in the pottery inscriptions at Arikamedu. In one of the sherds found in the excavations during 1989-92, the numeral 855 (or 558 if read from the right) occurs, though its significance is not known as the inscription is too fragmentary.³ ### [c25.s16.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16.2) ¹ Shobhana Gokhale 1966: pp. 3-4. ### [c25.s16.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16.3) ² E.Hultzsch 1905-06, \*EI\*. VIII: Pl. facing p. 145, Side ii b. ### [c25.s16.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16.4) ³ I. Mahadevan 1996a: Fig. 5.5. Ibid. pp. 296-297 for other occurrences of numerals in the pottery inscriptions from Arikamedu. ## Cites (1) - [Satalma plates of Mahābhavagupta Janamejaya year 8](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.east.somavamsin.satalma-plates-of-mahabhavagupta-janamejaya) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c25.s16) · Pramāṇa