Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t7.3
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t7.3
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v1.c24.s1.t7.3
Schoff recorded (1912: 193) how the Sanskrit word ibha (elephant) and ibha-danta (elephant’s teeth) were converted to abu in Egyptian, Semitic article el prefixing ibha-danta to give elephas in Greek, and the English words ‘elephant’ and ‘ivory’. The primacy of India in the commercial usage of ivory is thus established.