A recently discovered inscription from the Maabudhuge archeological site, on the island of Landhoo in South Miladhunmadulu Atoll, is now thought to be the oldest script found in Maldives. The letters are inscribed on four sides of a block of coral, in a version of the Southern Brahmi script of the Pallava period, estimated to date back to the 6th century AD (shown below).
The inscription is a mantra of Vajrayana Buddhism, a form of Buddhism that had existed in Maldives in ancient times.(Gippert 2003). The stone may have been buried in the foundation of a religious building to ensure safety from evil spirits, a practice known to have been used during the pre-Islamic period. The letters show some resemblance to the later Eveyla Akuru leading to the theory that this early script may have played a part in the formation of the first known Dhivehi alphabet.
0 comments:
Post a Comment