Middle Hill
13 D 56
My dear Sir
My best thanks for your Pamphlet of Remarks on the India House Inscription. In it are some curious coincidences wch I will remark upon. First you translate
Wesharsitu I constructed it
Wezakkirsu I finished it
Weshaklilu I covered it in
Now, as it is the custom of all modern Kings to speak in the plural number, if you substitute We for I in the translation, you have the identical words of our own language.
In p. 10 Can Beth Zida & Beth Kinu be the original form of Beth Zeus (Jupiter) & Beth Chronon (Χφονδ Saturn)?*
p 12 lines 66 & last line Kibirsu. Can this be the identical word still applied to the great Mound at Babylon called Birs Nemroud?
p 9 It is supposed by H & R. that the Greek Χφυσος is derived from Khurassu – then why may not ξυλον be derived from zululu p.10 page10.
p. 12 Temple of Tianna, is an extraordinary resemblance to Diana
p.13 l. 22} rubu mustarka. Are not these the same words as in p. 9. & signify “the Chief of thy Worshippers” in both places? The sense will be equally good.
p 10 & 9 eliti & illiti These words have a remarkable analogy to the French word “Elite”
p.8 Sar Babel. May not Sar be the origin of our Sir & the French Sire & German Herr? For it should be always remembered that our Anglo Saxons & Normans are said to have migrated originally from the Shores of the Caspian Sea.
p. 10 Is the word Papa, (the Pope,) likely to be derived from papakha the shrine or altar, or is papakha a compound of Papa & Kha. We known the term Papa is very ancient, in the East, as applied to a religious superior.
p. 11. When the mutability of b into v & vice versa is considered, nothing is more probable than that Svla might be the original word, in which the Greeks, for euphony & easier pronunciation, might insert the i & change v into b.
No one can honestly be otherwise than convinced that your’s is the true interpretation of the word Sheber, & your historical application of it is charming. And the inference of a tablet, from sis, white marble, is perfectly fair. It would be desirable, in the infancy of this language, if you would in future place the translation of each word immediately after the word itself. Readers wd thus insensibly learn the language. –
I sent the Photograph in a parcel with a thin Pasteborad to guard it, lest the Inscriptoin shd be made illegible by creases, or crushing. Have you asked Williams & Norgate for a Copy of the Inscription on my Cylinder, printed by Grotefend?
I am very faithfully Yours
T Phillipps
*There is however this question, “Whether Assyrians at the time knew anything about Jupiter or Saturn?
[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr
Athenæum Club
Pall Mall
London
[added in WHFT's hand:]
Sir T. Phillips[sic]
[copy in TP's hand, in his letterbook in the Bodleian Library]
H. Fox Talbot Esqr Athenæum Club London
MH 13 D 56
My dr Sir
My best thanks for your Pamphlet of Remarks on the India House Arrow head Inscription. In it are some curious coincidences wch I will remark upon. First you translate
Wesharsitu I constructed it
Wezakkirsu I finished it
Weshaklilu I covered it in
Now, as it is the custom of all Modern Kings to speak in the plural number, if you substitute We for I in the translation, you have the identical word of our own language.
In p. 10 Can Beth Zidn & Beth Kinu be the original form of Beth Zeus (Jupiter) & Beth Chronou (Χφονδ) Saturn)? (There is however this question “Whether Assyrians at the time know anything about Jupiter & Saturn.)
p 12 lines 66 & last line Kibirsu. Can this be the identical word still applied to the great Mound at Babylon called Birs Nemroud?
p 9 It is supposed by H & R that the Greek Χφυσος is derived from Khurassu – then why may not ξυλον be derived from zululu p.10.
p. 12. Temple of Tianna is an extraordinary resemblance to Diana.
p.13 line 22 rubu mustarka. Are not these the same words as in p. 9. & signify “the Chief of thy Worshippers” in both places? The sense will be equally good.
p.9. & 10 eliti & illiti These words have a remarkable analogy to the French word “Elite”
p.8 Sar Babel. May not Sar be the origin of our Sir the French Sire & German Herr? For it shd always be remembered that our Anglo Saxons & Normans are said to have migrated originally from the Shores of the Caspian Sea.
p. 10 Is the word Papa (the Pope) likely to be derived from Papakha the shrine or altar or is papakha a compound of Papa & Kha. We known the term Papa is very ancient in the East, as applied to a religious superior.
p. 11. When the mutability of b into v & vice versa is considered, nothing is more probable than that Svla might be the original word, in which the Greeks for euphony & easier pronunciation might insert the i & change v into b
No one can be, honestly, otherwise than convinced that your’s is the true interpretation of the word Sheber, & your Historical application of it, is charming. And the inference of a tablet, from sis white marble, is perfectly fair.
It wd be desirable, in the infancy of this language, if you wd in future place the translation of each word immediately after the word itself. Readers wd thus insensibly learn the language.
I sent the Photograph in a Parcel with thin Pasteboard to guard it, lest the inscription shd be made illegible by creases, or crushing. – Have you asked Williams & Norgate for a copy of the Inscription on my Cylinder printed by Grotefend?
I am very faithfully yrs
Thos Phillipps