Aśoka

language

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illustration of Indo-Aryan linguistic development

  • Devanagari script
    In Indo-Aryan languages: Texts

    …Indo-Aryan is that of the Aśokan inscriptions (3rd century bce). These are more or less full translations from original edicts issued in the language of the east (from the capital Pāṭaliputra in Magadha, near modern Patna in Bihār) into the languages of the areas of Aśoka’s kingdom. There are other…

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type of Indic calligraphy

  • calligraphy sample
    In calligraphy: Indic calligraphy

    Ashoka’s edicts were committed to stone. These inscriptions are stiff and angular in form. Following the Ashoka style of Indic writing, two new calligraphic types appear: Kharoshti and Brahmi. Kharoshti was used in the northwestern regions of India from the 3rd century bce to the…

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