--- In austric@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Kekai Manansala"
<p.manansala@s...> wrote:


--- In austric@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Parker"
<richardparker01@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I have heard of the phrase horns of the crescent moon - but it
was > > the specific reference to water buffalo's horns that I felt
might be > > special pleading. > > The pictures you posted were very
persuasive, but they don't seem to > > back up the direct connection
with water buffalo - they could > > represent any kind of cattle
horn.
>
> The pictures in my last post have been identified as buffalo horns
by > specialists and it is rather obvious from the shape, relative
> proportions and notched appearance of the horns that this is the
> correct identification.

Dear Paul,

I have no objection whatsoever to the two Early Harappan artifacts
shown in your pictures representing water buffalo, but what about
the two Sumerian examples? Who are the "specialists" who identified
those non-notched crescent-shaped objects as water-buffalo horns? To
me, that is a star-and-crescent symbol without any connection with
buffalo horns. In fact, I believe, with Parpola, that water-buffalo
was imported into Mesopotamia only starting from the Akkadian period.

Cheers,
Francesco Brighenti