Elymaic Letter Daleth

It marks the d sound, as in “dog,” not a whole word. Elymaic is an abjad—a script that writes mainly consonants and leaves many vowels to context. It reads right to left, and word boundaries are not generally marked.

Elymaic writing grew from the official Aramaic script used in administration. Graffiti at Tang-e Chilau may preserve a transitional stage dating to the first-century BCE or earlier; the better-attested stone inscriptions belong to the first through third centuries CE.

Royal and sacred inscriptions and coin legends recorded rulers, titles, enthronements, and religious claims. Tang-e Sarvak was a sanctuary associated with coronations; at Bard-e Nesandeh, a text likely scratched after 150 CE invokes Kabneskir to preserve the site's tax exemption and right to make sacrifices.

What does 𐿣 mean when someone sends it by itself?

It points to the letter, not a complete word. One consonant alone cannot identify a word; if someone sends 𐿣 by itself, ask what inscription or text they mean.

Elymaic is closely related to Inscriptional Parthian and Mandaic. Some small copper coin legends resemble Parthian forms; larger silver tetradrachms, coins worth four drachmas, fit the Elymaic repertoire more closely. Compare the whole legend before identifying its script.