Thread by @hermahai

1/ The Linear A transcribes the mysterious Minoan language, which until today is believed to belong to an unknown language family,which we could look for in the pre-Hellenic linguistic substratum. But by comparing it with the later Linear B, some important elements are extracted.

https://twitter.com/hermahai/status/1668890604690915328

2/ First of all, we should emphasize that the Mycenaean Greeks used Linear A as a graphic model for the development of Linear B, a script that captured a purely Indo-European language, the Mycenaean (archaic Greek), which seems to have evolved quite from the PIE.

3/ In terms of the palaeographic aspect, the two scripts show a significant similarity of 70% in relation to the syllabic signs, but the composite/complex signs of Linear A are not present in Linear B 👉

👉 and the logographic repertoire shows substantial changes. We would say that Linear B is a fairly simplified form of Linear A.

4/ The Linear B has been successfully deciphered, and given the close relationship between the scripts, it is assumed that most signs, which appear the same in both Linear A and Linear B, can be read with identical or very similar phonetic values in both scriptures.

5/This hypothesis is based on elements of common sequences of signs in both scriptures where it seems particularly likely that they contain homophonic signs based on the meanings of the sequences in Linear B. Such similarities are observed mainly in place names and personal names

6/ Another element that strengthens this hypothesis is the fact that Linear B was used exclusively for administrative purposes and was probably created in Crete, indicating the graphic and phonetic continuity between the two scripts.

7/ Thus it is possible to read Linear A inscriptions phonetically, and complete transcriptions have been produced for inscriptions from the Haghia Triada and elsewhere, although understanding the meaning of most words still eludes us. Therefore, we can read the Linear A.

8/ Let us now look at the most important examples of common words between Linear A and Linear B. The most characteristic toponyms are Φαιστός < Pa-i-to (HT 97a.3, 120.6) mentioned in 54 cases in the Knossos Linear B' tablets archive, 👉

👉 the Su-ki-ri-ta (PH Wa 32), mentioned in 9 cases in Linear B', related to the area of Σύγριτα < Σύβριτα of the Amari district of Rethymnon, and the Se-to-i-ja (PR Za 1b), which is mentioned 21 times in the Knossos Linear B' tablets archive.

9/ At the same time, the word I-da which is attested several times in the texts of Linear A almost certainly denotes the name of the Mount Ida and the word di-ki-te, which is also recorded several times in the texts of Linear A probably indicates the Mount Dikti Lasithi.

10/ Characteristic homophonic anthroponyms are the word Da-i-pi-ta (Za 8.5, 10a.4-5) which is attested in Linear B' tablet KN 799+8306 attributed as Δαϊφίτης ή Δηιφίτης, the A-ki-ta (Za Wc 2.a1-2) attested in Linear B' tablet KN V 831.4, 👉

👉 the female name I-ti-ka (HT 28a.6) attested in Linear B' tablets KN Ap 769.2 and Xe 537.2 attributed as Ιθαΐα, the word Ki-da-ro (HT 47a.4, 117a.9,122a.2-3) attested on Linear B' tablet KN E 842.3 attributed as Κίδαρος 👉

👉 (Kidaria Demeter [Pheneos] - κίδαρις: Arcadian dance or head covering), and the A-ra-ko (KO Zf 2) which is recorded on five tablets of the Knossos archive attributed to Άρακος.

12/ Finally we will dwell again on the phrase i-da-ma-te which is attested on two inscribed double axes from Arkalochori and the most likely versions of its interpretation based on linguistic reasons are: 👉

👉 Ίδη μήτερ or Δήμητερ (Demeter). The word μήτηρ is purely Greek and is not found in other Indo-European languages with which Linear A has been associated, such as Luwian and Hittite.