Cypriot syllabary

Cypriot
Script type	Syllabary
Time period	11th–4th centuries BCE
Direction	right-to-left script
Languages	Arcadocypriot Greek, Eteocypriot
Related scripts
Parent systems	Linear A Cypro-Minoan Cypriot
ISO 15924
ISO 15924	Cprt, 403 , ​Cypriot syllabary
Unicode
Unicode alias	Cypriot
Unicode range	U+10800–U+1083F
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

Line drawing rendering, bronze Idalion Tablet, 5th century BCE, Idalion, Cyprus.

The Cypriot or Cypriote syllabary is a syllabic script used in Iron Age Cyprus, from about the 11th to the 4th centuries BCE, when it was replaced by the Greek alphabet. A pioneer of that change was King Evagoras of Salamis. It is descended from the Cypro-Minoan syllabary, in turn, a variant or derivative of Linear A. Most texts using the script are in the Arcadocypriot dialect of Greek, but also one bilingual (Greek and Eteocypriot) inscription was found in Amathus.

Origin[]

It has been established that the Cypriot syllabary is derived from the Cypro-Minoan syllabary; the latter is supposed to be derived from the Linear A script, and certainly belongs to the circle of Aegean scripts. The most obvious change is the disappearance of ideograms, which were frequent and represented a significant part of Linear A. The earliest inscriptions are found on clay tablets. Parallel to the evolution of cuneiform, the signs soon became simple patterns of lines. There is no evidence of a Semitic influence due to trade, but this pattern seemed to have evolved as the result of habitual use.^[1]

Structure[]

The structure of the Cypriot syllabary is very similar to that of Linear B. This is due to their common origin and underlying language (albeit different dialects).^[1] The Cypriot script contains 56 signs.^[2] Each sign generally stands for a syllable in the spoken language: e.g. ka, ke, ki, ko, ku. Hence, it is classified as a syllabic writing system.^[3] Because each sign stands for an open syllable (CV) rather than a closed one (CVC), the Cypriot syllabary is also an 'open' syllabary.^[2]