Linear A
Linear A | |
---|---|
Script type | Undeciphered
(presumed syllabic and ideographic) |
Time period | MM IB to LM IIIA 1800–1450 BC[1] |
Status | Extinct |
Direction | left-to-right |
Languages | 'Minoan' (unknown) |
Related scripts | |
Child systems | Linear B, Cypro-Minoan syllabary[2] |
Sister systems | Cretan hieroglyphs |
ISO 15924 | |
ISO 15924 | Lina, 400 , Linear A |
Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Linear A |
Unicode range | "U+10600–U+1077F" (PDF). "Final Accepted Script Proposal" (PDF). |
Linear A is a writing system that was used by the Minoans (Cretans) from 1800 to 1450 BC to write the hypothesized Minoan language. Linear A was the primary script used in palace and religious writings of the Minoan civilization. It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans. It was succeeded by Linear B, which was used by the Mycenaeans to write an early form of Greek. No texts in Linear A have been deciphered.
The term linear refers to the fact that the script was written by using a stylus to cut lines into a tablet of clay, as opposed to cuneiform, which was written by using a stylus to press wedges into the clay.
Linear A belongs to a group of scripts that evolved independently of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian systems. During the second millennium BC, there were four major branches: Linear A, Linear B, Cypro-Minoan, and Cretan hieroglyphic.[3] In the 1950s, Linear B was deciphered as Mycenaean Greek. Linear B shares many symbols with Linear A, and they may notate similar syllabic values. But neither those nor any other proposed readings lead to a language that scholars can read. The only part of the script that can be read with any certainty is the signs for numbers—which are, however, only known as numerical values; the words for those numbers remain unknown.
Script[]
Most hypotheses about the Linear A script and Minoan language start with Linear B.
Linear A has hundreds of signs, believed to represent syllabic, ideographic, and semantic values in a manner similar to Linear B. While many of those assumed to be syllabic signs are similar to ones in Linear B, approximately 80% of Linear A's logograms are unique;[4][3] the difference in sound values between Linear A and Linear B signs ranges from 9% to 13%.[5] It primarily appears in the left-to-right direction, but occasionally appears as a right-to-left or boustrophedon script.
Linear A may be divided into four categories:
- numerals and metrical signs,
- phonetic signs,
- ligatures and composite signs, and
- ideograms.
Numbers follow a decimal system, units are represented by vertical dashes, tens by horizontal dashes, hundreds by circles, and thousands by circles with rays. Specific signs that coincide with numerals are regarded as fractions.[6]
An interesting feature is the recording of numbers in the script: The highest number recorded in known Linear A texts is 3000, but there are special symbols to indicate fractions and weights.
Signary[]
*01-*20 | *21-*30 | *31-*53 | *54-*74 | *76-*122 | *123-*306 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DA
*01 |
QI
*21 |
SA
*31 |
WA
*54 |
*76 |
*123 | ||||||
RO
*02 |
*21f |
*34 |
*55 |
KA
*77 |
*131a | ||||||
PA
*03 |
*21m |
TI
*37 |
PA3
*56 |
QE
*78 |
*131b | ||||||
TE
*04 |
MI?
*22 |
E
*38 |
JA
*57 |
WO2?
*79 |
*131c | ||||||
*05 |
*22f |
PI
*39 |
SU
*58 |
MA
*80 |
*164 | ||||||
NA
*06 |
*22m |
WI
*40 |
TA
*59 |
KU
*81 |
*171 | ||||||
DI
*07 |
MU
*23 |
SI
*41 |
RA
*60 |
*82 |
*180 | ||||||
A
*08 |
*23m |
KE
*44 |
O
*61 |
*85 |
*188 | ||||||
S
*09 |
NE
*24 |
*45 |
JU
*65 |
*86 |
*191 | ||||||
*10 |
RU
*26 |
*46 |
TA2
*66 |
TWE
*87 |
*301 | ||||||
*11 |
RE
*27 |
*47 |
KI
*67 |
*100/ |
*302 | ||||||
ME
*13 |
I
*28 |
*49 |
TU
*69 |
*118 |
*303 | ||||||
QA2
*16 |
*28b |
PU
*50 |
*70 |
*120 |
*304 | ||||||
ZA
*17 |
*29 |
DU
*51 |
MI
*73 |
*120b |
*305 | ||||||
ZO
*20 |
NI
*30 |
*53 |
ZE
*74 |
*122 |
*306 |
Numbers[]
Integers can be read, and there is consensus on the fractions 1⁄2, 1⁄4 and 1⁄8. The other fractions are less certain. Corazza et al. (2020) decipher the following values, most of which had been previously proposed:[7]
Abbrev. | Glyph | Value |
---|---|---|
J |