The study of the prehistoric Aegean script is an underdeveloped field in the Greek academia, a fact which entails lack of academic interest and scarcity of relevant publications. The public’s interest, however, make it imperative certain research targets to be clarified as these are followed by script researchers. Therefore, seven necessary clarifications and basic bibliography are offered: 1.”Language” and “script” constitute two different notions. 2. The term “prehistoric Aegean scripts” refers to three scripts invented and used in the second millennium BC in Crete and mainland Greece: the Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A and Linear B. 3. The Phaistos Disk is not a document of the Cretan Hieroglyphic script, but a unique sample of an otherwise unknown script. 4. The terms “Hieroglyphic1′ and “Linear” scripts are conventional names which are still in use mainly for historical reasons. 5. The Cretan Hieroglyphic script is not the forerunner of the so-called Linear scripts, A and B. 6. It is by no means possible to prove that the acrophqnic (or rebus) principle was used for the original creation of the scripts signs. 7. Linear B is the only prehistoric Aegean scripts which is deciphered.
Seven Clarifications Regarding the Prehistoric Aegean Script
27 Aug 2012
by Archaeology Newsroom
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