this post was submitted on 04 Apr 2025
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Linguistics

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Longest Known Inscription in the Undeciphered Linear A Script of Minoan civilization, Found on an Ivory Scepter in Knossos (www.labrujulaverde.com)
submitted 2 days ago by antonim@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/linguistics@mander.xyz
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A team of archaeologists has discovered in Knossos, on the Greek island of Crete, the longest Linear A inscription found to date. The script appears on a circular ivory object with an attached handle, discovered in a context of clear religious significance within a Neopalatial building. Besides providing the longest inscription in this yet-to-be-deciphered system, the find offers new perspectives on the use of Minoan writing in ceremonial contexts.

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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Anyone willing to guess what's the language in Linear A?

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if it was:

  • related to Etruscan and Lemnian
  • Semitic
  • non-Greek Indo-European (Anatolian?)
  • some paleo-Balkan language unaffiliated with any of those, but you find some odd cognates in Greek for words without an IE origin.
[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wonder if this is the breakthrough needed to finally crack Linear A. Probably still not enough but let's hope!

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

Probably not.

If some breakthrough appears, I expect it to be a bilingual inscription containing the same text in Linear A and Linear B; similar to the Rosetta stone for Egyptian, having the text also in Greek was key.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 5 points 2 days ago

"Be sure to drink your..."

Who knows what it was referring to.

[–] smee@poeng.link 4 points 2 days ago

Linear A

It's clearly written in a circle. 🤨

[–] phr@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 days ago

that means there will be a new wave of ~~guesses~~ translations. :/

but yay, more text! :)