Linear B

File:Linear B Syllable B008 A|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B008_A]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B038 E|right|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B038_E]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B028 I|right|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B028_I]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B061 O|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B061_O]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B010 U|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B010_U]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B001 DA|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B001_DA]]]] File:Linear B Syllable B045 DE|thumb|Linear_B_Syllable_B045_DE]]]] Linear B is a syllabic script that was used for writing Mycenaean Greek, the earliest attested form of the Greek language. The script predates the Greek alphabet by several centuries and was primarily used during the Late Bronze Age. Linear B was deciphered in 1952 by Michael Ventris, an English architect and classical scholar.

History

Linear B was derived from the earlier Linear A script, which was used by the Minoan civilization on Crete. The script was adapted to the Mycenaean Greek language and was used primarily for administrative purposes. The majority of Linear B tablets have been found in the palatial centers of Knossos, Pylos, Thebes, and Mycenae.

Decipherment

The decipherment of Linear B is credited to Michael Ventris, who, along with John Chadwick, demonstrated that the script encoded an early form of Greek. This breakthrough was significant as it pushed back the known history of the Greek language by several centuries.

Script and Structure

Linear B consists of around 87 syllabic signs and over 100 ideographic signs. The syllabic signs represent open syllables (consonant-vowel combinations), while the ideographic signs are used to convey specific objects or commodities. The script does not represent all the phonetic nuances of the Mycenaean Greek language, leading to some ambiguities in interpretation.

Usage

Linear B was primarily used for record-keeping and administrative purposes. The tablets often contain inventories, lists of goods, and records of transactions. The script was written on clay tablets, which were then baked, either intentionally or accidentally, preserving them for millennia.

Significance

The discovery and decipherment of Linear B have provided invaluable insights into the Mycenaean civilization, their language, and their administrative practices. It has also helped to bridge the gap between the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures and has contributed to our understanding of the early history of the Greek language.

Related Pages

• Linear A
• Mycenaean Greek
• Minoan civilization
• Michael Ventris
• John Chadwick
• Knossos
• Pylos
• Thebes
• Mycenae
• Greek alphabet