The Undeciphered Signs of Linear B: Interpretation and Scribal Practices

by: Judosn, A.P.

Decades after Michael Ventris deciphered Linear B and showed that its language was Greek, nearly one-sixth of its syllabic signs' sound-values are still unknown. This book offers a new approach to establishing these undeciphered signs' possible values. Analysis of Linear B's structure and usage not only establishes these signs' most likely sound-values – providing the best possible basis for future decipherments – but also sheds light on the writing system as a whole. The undeciphered signs are also used to explore the evidence provided by palaeography for the chronology of the Linear B documents and the activities of the Mycenaean scribes. The conclusions presented in this book therefore deepen our understanding not only of the undeciphered signs but also of the Linear B writing system as a whole, the texts it was used to write, and the insight these documents bring us into the world of the Mycenaean palaces. A colour version of figures 5.1-5.4 of chapter 5 can be found under the 'Resources' tab.

Establishes an accurate and up-to-date corpus of the Linear B undeciphered signs
The first complete analysis of the undeciphered signs which takes into account their place within the syllabary as a whole
Wide-ranging analysis of the development and use of the Linear B writing system

Table of Contents
1. The (ongoing) decipherment of Linear B
2. Identifying 'missing' values in the Linear B syllabary
3. The undeciphered signs inherited from Linear A
4. The undeciphered signs with no certain Linear A correspondences
5. Exploring the potential of palaeography with the undeciphered signs
Conclusions
Appendix: corpus of attestations of the undeciphered signs.

The Undeciphered Signs of Linear B: Interpretation and Scribal Practices

by: Judosn, A.P.

• ISBN-13: 9781108494724 / 978-1-108-49472-4
• ISBN-03: 1108494722 / 1-108-49472-2
• Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2020