Linear B: the first Greek script - its origin and development

Authors

Helena Tomas
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Synopsis

Linear B was the first Greek script. It was used on the island of Crete and the Greek mainland during the 2nd millennium BC. It was mostly recorded on clay tablets, first discovered in 1900 by Sir Arthur Evans. The script was deciphered in 1952 by Michael Ventris. The book is dedicated to the unresolved problem of the origin of Linear B, primarily to the questions of the place and the period of its creation, as well as to the source for the creation of this script.

Chapters

  • Preface
  • 1. An outline of the main problems
  • 2. An overview of the theories on the origin of Linear B
  • 3. Distinguishing the origin of the Linear B script and the origin of the Linear B administrative system
  • 4. Creation of the Linear B
    single act or a gradual development?
  • 5. The likely date and place for the creation of Linear B
  • Conclusion
  • Abbreviations
  • Bibliography

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Author Biography

Helena Tomas, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia

In 1997 she graduated Archaeology and Ancient Greek language and literature at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. In 2003 she was awarded a D.Phil. degree at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; thesis title: Understanding the transition between Linear A and Linear B scripts (supervised by Prof. John Bennet). Since 2004 teaching at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, currently holding a position of Full Professor. From 2011-2015 – Head of the Department of Archaeology; since 2015 – the Director of PhD program in Archaeology. Courses taught: Introduction to Aegean Archaeology; The Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean during Bronze Age; Mycenaean epigraphy; Mycenaean society through Linear B; Ancient Greek. Research interests: Aegean Bronze Ages scripts and administration; Correlation between the Aegean, the Balkan Peninsula and Central Europe during Bronze Age.

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Published

27. November 2023.

Details about this monograph

ISBN-13 (15)

978-953-379-110-4

Publication date (01)

2023