& Commentary
inaugural date: 30 November 2000; latest update: 2 January 2020
Comments, corrections, questions: John
Younger (jyounger@ku.edu)
The following fonts are now available (7 Sep 08) for Macintosh OS X (courtesy Jean-Pierre Olivier):
3. Corpora and Phonetic Transcriptions
The transcribed texts are based on the texts presented in GORILA (below). With the permission of Jean-Pierre Olivier and Louis Godart, I then prepared a transnumeration of the texts (converting GORILA's drawn signs to their corresponding sign-numbers) and from this transcription I then prepared a phonetic normalization of the texts, using the conventional phonetic values assigned to Linear A signs that correspond to the known Linear B signs. This process was completed on 22 March 1994. Olivier graciously checked this document against GORILA vols. I-V and a ms. of VI. It was then put in tabular form in January-February 1997. Since then, there have been continual updates.
The phonetic transcriptions use Linear B values for Linear A signs assumed to be the same. Also see below, "Phonetic values of the signs."
4. Conventions (definition of "inscription"; bibliographical &
epigraphical conventions)
A
TE ("from"? NAME).
6. My Goals for Establishing This Website
7. What Is Known about Linear A
The first
sign looks Hieroglyphic, like the bull head #012 
; the other two signs
are
definitely Linear A: TA-JE. If the inscription is indeed a mix of
scripts,
it may well be very early.
The other earliest documents date to MM IIA (KN 40 from Knossos, South House, carrying a badly legible fraction) or MM II (ARKH Zf 9; PH 6-19, 22, 24-28, 30 [Haghia Photini], Wb 33-36, Wc 37-41, 43, 44, 46, 52, 55, Wg 45, and Wy 42; and SAM Wa 1).
Hieroglyphic was therefore probably invented first, in MM IA and appears first on seals from Archanes and Ayia Triada; Linear A follows immediately in MM IB, or soon after, in MM II, and appears first on documents primarily from Phaistos. From then until MM III, Hieroglyphic and Linear A were being written contemporaneously, with Hieroglyphic documents at Malia Quartier Mu (MM II) and Malia Palace (MM III, and Knossos Palace?) and with Linear A documents at Phaistos (MM II), Malia Palace (MM III), and Knossos Palace (MM IIIB). From this evidence, it is possible that Hieroglyphic originated in central Crete first (or possibly at Malia), in MM IA and Linear A originated at Phaistos slightly later in MM II.
Although the two scripts share several signs, which may have similar phonetic values, it is not clear why two such different scripts should have developed more or less contemporaneously unless they represent two different administrative practices and/or two different languages or dialects (Schoep 2002, 22-23).
for Linear B ro2 and 78 
for Linear B
do); it is therefore possible that Linear B was developing earlier
than LM/LH
II and
incorporating more than one source.
Other linear scripts may have similarly developed from Linear A farther east: see the inscription from Lachish (Finkelberg 1996).
| Linear B | Linear A |
| *76 ra2 /rja/ | PA-SA-RI-JA (HT 24a.4), KU-PA3-RI-JA (HT 24a.1) |
| a-pu-wa (TH Fq 229.3) | A-SU-PU-WA (ARKH 2.5-6) |
| *86 dwa?? | DA-WA-[•]-DU-WA-TO (KN Za 10a-b) |
| *19 ru2?? /rju/ | *309a+RI-JU (logogram on TY 2.3, .6) |
| *92 sja?? (PY Ma 397[+]1048.1: a-•-ta2 = a-*92-ta2) | A-SI-JA-KA (HT 28.1, b.1-2) and common ending -SI-JA-SE |
| name | a: contribution | b: U-MI-NA-SI | assessment |
| A-SI-JA-KA | |||
| GRA+QE
5 JA-QIf | OLE+U OLE+KI 2 OLE+MI L2 OLE+TU 1 | 5 2 L2 1 | |
| VINa 6 | 6 | ||
| SA-RA2 | OLE+DI 1 | OLE+DI 5 | 6 |
| NI 2 | NI 2 | 4 | |
| VINa 3 | VINa 4 | 7 | |
| GRA 20 | 20 | ||
| VIR+KA VINa 6 | 6 | ||
| A-RU-DA-RA | GRA 5 | 5 | |
| *304 2 | 2 | ||
| OLE+DI 3 | 3 | ||
| I-TA-JA | OLE+DI 10 | 10 | |
| PU-RA2 | NI 6 | 6 | |
| WI-DI-NA | OLE+DI 3 | 3 | |
| VINa 3 E | 3 E |
| commodity | name | contribution | U-MI-NA-SI | total |
| VINa | VIR+KA SA-RA2 WI-DI-NA JA-QIf | 6 3 | 4 3 E 6 | 22 E |
| OLE+DI | SA-RA2 A-RU-DA-RA I-TA-JA WI-DI-NA | 1 3 10 | 5 3 | 22 |
| GRA | A-SI-JA-KA A-RU-DA-RA SA-RA2 | 5 5 | 20 | 30 |
| NI | SA-RA2 PU-RA2 | 2 | 2 6 | 10 |
| OLE+? | JA-QIf | 3 J L2 | 3 J L2 | |
| *304 | A-RU-DA-RA | 2 | 2 |
The ratios seem to be as follows:
| name | a: KI-RI-TA2 (owed) | b: SA (paid?) | assessment |
| SA-RA2 | a: GRA 10 | 10 | |
| a: VINa 1 | b: SA (paid?) VINa 9 | 10 | |
| a:
OLE
7 NI 1 BOSm 3 | 11 oil, figs, cattle |
Again, the ratios appear to be similar in proportion to those in HT 28:
, a
bull-head, becomes Linear AB 23 
MU, Hieroglyphic *018 
, a dog head, becomes AB 60 
RA, and Hieroglyphic
*060 
, a
cat face, becomes AB 80 
MA. My guess is that the
phonetic value of these signs
reflect the sound the animal makes, "moo," "arf,"
and "miaow" (in English). And
there are other examples where the
sound of the object
seemingly relates to
its phonetic value
(e.g., Hiero *057 
, a
key sistrum, becomes AB 67
KI [the
clinking sound of a metal
rattle]). This is not to say that the acrophonic
principle is never appropriate to Linear A. Valério 2007
demonstrates that the word for master/lord is DU-PU2-RE
and that the first sign DU 
is based in form on
the
Egyptian sr 
,
"official/dignitary/courtier."
"The languages which have been used for comparison are of two families: Indo-European, especially an Anatolian language such as Luwian (Palmer, Meriggi [and Ed Brown of UNC-CH]); Semitic (Gordon, Best, and others)... First no inflexional forms such as characterize Indo-European or Semitic languages can be clearly demonstrated, hence the identifications depend largely on vocabulary, which is notoriously easily borrowed. Secondly, the Semitic comparisons are mainly with triconsonantal roots -- yet if the vowels are ignored we are leaving out half the information presented by the script, and thus much decreasing the chances of success. Thirdly, if the languge of Linear A does not belong to a well-known family, then the chances of identifiying it are virtually nil. This is not to say that Linear A remains undecipherable; as more documents are found and published, we shall understand more of it. But I doubt very much if speculation at this stage can help; I feel strongly that is likely to belong to an unfamiliar type." (Chadwick 1975: 147)
Phonetic
values of the signs (Godart 1984, amplifying Olivier's previous
list)
*34
has been
suggested by several scholars to represent
MNA (or, if a disyllabic value can be accepted, MINA), based on its
resemblance to the crescent moon (Pope and Raison 1978,
28; Packard 1974, 107; Furumark 1956, 24).
*22=mPI2
(see Duhoux 1984, Janda 1986, Melena 1987; Tosa 2010)
*29=mPU2
(see Duhoux 1984, Janda 1986, Melena 1987; Tosa 2010)
*56=PA3 or
mPA3 (see SMID
1981, p. 61; Duhoux 1984, Janda 1986, Melena 1987; Tosa 2010)
*65=JU (see SMID 1981, p.
61)
*66=TA2=TNA
(Pope-Raison 1978: 28).
*304 = KA2; 
*306 =
A2 (shape
resembles AB 43, known from MY Zf 2); *318 = DI2
| *304 = KA | |
| JA-*304[ (PH 14a) | cf. A-SI-JA-KA (HT 28a.1, 28b.1-2) |
| ]*304+PA-DA-*047-KU[ | |
| *304+PA (lots) | KA-PA (HT 6a.1; HT 8b.4; HT 94a.1; HT 102.1; HT 140.5) |
| *304+PA+*316+D3 (HT Wa <1021bis>) | |
| *304+PA-KU-PA (HT We 1020a) |
| *306 = A | |
| ]*306-JA-PI (ARKH 3b.1) | WA-JA-PI-[ ] (HT 9b.1) |
| ]*306-KI-TA2 (HT 122b.2) | A-*301-KI-TA-A (TY Zb 4) |
| ]*306-QE-DU[ (KH 21.3) | |
| ]-*306-TI-KA-A-RE[ (HT 4.1) | A-TI-KA (ZA Wc.a1-2) |
| *306-TU-JA (HT 115b.3) | cf. JA-TO-JA[ (ZA 4a.2-3) |
*314
= PU3
Valério independently; Owens 1999 & Facchetti 1999a, 132 identify the value as BU, a variant of PU2; so as not to start a new consonant "row," I conform the sign to PU3
*325 = MA-NA?
*348 (hapax legomenon) =
SI2
*363 (and 
*364?) =
SO2
*043, from which B12 
so
derives);
see Hiero #039 and parallel
Linear A tablet HT 9.
The following discussion explores the possibility that VIR+KA are porters (see the individual notes to HT 28 and HT 88, and the note to HT 93 that identifies KA as containers).
HT 11b.2-6 lists a total of 180 *86 KA in 5 groups (40, 30, 50, 30, 30). Nodules HT Wa 1322-1466 are each inscribed with KA and impressed by 14 seals and nodules 1467-1470 are incised with KA but are unimpressed. The total of nodules with KA is 149. If KA is an abbreviation for VIR+KA, it is possible that the nodules are itemizing ca. 150 personnel individually that are listed in (the first 4 of the 5) groups on HT 11. (Thanks to Julio Fontan-Tejeiro, February 2014!)
, cf. Linear B
PY
Mn 111.1,7). On HT 140,
86 is probably a single sign, applying to the following sign-group associated with VIR, always with whole numbers (cf. HT 27a.2, 94a.1, b.5). It may designate a group of people (title, collective, occupation); cf. HT 11b.2, 45a.2 (Schoep 2002, 136-7).
A101/102 VIR
people = B 100; A 352 might be the equivalent of B *102 MUL woman),
agricultural products (AB 30 NI figs, AB 120 GRA grain [probably barley,
Palmer 1989, 1992], AB 122 OLIV olives, AB 131 VIN wine, A 302 = B *130
OLE olive oil), and less frequently livestock (AB 21 OVIS sheep, AB 22
CAP goats, AB 23 BOS cattle, AB 85 SUS pigs), cloth (A 54 [occurring as
a logogram 5 times] =? B *159) and vessels (A 400VAS-A 418VAS). Other
ideograms are rare (A 308-A 371), most occurring only 1 or 2 times.
Linear A does not have logograms for arms and armor (except AB 191 GAL
helmet), spices (AB 123 = *123 AROM is only a phoneme in A [Hiero *157
occurs on seals #291 and CMS II 3.23 as a logogram]), or metals (unless
A 327 [
; HT 97a, HT 119] = B *140
[
] AES bronze/copper).
*01 (DA), logogram on HT Wa
1031
*02 (RO), on HT Wa 1032-1121, Wb 2001, 2002
*03 (PA), common
*04 (TE), common
*07 (DI), common
*08 (A), common
*09 (SE):
HT Wc 3004b, 3005b, by itself
*13 (ME), not a logogram by itself
*16 (QA2), not a logogram by itself
*17 ZA, HT 123b.1, ZA 1a.2
*20 ZO, KH 57.2
*21 (QI)/OVIS = probably sheep (Palmer 1995); also as a
syllabogram (OLE+OVISf on TY 3). HT 38: OVIS no sex indicated = castrated
males (wethers), producing finer wool and in greater quantities (Halstead
1990-1, 343-65). Schoep 2002, 122, cites low numbers of sheep (ZA 22: 100,
otherwise no more than 30), but we can add now 53 sheep cited on the Thera
tablets. Still, this is not much evidence for large scale textile
production.
*22/CAP (B *107) = probably goats (Palmer
1995); also as a syllabogram (Duhoux 1984: 61 n. 38 suggests a
phonetic value of MI?). HT 20.3: CAPm F, probably an animal product
because of the fraction.
*23
(MU)/BOS = cattle. *23 appears by itself (HT, ZA, KH 5.6) and may be
"ox" or possibly "cow," although the sign lacks the split stem that Linear
B 109b has. The
masculine variant (
*23m, with stem crossed twice) appears frequently (GO Wc 1b; HT 30.4, 5, 114a.3, 121.3; KH 87.3, Wc 2069) (Palmer 1995)
*24 (NE), HT Zd 156?
*26 (RU), HT 12a.2, b.2
*27 (RE), PH 15a; ARKH 4a.2; HT 27a.2, b.2, 5, 6, 32.4, 41a.3
*28 (I), HT 43.2, 115a.1, b.3, Wa 1150-1174; *28b: HT 62[+]73.3;
ZA 4a.5-6, 5b.1, 15a.4-5, 6b.1
*30 (NI)/FIC = figs (common)
(Palmer 1995); one of "the Aegean triad" (along with *120 GRA, *122 OLIV; Schoep 2002, 98). As in Linear B, olives and figs hardly ever appear together (exc. HT 44, 91, 131). Incoming quantities are probably from palatially-owned orchards (HT 123 lists other commodities, so presumably these olives are coming from other sources); out-going quantities are usually small, even fractional (Schoep 2002, 96).
*31, SA, perhaps a logogram for *SA-SA-ME?; cf. HT 23a.4-5 SA-SA-ME, and
PH 16b.1, HT 97b (cf. Linear B sa-sa-ma)
*37 (TI), common
*38, E, both a syllabogram and a common logogram (at HT, KN).
E by itself does not occur with *526, and they occur in
different amounts, E in whole numbers. JGY: as a logogram, E often appears with whole numbers (e.g., 3, 5)
amongst a list of commodities in
fractional amounts (e.g., HT 60, 91). KN 1 lists E 240 and E 105.
*39 (PI), logogram only in ligature
*40 (WI), HT 102.4
*41 (SI), common
*44 (KE), only in ligature
*47 (?), MA 1a,b
*50 (PU), HT 34.7
*51 (DU), ZA 10b.7
*54 (WA)/TELA = cloth, HT 16.2, 20.4, Wc 3019. Without ligatures, TELA is measured
in
fractions (HT 16, 20, Wc 3019?), perhaps by weight (cf. HT 16, 20: *188+*81).
*56 (PA3), HT 9b.1, 132.2, 34.6
*57 (JA), PH 14a, 16b.1; HT Zd 156?
*58 (SU), KH 11.2, 22.1
*59 (TA), MA 4a; ZA 10b.6; HT 94a.2, Zd 156(?), WA 1267-78
*60 (RA), logogram only in ligature
*61, O, HT 113.3, Wa 1279-81; KH common
*65, JU, HT 97a.4, ZA 11a.4; Linear B FAR?, perhaps a logogram, although it may occur as such only once, on ZA 11a.4 followed by a fraction
*66 (TA2), HT 11a.5
*67 (KI) = KI-RO, common
*69 (TU), HT 49a.8; KH 91.3; ZA 12b.1
*73 (MI), logogram only in ligature
,
MI+JA on PH 3b.1 (3a concerns wool)
*74 (ZE), HT 16.4, Wa 1282-132; KH Wa 1005-1010
*77 (KA), HT 85b.3, 140.4, 11b, Wa 1322-1470, Wc <3018>a
*78 (QE), logogram only in ligature
*79 (WO2??), HT 66.1
*80 MA, perhaps a logogram on HT 146.3, 110b.2, 5 (cf. Linear B ma-ra-tu-wo)
), wool
)
Linear A thus has no separate logogram for LANA (unlike in Hieroglyphic
*84 
and Linear B *145 
). The ligatures appear on a
few documents (HT 12.4-5, HT 24a.1-5, KH 43.1, PH 3a.3) and the word is
actually spelled out, MA-RU on HT 117a.3 and ]MA-RU-A on TY Zg 1;
MA-RU does not seem to appear in Hieroglyphic. Linear B LANA *145 pictorializes the Linear A
ligature, perhaps being influenced by the pictorial Hieroglyphic sign
*084 . The classical Greek word
"μαλλός, mallós," wool, may thus
be a loan-word from Linear A (and Hieroglyphic?). At PH, LANA is
measured in small quantities, possibly disbursements; at HT, the
quantities are large, possibly collections (Schoep 2002, 132).
*81 KU, common (cf. Linear B ku-mi-no, a Semitic word, Chadwick 1975, 119). It occurs in whole numbers on HT 127b.4, but in fractions on HT 45b.4, 5
*85 AU/SUS, HT 38.2, 118.1; PH(?) 31a.3, b.4; pigs (Palmer 1995);
*86 (?), HT 11b.2, 27a.2, 94a.1, b.5
*87 TWE, only on HT 126b.2, 3
*100/*102/VIR, common
= person (Palmer 1995), but probably commonly assumed to mean "male person, man". VIR also occurs as a syllabogram (SI-VIR-[•] on HT 72.1,
heading; VIR-I on HT 11a.4 & HT 93a.5-6 as a name in a list; VIR-*329 on
HT 128b.1 as a name in a list).
For "woman", see VIR+KA immediately below, and ideogram *352 below.
*118, syllabogram and logogram, HT 12.4, 24b.1,2,2, 38.3; KN 2.2 (TALENT?)
*120/GRA = barley (Palmer 1995); one of "the Aegean triad"
(along with *30 FIC, *122 OLIV; Schoep 2002, 98). GRA usually begins a
list: GRA, OLE, *304, VIN, then either OLIV or FIC. Since GRA rarely occcurs with *303 (cf. HT 99a), they may have been handled differently (cf. HT 110a with *303, b with GRA). The largest amounts of recorded GRA: HT 15.1, 684 units, HT 40.1, 207; HT 102.1, SA-RA2 GRA 976.
*122/OLIV = olives (Palmer 1995);
one of "the Aegean triad" (along with *30 FIC, *120 GRA; Schoep 2002,
98); the total amount of olives in the HT texts are 93J units (about
8.928 liters). Olives are associated with the transaction sigh TE, but
never with SA-RA2. As in Linear B, olives and figs hardly
ever appear together (exc. HT 44, 91, 131).
*123/AROM;
on Linear A clay documents this sign is a syllabogram of
unknown value (A-*123-TE, DU-*123-A, TA-I-*123, TE-*123, and ]A-ME-*123, all names in lists); on
Hieroglyphic seals, it is a commodity
*131/VIN = wine (Palmer
1995). Wine can be inventories in large quantities (e.g., HT 13, 103J units, or 3,744 liters; ZA 4, 104 units). Also a syllabogram (only in PU-VINa on HT 14.1, HT 123a.3-4); the sign is similar to the Egyptian sign for wine.
VINa or plain wine, flavored (as below, in ligatures)
VINb wine of lesser quality (in Linear B): ARKH 2.1-2, 3a.2, 5.3; KH 5.2 (VINb+WI); ZA 10b.1-2
VINc vinegar (in Linear B, for perfume making): KH 18.3, 4; KH 61.2; KH 85.2; perhaps PH 7b.3
*164, only at KH: textile?
*171, logogram on ZA 6a with agricultural commodities (perhaps also on THE Zb 5); in Linear B, it occurs with livestock (fodder? TH nodules)
*180, PH? 31; MA 4, 6b,d, Wc 7: hide (Schoep 2002, 131, 133). On MA 4a, *180+SA contrasts with plain *180; on MA 6, the quantities are large (6a: 941, 6b 620).
*188, meaning unknown, common.
*191/GAL, KH Wc 2028 = helmet (= Linear B *191; Palaima 1988: 325) on KH Wc 2028
*301, common, meaning unknown.
*302, common, olive oil (Palmer 1995), mostly in whole units; cf.
TY 3 which lists olives and oil together (cf. SY Za 2).
*303, common, a grain (Palmer 1995). It acts
like Linear B *121
(wheat; Schoep 2002, 112). This commodity appears on miscellaneous tablets, usually in whole numbers (esp. 3 and 6; Schoep 2002, 101). Since GRA rarely occcurs with *303 (cf. HT 99a), they may have been handled differently (cf. HT 110a with *303, b with GRA).
*304, common, agricultural product, accompanying GRA on HT 92, 116
OLE
and olives, GRA, VIN in large whole numbers on ZA 6 (Melena 1983, 116:
sexual marker for OLIV & *303), but always found in a fixed position
between
OLE & OLIV. Schoep 2002, 124, suggests a spice like Linear B kuparo or coriander.
*305, common at HT, something to do with personnel: HT 63, with two individual entries; HT 100, with groups of VIR. It also appears in signgroups, apparently as a syllabogram
*306, common at KH, meaning unknown. Schoep 2002, 125, suggests BOSf (it looks somewhat similar to Linear B *109b; it occurs with BOSm on KH 87; cf KH 6).
*307, HT 27a.2, 32.1, 89.1, 127b.4, meaning unknown.
*308, ARKH 7.3; HT 23a.1, 32.1, 35.2, 123a,b; KH 12.1, 85.1; in a word: 23-308, HG 26b.4, agricultural commodity or measured in the same way, in proportion to OLIV, always in fractional quantities, except on HT 123 (25H representing contributions?); "repeated combination of the same commodities on [miscellaneous tablets] and their consistently small quantities" suggest disbursements, not contributions (Schoep 2002, 126).
*309, only TY 2 in three variations *309a , *309b 
, *309c 
*312 KU, ARKH 3a; HT 49a.6; KH 8.4 (cf. Younger 2005; also discussed in the Hieroglyphic website; for *536 (TELA+*312) Bennett 1975: 61, & Melena 1975:
108-10 both give TELA+ZO?). Younger 2005 demonstrates that Hiero sign
*084 , which resembles an animal (sheep?) head,
corresponds
to 3 subunits of *051 
, which looks
like a small
dagger. Linear A *312 also looks
like a small
dagger and appears as an adjunct to Linear A *54
TELA (HT 38.3: TELA+*312; cf. TELA+KU on HT 38.3
(same line); and KU-TA[
on HT 115b.4 with *312+TA on HT 10b.2).
*313 ligatured
with VIR in three variations *313a ( HT 89.3, 100.2), *313b (
HT 94a.2; KH
7a), *313c (
HT 127b.5)
*316, agricultural commodity on KH 91.2; PH 1a.1,2, meaning unknown.
*317, ARKH 3a.3,5; HT 96a.3, meaning unknown.
*318, HT 45a.3, b,3, meaning unknown.
*319, HT 132.1, Zd 1555, 156(bis), 157
*322, KH Wc 2026, 2027, 2098; cf. Linear B *158 (unidentified) on KH Wc 2026, 2027
*323, HT 96a.3,4
*326, HT 35.1, 91.1, 128a.1
*327 = B *140 AES?, HT 97a.1, 119.1 (Palaima 1988: 326), on HT 97a.1-2, HT 119.1 where it is allotted to people. It may have had a phonetic value, since it occurs in *327-JU on HT 119.4
*330, meaning unknown, only in ligature.
*332, HT 97b, 107.3, agricultural product
*333, HT Wc 3009, HT Wc 2010, MO Zf 1.
Olivier 1987c, 143-44, compares the sign to Linear B *18
, for which Melena 2014, 83, suggests the
value sto.
*334, KH 6.6, 7a.1, meaning unknown, only at KH where it occurs first on documents and is followed by whole numbers; thus, individuals (people, livestock; Schoep 2002, 126)
*336, KH 14.2, 82.4 = dog (based on the shape; Schoep 2002, 126-7)
*337, only in ligature, chariot frame (cf. Linear B *242), on KH Wc 2056,
2057.
*338, KH Wc 2067, 2068 = boots?
*339, PH 12a, 15a
*341, only in ligature, meaning unknown.
*343, HT 93a.7, meaning unknown
*344, HT 96a.4, meaning unknown
*346, HT 122b.1, meaning unknown
*347, KH 6.3, meaning unknown
*348, only in ligature, meaning unknown.
*351, only in ligature, meaning unknown
*352 = woman MUL?, only on KH 100 and in VIR-*352-JA, KH Wc 2100
here does not seem to be a common
logogram for woman (MUL), but cf. VIR+KA (below) and *352 (KH 99; KH Wc 2100).
*353, PH 9a
*354, PH 10
*355, PH 10
*356, PH 13b
*357, PH 15b
*358, PH 16a.2
*359, PH 17a.1
*360, PH 17b
*362, ZA 10b.1: WA-*362 or TELA-*362
*365, HT Wa 1849
*366, HT Wa 1850
*367, HT Wa 1851
*368, HT Wa 1852
*369, HT Wa 1853
*370, HT Wa 1854
*371, KH Wa 1018
Several vessel logograms have fractions written inside
(see MA 10); these may refer to the capacities of the vessels or to
agricultural products, and their measurements, since they occur in mixed
commodity tablets (cf. Linear B *123 AROM which looks like a container but
actually refers to the contents, or to MU-container and sa-pi-de
boxes on PY Vn 19, MY 105; Schoep 2002, 127-8). On KN K 700 and in the Gg
tablets, the numbers refer to the contents, not the numbers of the vessels (Schoep 2002, 128). The KH roundels record quite a few vessels, according to the number of seal impressions: *408 tripod, 9; *409 tripod, 27; *411 tripod, 64; and *417 wicker baseket, 2.
The Libation Formula appears in part on various inscribed objects, many dedicated at sanctuaries. The words, however, often follow a fairly strict sequence, something like the following:
Apparently sequences 1,2,3 can stand on their own, while sequences 4,5,6 form a second claus, which, however, never stands on its own.
A varient of Sequence 1 also appears on ZA Zb 3, a pithos found, not in a sanctuary but in a rural farm house (Ano Zakros):
(like those the girls use in the Xeste 3 fresco
for collecting crocus stamens)
sequence 1 sequence 2 sequence 3 sequence 4 sequence 5 sequence6 TL Za 1 A-TA- I-*301 -WA-JA O-SU-QA-RE JA-SA-SA-RA-ME U-NA-KA-NA-SI I-PI-NA-MA SI-RU-TE IO Za 6 TA-NA- I-*301 -U-TI-NU I-NA-TA-I-ZU-DI-SI-KA JA-SA-SA-RA-ME
.2: A-TA-I-*301
This suggests that -I-*301 is the root with prefixes and suffixes. The fact this word thus appears on a pithos in a house also suggests that this important word is a common one; Davis suggests a verb, like "give."
In which case, perhaps Minoan was a verb-initial language.
Since sequence 2 is always different, that should be the name of the person "giving."
Thus, Minoan is a verb-initial / subject-second. That would then put the object of the verb third: VSO.
If so, JA-SA-SA-RA-ME, sequence 3, should be the object, the inscribed object itself, the "dedication."
Sequences 4,5,6, which comprise a second clause that never varies but never stands alone; they are thus generic, like a generic dependent clause that restates the main clause; Davis suggests something like "requesting favor divine" (in many VSO languages, adjectives follow their noun).
Thus, the Libation Formula would translate, in most case, something like the following:
| sequence 1 | sequence 2 | sequence 3 | sequence 4 | sequence 5 | sequence6 |
| TL Za 1 | |||||
| A-TA- I-*301 -WA-JA | O-SU-QA-RE | JA-SA-SA-RA-ME | U-NA-KA-NA-SI | I-PI-NA-MA | SI-RU-TE |
| gives | O-SU-QA-RE (name of dedicant) | this dedication | requesting | a favor | divine |
The pithos, ZA Zb 3, cited above, has the following inscription:
| WINE 32 (units) | DI-DI-KA-SE | A-SA-MU-NE | A-SE | A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA | A-RE-PI-RE-NA | TI-TI-KU |
Here, it is the object (the pithos of wine) that is placed in initial position as emphasis and therefore starts the sentence; if ordinarily, the verb precedes both subject and object (VSO), then this variation should dictate something like O...VS, with perhaps another type of object (indirect object?) between them, like OI : VS.
Thus:
ZA Zb 3
|
| WINE 32 (units) | DI-DI-KA-SE | A-SA-MU-NE | A-SE | A-TA-I-*301-DE-KA | A-RE-PI-RE-NA | TI-TI-KU | WINE 32 (units) | to NAME of recipient: DI-DI-KA-SE | A-SA-MU-NE | A-SE | give | name of giver: A-RE-PI-RE-NA | TI-TI-KU | |
| JJ (PH 9b) | ||||||
| J | A (HT 120.3) | |||||
| J | E (lots; EJ [HT 123a.3-4; ZA 8.4]) | |||||
| J | E | B (HT 27a.8) | ||||
| J | B (HT 129.1; KH 5.4, 6.8, 17.3) | |||||
| J | F (HT 51b.2) | |||||
| J | K (HT 32.1) | |||||
| J | H (HT 93a.3) | |||||
| J | E | L2 (KH 7a.5, 56.1) | ||||
| J | L2 (HT 123b.4) | |||||
| EE (PH 12b.2, 13a, 13c) | ||||||
| E | B (KH 9.2) | |||||
| E | F (HT 8b.4, 16.3, 40a.4, 123b.5, Zd 156) | |||||
| E | L2 (HT 33.3) | |||||
| E | L4 (KH 26.2) | |||||
| E | L6 (KH 76.2) | |||||
| E | YYY (PH 26) | |||||
| A | BB (KH 86.2) | |||||
| BB (KE Wc 2b) | ||||||
| F | K (PH 1b.2) | |||||
| F | L (ZA 7b.8) | |||||
| H | K (HT 34.3) | |||||
| K | L2 (HT 86a.2, 120.2; KH 11.2.3-4, 4.6, 16.1, 75.2) | |||||
| L2L4 (HT 33.2) | ||||||
| L3L3 (HT 15.2) |
A (A701). In the discussion to HT 123+124, it is
clear that A[ = 7/12. ABB, however, also occurs (KH 86); logically, A
should be greater than B, but if it is smaller (as ABB seems to demand if
B=1/3), then perhaps A is something like 1/6 (see note to HT 34.7; but see
fraction H). 
B (A702)= 1/3 (or 1/5).
B
occurs singly, in pairs
BB (ZA 8, 6; KE Wc 2b), as a pair after A (KH 86.2), and once after E
(1/4). That it occurs in pairs may imply that three B's would equal a
unit, and that B = 1/3. The conical cup fragment PK Zb? with RE B supports
this identification. Since EB occurs (KH 9.2) and JEB (HT 27), it would
seem logical that B is less than 1/4 (J = 1/2; E = 1/4; see below); but on
KH 9.2, EB occurs after K (1/16?), and it is therefore tempting to read
this set of fractions retrograde (BEK); if so, then a descending sequence
could be maintained (1/3, 1/4, 1/16). An analysis of KH 7, however,
strongly suggests that B = 1/5, which would go well with B's appearance
after E.
If, however, X (A711) is the half-mina and W is the mina, then W would
be 1/60 talent -- that might explain the formal relationship between B (if
B were 1/3) and
W: W would be a conjoined BB with an implied value of 1/10 x 1/6.
D (A703) = ?1/5 (suggested by Dr Dieter
Rumple; also see Double Mina, below). HT 115a.4 writes D four times, which
suggests that five D's might
equal a unit. It might, however, be a weight, equivalent to the mina (see
below).
DD is a weight, the Double Mina
( D = single mina? [see above]. The
demonstration is presented in my article
"Cretan
Hieroglyphhic Wool Units (LANA, double
mina,") Younger 2005. See
below.
E (A704) = 1/4 (Pope 1960) occurs 52
times, the 2nd most common
fraction (Hallager 1995); see HT 9.a
F (A705) = 1/8 (Pope 1960). On HT 8b.3-6 (list 2), the numbers total 9 + 3J + E + 2F, or 10 3/4 + 2F -- if F = 1/8, the numbers total 11. On HT 93a-b.1, the total is ]165H; the numbers total 159 4J E F[ H, or 161 3/4 F[ H, leaving a difference of 3 F, if F is 1/8, to be filled by an entry on line a.9 or b.1.
H (A706) = ?1/6 (see notes to HT 123+124;
also see HT 6, 94, 100); by shape related to
E 1/4, D 1/5, F 1/8
J (A 707) = 1/2 (Pope 1960), occurs
93
times, the most common
fraction (Hallager 1995); see PE 1, ZA 4a.4, HT
9.b, HT 104
JE
(A732; A707+A704; Brice 1961: 7-8, table 2) = 3/4, occurs 25
times,
3rd
most common fraction (Hallager 1995)
K (A708) = 1/16 (Pope 1960; see the discussion to HT 155+156+157)
L (A709), 
L2 (A709-2) (but see below), 
L3
(A709-3), 
L4 (A709-4), 
L6 (A709-6) = values are unknown
L2 (A7092), The
discussion to KH 7 suggests that L2 = 3/20. This could mean
that L is twice this, 6/20 or 3/10; and that the other L-fractions are
subfractions of L: L3 would be 1/3 L, or 6/60 or 1/10;
L4 6/80 or 3/40; L6 1/20 -- L5 is not
extant, but it would represent 6/100 or 3/50.
The L subfractions occur in
combination
with other fractions: EL2 (KH
9.5, KH 13.3),
KL2
(KH
11.2, KH 16.1), EL4 (KH
26.2, KH 75.2), and
BL6
(KH 7a.6) and EL6 (KH
76.1).
W (A710) = value unknown (only at Khania:
KH 12, 21.1, 60.2, 61.4, 77); the family "resemblance" between this sign
and X (A711) might relate the two values (like W is 1/2X or 2X). If X is
the half-mina, then W could be a full mina (1/60 talent), which might
explain its
appearance as two conjoined Bs (1/3 + 1/3 = 1/6 x an implied 1/10)
(see below).
X (A711), occurs on HT 91.1 and KH 9.6
-- these occurrences do not suggest a value. The discussion to HT 123a
(also HT 91.1; KH 9.6) suggests the unlikely value of 13/12. Formally, the
sign looks related to 709
W; it may
represent a doubling of that ("4/3" or "1 1/3"), or a double
701 A "1/6"?.
Or it may be the Linear A equivalent of Linear B *116 N, the half mina -- if so, then W could be the full mina (see above).
Y (A712) = value unknown, but it appears as a set of 3 (PH 26), so perhaps 1/4 (cf. PH 9a).
Formally, the sign might be
related to the 1/2 series.
Ω (A713), occurs only once at
MA (MA 10b.1), as an adjunct to 
A405VAS. The sign is identical to Hiero *304 Λ 
, which
can
be demonstrated to be 1/2.
Summmary
For four of the fractions (J, E, F, K), we can
demonstrate certain values, and can suggest, with much less certainty,
values for an additional five fractions. The chart below also gives
Hiero fractions that are similar in shape.
The horizontal lines below the fractions point out "family"
resemblances in shape.
Weights
| Linear A | Linear B | Denomination | Mass (gr, approximate) | Fraction of Talent | Fraction of preceding |
A118 | 
B118 | talent | 29,000 | 1/1 | - |
| A717, DD | 
B117,
M | double mina | 967 | 1/30 | 1/30 |
| A703,
D | - | mina | 483 | 1/60 | 1/2 |
| A711, X | 
B116,
N | 1/2 mina | 242 | 1/120 | 1/2 |
| - |  B115,
P | 1/24 mina | 20.2 | 1/1440 | 1/12 |
| - |  B*21,
Q | 1/144 mina? | (3.36) | 1/8640 | 1/6 |
In texts that employ a string of signgroups, dots separate them. This practice is most notable on non-bureaucratic texts (like the hair pins, e.g., CR(?) Zf 1) and especially in religious texts like those on the "Libation Tables" (e.g., IO Za 2).
| side.line | statement | logogram | number | fraction |
| .1 | PA-SE | GRA+QE | 20 | |
| .1 | OLE+KI | 2 | ||
| .2 | *304 | 3 | ||
| .2 | SA-RA2 | GRA | 10 | |
| .2-3 | FIC | 10 | ||
| .4-5 | vacant |
| side.line | statement | logogram | number | fraction |
| .1-2 | RA-*164a-TI | • TE • VINa | 30 | |
| .2-3 | SA-RO | 5 | J | |
| .3-4 | DU-ME-DI | 43 | J |
| side.line | statement | logogram | number | fraction |
| .1 | PA-RO-SU | |||
| .1-2 | KU-MA-JU | E | ||
| .2-3 | QE-KU-RE | DI | J | |
| .4 | CAPm | F | ||
| .2 | SA-RE-JU | F | ||
| .2-3 | WA | E | ||
| .4-5 | *188+KU | J |
The documents that employ the Continuity Principle might therefore reflect short initial documents that record contributions which are then organized in an outline fashion. For instance, I can imagine 5 separate documents being collated to produce HT 20:
| 1 | QE-KU-RE | DI | J | = | QE-KU-RE | DI | J | |
| 2 | QE-KU-RE | CAPm | F | = | CAPm | F | ||
| 3 | SA-RE-JU | CAPm | F | = | SA-RE-JU | F | ||
| 4 | SA-RE-JU | WA | E | = | WA | E | ||
| 5 | SA-RE-JU | *188+KU | J | = | *188+KU | J |
The implication of such a system is that the 5 separate short texts (really more like chits) were brought together, not because they represent the same contributions or contributions from the same place/person, but because they represent contributions organized according to a larger principle: 1) made at the same time, or 2) made from the same region/person, or 3) organized/collected by the same Collector.
Comments, corrections, questions: John
Younger: jyounger@ku.edu