DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.805#0086
[346] PRIMITIVE PICTQGRAPHS AND SCRIPT 77
§ VII. The Linear Signs and their Relation to the Pictographic
Series.
It is time to turn from the pictographic series of symbols to the linear
and quasi-alphabetic forms with which they stand in such a close relation.
Evidence has already been brought forward which shows that to a certain
extent both forms of writing overlapped. As already noticed, linear forms
appear on three-sided seal-stones in every respect resembling those which
exhibit the pictographic signs, although on the earliest of these pictographic
seal-stones they do not as yet make their appearance. They occur however
on button-shaped stones belonging to that period of Cretan history which is
marked by the decorative influence of Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian models,
and a stone of this character was found, as already mentioned, in the
Phaestos deposit. That the quasi-alphabetic symbols were employed by the
Mycenaean population in the island is further borne out by a variety of data.
They occur, as we have seen, on the walls of the prehistoric building at
Knosos, which seems to belong to the same age as the Palaces of Tiryns and
Mycenae or the buildings of the Sixth City of Troy. They are found again
on cups and vases belonging to the same early period, on a Mycenaean
amethyst gem from Knosos and again on vase-handles found at Mycenae
itself. It is evident therefore that some inscriptions in these linear
characters are as early chronologically as many of the hieroglyphic series,
although, typologically considered, the pictographic group is certainly the
earlier.
The elements at our disposal for the reconstruction of this linear system
may be recapitulated as follows:—
1.—-Inscribed seal-stones.
2.—Inscribed steatite pendants and whorls from early Cretan deposits.
3.—The graffiti on vases from Goulas and Prodromos Botzano and on
the perforated clay pendant from the cave of Idaean Zeus.
4.—Inscribed Mycenaean gem representing a flying eagle, from Knosos.
5.—The inscribed blocks of the prehistoric building at Knosos and
another from Phaestos.
6.—The vase-handles from Mycenae and other graffiti on vases from
Mycenaean tombs at Nauplia, Menidi, &c.
7.—The steatite ornament from Siphnos.
From these various sources it is possible to put together thirty-two
different characters (see Table I.) which may be confidently referred to
Mycenaean or still earlier times. But an inspection of the linear signs thus
collected at once reveals striking points of resemblance with those of the
Cypriote and Asianic syllabaries on the one hand, and on the other with the
graffiti signs observed by Professor Petrie on ' Aegean' pottery from
Egyptian deposits at Kahun and Gurob. To these latter I am able to add a
§ VII. The Linear Signs and their Relation to the Pictographic
Series.
It is time to turn from the pictographic series of symbols to the linear
and quasi-alphabetic forms with which they stand in such a close relation.
Evidence has already been brought forward which shows that to a certain
extent both forms of writing overlapped. As already noticed, linear forms
appear on three-sided seal-stones in every respect resembling those which
exhibit the pictographic signs, although on the earliest of these pictographic
seal-stones they do not as yet make their appearance. They occur however
on button-shaped stones belonging to that period of Cretan history which is
marked by the decorative influence of Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian models,
and a stone of this character was found, as already mentioned, in the
Phaestos deposit. That the quasi-alphabetic symbols were employed by the
Mycenaean population in the island is further borne out by a variety of data.
They occur, as we have seen, on the walls of the prehistoric building at
Knosos, which seems to belong to the same age as the Palaces of Tiryns and
Mycenae or the buildings of the Sixth City of Troy. They are found again
on cups and vases belonging to the same early period, on a Mycenaean
amethyst gem from Knosos and again on vase-handles found at Mycenae
itself. It is evident therefore that some inscriptions in these linear
characters are as early chronologically as many of the hieroglyphic series,
although, typologically considered, the pictographic group is certainly the
earlier.
The elements at our disposal for the reconstruction of this linear system
may be recapitulated as follows:—
1.—-Inscribed seal-stones.
2.—Inscribed steatite pendants and whorls from early Cretan deposits.
3.—The graffiti on vases from Goulas and Prodromos Botzano and on
the perforated clay pendant from the cave of Idaean Zeus.
4.—Inscribed Mycenaean gem representing a flying eagle, from Knosos.
5.—The inscribed blocks of the prehistoric building at Knosos and
another from Phaestos.
6.—The vase-handles from Mycenae and other graffiti on vases from
Mycenaean tombs at Nauplia, Menidi, &c.
7.—The steatite ornament from Siphnos.
From these various sources it is possible to put together thirty-two
different characters (see Table I.) which may be confidently referred to
Mycenaean or still earlier times. But an inspection of the linear signs thus
collected at once reveals striking points of resemblance with those of the
Cypriote and Asianic syllabaries on the one hand, and on the other with the
graffiti signs observed by Professor Petrie on ' Aegean' pottery from
Egyptian deposits at Kahun and Gurob. To these latter I am able to add a