DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.806#0257
ANALYSIS OF THE HIEROGLYPHIC SIGNARY 243
to the loop by three lion's legs. The Cretan signets hitherto known, moreover, are
cut out of stone, though, as pointed out above, the character of some of the clay
impressions, notably P. 64 a, tends to show that Minoan metal types also existed.
This latter example, with the characters in the central field surrounded by a decora-
tive ring, curiously recalls some of the Hittite seals. Considering the dominating
position at one time filled by Minoan culture in the East Mediterranean lands, the
possibility must not be excluded that certain elements in the early Anatolian culture
were influenced from the Cretan side. That, in any case, the Hittite seals in question
are of distinctly later date than the Minoan ' signets' is beyond all possibility of doubt.
In comparing the two hieroglyphic groups it must be further observed that several Absence of
of the most characteristic of the Hittite signs are conspicuous by their absence in the acteristic
Cretan series. Among these may be mentioned the boot with upturned end, the peaked Hittite
cap, the tongs or pincers, the knife with curving point, the hare and seated eagle, Minoan
together with other frequently recurring figures of uncertain interpretation. On the series,
other hand, it is extremely remarkable that the double axe, which is prominent among
the Minoan hieroglyphs and represents a cult object shared by the old Carian popula-
tion of Asia Minor, should be absent among the Hittite signs.
It is well to remember, however, that, though from one cause or another the Con- Inherent
ventionalized Pictographic script of Crete and that of the extensive Syro-Anatolian of^^ot"'
region affected by the Hittite civilization took very different complexions in their connexion
developed forms, a high probability nevertheless remains that they have some deep- primitive
rooted elements in common. It has already been pointed out1 that the geographical picto-
position of Crete, as before all things an extreme insular outpost of Western Asia, f^e^nd
brings with it the almost necessary consequence that the most primitive stratum of Anatolia.
its culture, together with the earliest element in its indigenous stock, finds its true
continuity on the Anatolian mainland. The geological causes which had inserted an
inlet of sea between Crete and the mainland of Greece at a time when a land passage
was still open to the East really imposed this condition, and for the same reason the
fauna and flora of the island find their nearest affinities in the neighbouring tract of
Asia Minor. When it is realized to what a remote stage of human history picture-
language goes back, and that even in the ' Reindeer Period ' of the West certain signs
seem to have become fixed, it can hardly be doubted that the most primitive elements
in the Cretan signary fit on to an Anatolian parent stem. The Nilotic or European
ingredients must be later arrivals.
It is possible, however, to hold these theoretic reserves as to its ultimate origin
and yet to admit that the general character of the conventionalized pictography of
Crete is extremely independent. The number of comparisons other than those of
a quite general nature that it is possible to institute either with the Hittite or the
Egyptian series is extremely limited. The formative influence of Egypt and some Minoan
small borrowings from that side must be admitted, but on the whole the Minoan phic°8y"
hieroglyphic system is essentially of home growth. It forms indeed an epitome of the system
to the loop by three lion's legs. The Cretan signets hitherto known, moreover, are
cut out of stone, though, as pointed out above, the character of some of the clay
impressions, notably P. 64 a, tends to show that Minoan metal types also existed.
This latter example, with the characters in the central field surrounded by a decora-
tive ring, curiously recalls some of the Hittite seals. Considering the dominating
position at one time filled by Minoan culture in the East Mediterranean lands, the
possibility must not be excluded that certain elements in the early Anatolian culture
were influenced from the Cretan side. That, in any case, the Hittite seals in question
are of distinctly later date than the Minoan ' signets' is beyond all possibility of doubt.
In comparing the two hieroglyphic groups it must be further observed that several Absence of
of the most characteristic of the Hittite signs are conspicuous by their absence in the acteristic
Cretan series. Among these may be mentioned the boot with upturned end, the peaked Hittite
cap, the tongs or pincers, the knife with curving point, the hare and seated eagle, Minoan
together with other frequently recurring figures of uncertain interpretation. On the series,
other hand, it is extremely remarkable that the double axe, which is prominent among
the Minoan hieroglyphs and represents a cult object shared by the old Carian popula-
tion of Asia Minor, should be absent among the Hittite signs.
It is well to remember, however, that, though from one cause or another the Con- Inherent
ventionalized Pictographic script of Crete and that of the extensive Syro-Anatolian of^^ot"'
region affected by the Hittite civilization took very different complexions in their connexion
developed forms, a high probability nevertheless remains that they have some deep- primitive
rooted elements in common. It has already been pointed out1 that the geographical picto-
position of Crete, as before all things an extreme insular outpost of Western Asia, f^e^nd
brings with it the almost necessary consequence that the most primitive stratum of Anatolia.
its culture, together with the earliest element in its indigenous stock, finds its true
continuity on the Anatolian mainland. The geological causes which had inserted an
inlet of sea between Crete and the mainland of Greece at a time when a land passage
was still open to the East really imposed this condition, and for the same reason the
fauna and flora of the island find their nearest affinities in the neighbouring tract of
Asia Minor. When it is realized to what a remote stage of human history picture-
language goes back, and that even in the ' Reindeer Period ' of the West certain signs
seem to have become fixed, it can hardly be doubted that the most primitive elements
in the Cretan signary fit on to an Anatolian parent stem. The Nilotic or European
ingredients must be later arrivals.
It is possible, however, to hold these theoretic reserves as to its ultimate origin
and yet to admit that the general character of the conventionalized pictography of
Crete is extremely independent. The number of comparisons other than those of
a quite general nature that it is possible to institute either with the Hittite or the
Egyptian series is extremely limited. The formative influence of Egypt and some Minoan
small borrowings from that side must be admitted, but on the whole the Minoan phic°8y"
hieroglyphic system is essentially of home growth. It forms indeed an epitome of the system