DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.806#0269
ARRANGEMENT OF THE HIEROGLYPHIC INSCRIPTIONS 255
arrows that show the direction of the inscription also corresponding with a separate
sign-group. The inscription in the first compartment runs from left to right and curves
downwards. That in the lower division of the tablet also runs from left to right; the
latter part of it, however, takes a very undulatory course. Here the beginning of the
second group is indicated by the initial mark, the ' maeander' signs, as already noted,
following the numbers after the palm branch and saffron just as the P in the upper
compartment. The last group, beginning with the fig-branch (No. 103), forms a kind
of tail to the inscription, and (perhaps for want of room) the supplementary sign is
here omitted after the numbers.
The orientation of individual signs, notably on the signets, greatly depends on the Signs
convenience or even the caprice of the engraver. Thus a glance at the seals on ™iemedy
Plate II shows the arrow-head in every position, pointing up or down, sideways or
slanting. The ' trowel' {No. 18) is sometimes seen with its handle uppermost, some-
times it is placed on its side. The 'mallet' {No. 24) appears with its handle above or
below, or it is laid horizontally, and the same variation is observable in the position of
the ' template' (No. 19).
The quasi-decorative arrangement of the signs on the seals was partly responsible
for this variation, as well as the need for packing the groups of characters into
a narrow field with the greatest possible economy of room. But the same laxness
of usage is also perceptible on the clay documents, where the practical reasons for
it were less cogent.
It must at the same time be observed that certain types, such as the ship, the
human figure, legs and arms, animals or their heads, and many vegetable forms, the
pictorial character of which is clearly pronounced, could hardly be placed in a wholly
inverted position. Such designs therefore often supply a trustworthy clue as to the
way up that a line of characters is supposed to be set.
By itself, however, this evidence is not sufficient to show in what relation such Relation of
figures stand to the direction of the inscription itself. In the Egyptian hieroglyphic directionof
writing the characters face towards the beginning of the line. Thus a ship is steered inscription,
to the left and animals face in the same direction. On the other hand, it will be shown
below that in the case of the linear script of Crete this rule is reversed, the direction
of such signs as the flying bird, the human figure, animals and their parts, or other
moving or movable objects, such as the prows of vessels, being turned to the right
in conformity with the direction of the lines of the inscriptions.
Which then was the practice followed by this earlier hieroglyphic script of Crete?
For deciding this question we have to rely on the more certain evidence supplied Animate,
by the initial X-mark referred to above. Here the most conclusive examples certainly gen'eraiiy
tend to show that as a rule the Minoan hieroglyphic usage conformed to that of k^Jj™-
Egypt. groups, as
On the label P. 92 a the seated human figure laces the sign-group, with numbers i" EgyPl-
immediately succeeding it. On P. 24 a the wolfs head faces two signs, the direction
of which, as in the former case, is indicated by the initial mark. The same is true of
k k
arrows that show the direction of the inscription also corresponding with a separate
sign-group. The inscription in the first compartment runs from left to right and curves
downwards. That in the lower division of the tablet also runs from left to right; the
latter part of it, however, takes a very undulatory course. Here the beginning of the
second group is indicated by the initial mark, the ' maeander' signs, as already noted,
following the numbers after the palm branch and saffron just as the P in the upper
compartment. The last group, beginning with the fig-branch (No. 103), forms a kind
of tail to the inscription, and (perhaps for want of room) the supplementary sign is
here omitted after the numbers.
The orientation of individual signs, notably on the signets, greatly depends on the Signs
convenience or even the caprice of the engraver. Thus a glance at the seals on ™iemedy
Plate II shows the arrow-head in every position, pointing up or down, sideways or
slanting. The ' trowel' {No. 18) is sometimes seen with its handle uppermost, some-
times it is placed on its side. The 'mallet' {No. 24) appears with its handle above or
below, or it is laid horizontally, and the same variation is observable in the position of
the ' template' (No. 19).
The quasi-decorative arrangement of the signs on the seals was partly responsible
for this variation, as well as the need for packing the groups of characters into
a narrow field with the greatest possible economy of room. But the same laxness
of usage is also perceptible on the clay documents, where the practical reasons for
it were less cogent.
It must at the same time be observed that certain types, such as the ship, the
human figure, legs and arms, animals or their heads, and many vegetable forms, the
pictorial character of which is clearly pronounced, could hardly be placed in a wholly
inverted position. Such designs therefore often supply a trustworthy clue as to the
way up that a line of characters is supposed to be set.
By itself, however, this evidence is not sufficient to show in what relation such Relation of
figures stand to the direction of the inscription itself. In the Egyptian hieroglyphic directionof
writing the characters face towards the beginning of the line. Thus a ship is steered inscription,
to the left and animals face in the same direction. On the other hand, it will be shown
below that in the case of the linear script of Crete this rule is reversed, the direction
of such signs as the flying bird, the human figure, animals and their parts, or other
moving or movable objects, such as the prows of vessels, being turned to the right
in conformity with the direction of the lines of the inscriptions.
Which then was the practice followed by this earlier hieroglyphic script of Crete?
For deciding this question we have to rely on the more certain evidence supplied Animate,
by the initial X-mark referred to above. Here the most conclusive examples certainly gen'eraiiy
tend to show that as a rule the Minoan hieroglyphic usage conformed to that of k^Jj™-
Egypt. groups, as
On the label P. 92 a the seated human figure laces the sign-group, with numbers i" EgyPl-
immediately succeeding it. On P. 24 a the wolfs head faces two signs, the direction
of which, as in the former case, is indicated by the initial mark. The same is true of
k k