Evans, Arthur J.: Scripta minoa: the written documents of minoan Crete with special reference to the archives of Knossos (Band 1): The hieroglyphic and primitive linear classes (Oxford, 1909)

RECURRENT SIGN-GROUPS 263

In other examples signs forming component parts of a group are seen to shift
their relative positions.

In Table XXI (Fig. 118), a 1 and a 2, from P. 107 b and 83 a respectively, the oxvs Instances
head is in both cases followed by the double branch, but the' barn' or 'store-house' ^koTof
sign, with which they are coupled, is placed in one instance at the beginning and in the signs in
other at the end of the group. groups.

Table XXI, b 1 (P. 111 b) and 62 {P. 112 c), exhibits two groups, including what has
been above recognized as the fig-branch sign, and composed of very similar elements,
but differently arranged. A sign may be wanting from the beginning of b 1.

It will be seen that, apart from the conventionalized pictographic figure of the
fig-branch, the signs of these two groups, resembling italic l'$ and t's, are of a class
already referred to above (p. 249) as probably representing measures and quantities.
They are themselves of plain geometrical form, artificially differentiated by cross-lines,
spurs, and other simple modifications. The remaining sign, resembling a A with a Z
attached to the apex, may belong to the same category. This conclusion would also
account for the fact that none of the above characters, except the fc which represents
the prototype of its group, appear on the signets. So, too, as might be expected, the
numerical signs are absent on the glyptic series.

Good examples of similar variations are also presented by the 'mallet', 'plough',
and ' mountains' signs, as grouped together on P. 22 b (Table XXI, c 1) and P. 29 c
(Table XXI, a 2).

The 'mallet' here maintains its place, but the order of the 'plough' and 'moun-
tains ' is changed. The ' plough' sign is also reduplicated in c 1, and the goat's head
is inserted after the mallet. The collocation of the ' mallet' and ' goat's head ', as will
be seen on Fig. 116/ recurs both on seal-stones and graffiti.

II. $15. EVIDENCES OF OFFICIAL TITLES, PERSONAL NAMES, AND
CANTING BADGES ON THE HIEROGLYPHIC SIGNETS

It is reasonable to suppose that in a general way Egyptian sphragistic usage will Egyptian
be found to throw a welcome light on that of the Minoan world. The Cretan seals jjjJjfJJJii
themselves, as a means of securing property and of authenticating documents, served sphragistic
the same purpose as the Egyptian scarabs and earlier cylinders.1 There can be no USage'
doubt, moreover, that in the means adopted for these ends, as in so many other
departments, Minoan civilization was directly indebted to the example of Egypt.
It has been already noted that the three-sided clay sealings, for instance, specimens of
which were found in the ' hieroglyphic' deposit of the Knossian Palace, resemble on
a somewhat lesser scale a type in use under the early dynasties of Egypt. It seems
probable that, as in the case of contemporary scarabs, the signs on the Minoan seals

1 For the various applications of Egyptian seals and Scarabs: an Introduction to the study of Egyptian Seals

a classified series of characteristic scarab-types see and Signet- fags (Constable, 1906).
especially the useful work of Mr. Percy Newberry,

L 1