DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1118#0419
MINOAN INSCRIPTION ON AMISOS RAM
769
One archaic feature is noteworthy, so far as Minoan practice is con- Written
■rued. The inscription is written boustrophMon fashion. The known direc- ££"
/• 1 1 _.__' ;., __l->^ )- fcif.i .n 1. i-/-i \-.rr, *-l-> ^ c__1. „;— ___„___ :.. j :__1___ j.i. _._ .1 :.. t_i:..:....
tion
line runs :
cerr~—
1 of the ' cup ' in what seems to be the first sign-group indicates that the in Hittite
; from right to left, while'Minoan usage with regard to Nos. 6 and 7
RIGHT TO LEFT
S * 4- 3 2
'!
CL.A
COMPUTER
PORMSOF S
9-0/
LEFT TO RIGHT
OMPooUDS CL.A
Fig. 750. Analysis of Inscription showing its Boustrophedon arrangement.
Comparisons presenting Signs of Class A.
points to the second line running from left to right. But this divergence
from the modern method, consistently observed in documents of both the
advanced linear classes in Crete, of reading from left to right only is of
considerable significance in relation to the region in which the graffito itself
was found. The practice of the boustrophedon method of writing first from
right to left and then from left to right was one of the earliest features
noted with regard to the Hittite writing.1 We may here then recognize not
so much a remote reminiscence of early examples of the Cretan hieroglyphic
writing, as an attempt to conform with local Hittite usage.
Again we are confronted with a singular parallelism in the epigraphic
and ceramic history, just as we have seen the diffusion of Class B in Main-
land Greece proceed pari ftasm with the appearance of a new style of
painted pottery also largely dependent on the palatial traditions of Knossos.
A like simultaneous reaction is demonstrated above in the case of Cyprus,
and some new and interesting revelations of Minoan activities on the North
Syrian Coast, summarized in the next Section, repeat the same story.
1 See, for instance, W. Wright, The Empire
of the Hittites, p. 138, &c. Sayce in his account,
there quoted, of the ' Pseudo-Sesostris' of
Karabel (op. cit., p. 169), observes that the
'boustrophedon' manner of writing distin-
guishes all theJcnown Hittite inscriptions. A
clay tablet from Toprakkalch, on the Arme-
nian side, which in its form and incised
horizontal lines resembles Class B, bears an
inscription running r. to 1. (Lehmann-Haupt,
Armenien, 6W., ii, pp. 583-9, and Fig.). Its
seventh-century date, signs, and numeration
prove it to be un-Minoan.
769
One archaic feature is noteworthy, so far as Minoan practice is con- Written
■rued. The inscription is written boustrophMon fashion. The known direc- ££"
/• 1 1 _.__' ;., __l->^ )- fcif.i .n 1. i-/-i \-.rr, *-l-> ^ c__1. „;— ___„___ :.. j :__1___ j.i. _._ .1 :.. t_i:..:....
tion
line runs :
cerr~—
1 of the ' cup ' in what seems to be the first sign-group indicates that the in Hittite
; from right to left, while'Minoan usage with regard to Nos. 6 and 7
RIGHT TO LEFT
S * 4- 3 2
'!
CL.A
COMPUTER
PORMSOF S
9-0/
LEFT TO RIGHT
OMPooUDS CL.A
Fig. 750. Analysis of Inscription showing its Boustrophedon arrangement.
Comparisons presenting Signs of Class A.
points to the second line running from left to right. But this divergence
from the modern method, consistently observed in documents of both the
advanced linear classes in Crete, of reading from left to right only is of
considerable significance in relation to the region in which the graffito itself
was found. The practice of the boustrophedon method of writing first from
right to left and then from left to right was one of the earliest features
noted with regard to the Hittite writing.1 We may here then recognize not
so much a remote reminiscence of early examples of the Cretan hieroglyphic
writing, as an attempt to conform with local Hittite usage.
Again we are confronted with a singular parallelism in the epigraphic
and ceramic history, just as we have seen the diffusion of Class B in Main-
land Greece proceed pari ftasm with the appearance of a new style of
painted pottery also largely dependent on the palatial traditions of Knossos.
A like simultaneous reaction is demonstrated above in the case of Cyprus,
and some new and interesting revelations of Minoan activities on the North
Syrian Coast, summarized in the next Section, repeat the same story.
1 See, for instance, W. Wright, The Empire
of the Hittites, p. 138, &c. Sayce in his account,
there quoted, of the ' Pseudo-Sesostris' of
Karabel (op. cit., p. 169), observes that the
'boustrophedon' manner of writing distin-
guishes all theJcnown Hittite inscriptions. A
clay tablet from Toprakkalch, on the Arme-
nian side, which in its form and incised
horizontal lines resembles Class B, bears an
inscription running r. to 1. (Lehmann-Haupt,
Armenien, 6W., ii, pp. 583-9, and Fig.). Its
seventh-century date, signs, and numeration
prove it to be un-Minoan.