DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1793#0019
II
THE MINOAN LINEAR SIGNARY
and on apithos from Phaestos (Pernier, Scavi. rapp. prelim. 989 i) with points in four compartments
is also exceptional (HT 40. 1). On a sealing (Levi 11 b), it is not easy to distinguish fj) from ^ with
long side-strokes.
AB 22 pfj ff| A 35, B 62, PC 82, Hr 102
The simplified form occurs only in A. The sign usually stands alone with numeral: but on HT
14. 1 it is part of a name, probably as a 'rebus' sign with phonetic value. On HT 13. 2, followed by
'f, it may be part of the 'transaction' formula. In B, it occurs rarely, always as ideogram, with
'cereal' signs and numerals (2. 1, 11. 1, 12. 1, 160. 2. 3, 1516. iy): there are several abbreviations.
On 17. 1, 19. 1. 2 it occurs in a group with phonetic value, as on HT 14. 1.
At first sight this is a 'container' like Q; but Sundwall (1943, no. 13, fig. 17) compares Eg. f%, irp
= 'wine'. In Crete, this would denote the tall krevatina vine, on its trellis, for dessert grapes and
raisins; so this is not unlikely as a commodity sign, especially in association with Y ('fig' sign, = AB 46
below derived from SM I. 220, no. 104.)
AB 23 KV W W W \V A 9, B 26, S 2, PC 29, Hr 69
Frequent in A and in B, in all positions. Though it has many variants (e.g. ® on 1078. 2=0 on
1079. 2) it is quite distinct from AB 24 (f?), and occurs with it on HT 6 a 4-5, in a 1, 85 b 2, 3. It
occurs also alone with numeral (HT 11. 1, 85 b 3, 145. 1), and alone without numeral B 1304 b; and
ligatured with g, L, and other signs in A.
It seems natural to regard this sign as a 'wheel'; but Sundwall (1920, no. 10) compares the Eg.
«.«w='town'.
At Knossos, AE thought type a earlier than e,f, g (cf. Sundwall, 1914, no. 7); but the range of
date for Knossian B-tablets is so small, that they are probably personal variants. On HT 93 a 9 the
form -0- is probably due to carelessness. A variant on a stem recurs on HT 119. 4; cf. Mallia L. 1.
AB24 ©©© A 49, B 63, S 82, PC 91, Hr 69
Frequent both in A and in B, both in groups, and in A also alone with numeral. The number of
points varies from 2 to 4 without significance. A rare variant (B 1528; 04. 55-64) has a loop above
the circle, usually before a numeral, and in connexion with goats' horns (sign B no. 99) and another
commodity (B no. 100). In B the sign occurs surcharged on a cuirass (229, PM IV. 788, fig. 763 h, k)
and on 266 it stands also before h in place of a horse's head as on 264: a wheel-sign like ® is also
coupled with the 'whip' sign ^\.
AE thought that the sign denoted a tray containing grain, for fodder: cf. Eg. 'grains of corn' and
'corn on the threshing floor' sp.t. (PM IV. 801-2, fig. 776 £: Sundwall, 1920, no. 5); as it ends the
sign-groups XlifO- ^- J5 TMO- 898' WO- 899; VlQ- 9§o; fJjsQ. 1043. 1. AE therefore
thought that (v) might be attached to indicate ideographically some function connected with the
feeding of animals like the medieval 'constable' (comes stabuli). But there is no other evidence that
the sign has any value except phonetic. Its occurrence surcharged on a cuirass (227-9) proves as
much or as little about fodder as ^ surcharged on 870 about drink (PM IV. 606, fig. 785).
THE MINOAN LINEAR SIGNARY
and on apithos from Phaestos (Pernier, Scavi. rapp. prelim. 989 i) with points in four compartments
is also exceptional (HT 40. 1). On a sealing (Levi 11 b), it is not easy to distinguish fj) from ^ with
long side-strokes.
AB 22 pfj ff| A 35, B 62, PC 82, Hr 102
The simplified form occurs only in A. The sign usually stands alone with numeral: but on HT
14. 1 it is part of a name, probably as a 'rebus' sign with phonetic value. On HT 13. 2, followed by
'f, it may be part of the 'transaction' formula. In B, it occurs rarely, always as ideogram, with
'cereal' signs and numerals (2. 1, 11. 1, 12. 1, 160. 2. 3, 1516. iy): there are several abbreviations.
On 17. 1, 19. 1. 2 it occurs in a group with phonetic value, as on HT 14. 1.
At first sight this is a 'container' like Q; but Sundwall (1943, no. 13, fig. 17) compares Eg. f%, irp
= 'wine'. In Crete, this would denote the tall krevatina vine, on its trellis, for dessert grapes and
raisins; so this is not unlikely as a commodity sign, especially in association with Y ('fig' sign, = AB 46
below derived from SM I. 220, no. 104.)
AB 23 KV W W W \V A 9, B 26, S 2, PC 29, Hr 69
Frequent in A and in B, in all positions. Though it has many variants (e.g. ® on 1078. 2=0 on
1079. 2) it is quite distinct from AB 24 (f?), and occurs with it on HT 6 a 4-5, in a 1, 85 b 2, 3. It
occurs also alone with numeral (HT 11. 1, 85 b 3, 145. 1), and alone without numeral B 1304 b; and
ligatured with g, L, and other signs in A.
It seems natural to regard this sign as a 'wheel'; but Sundwall (1920, no. 10) compares the Eg.
«.«w='town'.
At Knossos, AE thought type a earlier than e,f, g (cf. Sundwall, 1914, no. 7); but the range of
date for Knossian B-tablets is so small, that they are probably personal variants. On HT 93 a 9 the
form -0- is probably due to carelessness. A variant on a stem recurs on HT 119. 4; cf. Mallia L. 1.
AB24 ©©© A 49, B 63, S 82, PC 91, Hr 69
Frequent both in A and in B, both in groups, and in A also alone with numeral. The number of
points varies from 2 to 4 without significance. A rare variant (B 1528; 04. 55-64) has a loop above
the circle, usually before a numeral, and in connexion with goats' horns (sign B no. 99) and another
commodity (B no. 100). In B the sign occurs surcharged on a cuirass (229, PM IV. 788, fig. 763 h, k)
and on 266 it stands also before h in place of a horse's head as on 264: a wheel-sign like ® is also
coupled with the 'whip' sign ^\.
AE thought that the sign denoted a tray containing grain, for fodder: cf. Eg. 'grains of corn' and
'corn on the threshing floor' sp.t. (PM IV. 801-2, fig. 776 £: Sundwall, 1920, no. 5); as it ends the
sign-groups XlifO- ^- J5 TMO- 898' WO- 899; VlQ- 9§o; fJjsQ. 1043. 1. AE therefore
thought that (v) might be attached to indicate ideographically some function connected with the
feeding of animals like the medieval 'constable' (comes stabuli). But there is no other evidence that
the sign has any value except phonetic. Its occurrence surcharged on a cuirass (227-9) proves as
much or as little about fodder as ^ surcharged on 870 about drink (PM IV. 606, fig. 785).