DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1793#0025
THE MINOAN LINEAR SIGNARY
17
Type b has many variants in A. In B it sometimes resembles *f: but on B 607. 3 the two signs
occur together. In B it may have a vertical stroke between the stems (205) but is quite distinct from
^: compare however 983. 2 with 984.1. Another variant has a triangle between the stems, as on some
other signs; but only in the sign-group (£/B\^ (1266), (j£}2\. • • (1400): so it may here be a 'rebus' sign.
Y A 27, B 46, S 35, PC 60, 74, Hr 66
Frequent in A; less so in B, in groups, and alone followed by numerals. It is clearly derived from
the Pictographic and Hieroglyphic 'fig-tree' sign (SM I. 220, no. 104); cf. pictorial ideogram B 862.1.
A cross-bar is frequent in A (HT 28 b 3,111 a 3, b 3). In B the branches often cross, or rise from a ring,
as in AB 45; but the two signs are quite distinct, and in AB 46 the cross-lines always traverse the
branches. Associated with cereal signs and other commodities, and followed by numerals, this sign
probably denotes 'fig-tree': especially noteworthy is the conjunction with Jjjj 'vine' on B 1. 11-25.
AB47 T A 51, B 29, S 41, PC 12, Hr 75
This sign occurs in A only much abbreviated; and in the painted cup A 16. 3 ill-formed (PM I.
586, fig. 431; IV. 615, fig. 450-1). In B there are several variants, in groups, but not alone. It is
clearly floral—probably tulip or iris (cf. SM I. 213, no. 87). The cross-bar is sometimes omitted
(847. 1, 863. 1) or duplicated (1164). It is quite distinct from xf. On 1289 the inner strokes are
crossed and attached to the arms, explaining the ill-written sign on 181.
Signs derived from Armour, Arms, and Furniture
AM H»
AB 48 (a) ft (b) p\ A 24, B 49, S 42, PC 24, 102, Hr 53
Rare in A, (a) in pictorial forms: frequent in B, (a, b) conventionalized, and variable, but on 955 a
pictorial variant occurs thrice. In its pictorial forms it represents a helmet or tiara with side-flaps or
ribbons (PM IV. 688-90, figs. 671-5, 867, figs. 853-62) well known from seal-stones. The variants at
Mallia (PM 688, fig. 671) led Chapouthier to derive from a bell-shaped clay figure or 'votive sheep-
bell' (Mallia 55-6, L 1 a, b; Picard, Eph. Arch. 1937, 83-91; cf. AJA XLIII. 482), but these objects
'are peculiar to M.M. I a deposits' (PM I. 175; IV. 689, n. 2).
Even the most conventionalized forms of ^ are distinct in structure from variants of ft (140. 2, 3),
and occur with them (393). Sundwall (1920, no. 47) compared Eg. wdhw 'table of offerings'.
In B the variant f^ with central line between the stems (not found in A and perhaps a district sign,
because differently drawn, as at Pylos) occurs with ^ on 1119; 04. 78. 6. With 983. 2 compare if^
on 984.1. Cf. the variant on the gold ring from Mavro-spelio (A 20. 8: PM II. 557, fig. 352). Sund-
wall regarded this as a variant of the 'man' sign (SM I. 181, no. 1).
AB49 fVVT A 47, B21, S15, 17, PC 52, Hr 34
Frequent both in A and in B, in groups, especially as initial. The double-bar variant in A confirms
its derivation from a double axe (SM I. 195, no. 36; PM IV. 686, fig. 664), a popular Hittite cult
346a
17
Type b has many variants in A. In B it sometimes resembles *f: but on B 607. 3 the two signs
occur together. In B it may have a vertical stroke between the stems (205) but is quite distinct from
^: compare however 983. 2 with 984.1. Another variant has a triangle between the stems, as on some
other signs; but only in the sign-group (£/B\^ (1266), (j£}2\. • • (1400): so it may here be a 'rebus' sign.
Y A 27, B 46, S 35, PC 60, 74, Hr 66
Frequent in A; less so in B, in groups, and alone followed by numerals. It is clearly derived from
the Pictographic and Hieroglyphic 'fig-tree' sign (SM I. 220, no. 104); cf. pictorial ideogram B 862.1.
A cross-bar is frequent in A (HT 28 b 3,111 a 3, b 3). In B the branches often cross, or rise from a ring,
as in AB 45; but the two signs are quite distinct, and in AB 46 the cross-lines always traverse the
branches. Associated with cereal signs and other commodities, and followed by numerals, this sign
probably denotes 'fig-tree': especially noteworthy is the conjunction with Jjjj 'vine' on B 1. 11-25.
AB47 T A 51, B 29, S 41, PC 12, Hr 75
This sign occurs in A only much abbreviated; and in the painted cup A 16. 3 ill-formed (PM I.
586, fig. 431; IV. 615, fig. 450-1). In B there are several variants, in groups, but not alone. It is
clearly floral—probably tulip or iris (cf. SM I. 213, no. 87). The cross-bar is sometimes omitted
(847. 1, 863. 1) or duplicated (1164). It is quite distinct from xf. On 1289 the inner strokes are
crossed and attached to the arms, explaining the ill-written sign on 181.
Signs derived from Armour, Arms, and Furniture
AM H»
AB 48 (a) ft (b) p\ A 24, B 49, S 42, PC 24, 102, Hr 53
Rare in A, (a) in pictorial forms: frequent in B, (a, b) conventionalized, and variable, but on 955 a
pictorial variant occurs thrice. In its pictorial forms it represents a helmet or tiara with side-flaps or
ribbons (PM IV. 688-90, figs. 671-5, 867, figs. 853-62) well known from seal-stones. The variants at
Mallia (PM 688, fig. 671) led Chapouthier to derive from a bell-shaped clay figure or 'votive sheep-
bell' (Mallia 55-6, L 1 a, b; Picard, Eph. Arch. 1937, 83-91; cf. AJA XLIII. 482), but these objects
'are peculiar to M.M. I a deposits' (PM I. 175; IV. 689, n. 2).
Even the most conventionalized forms of ^ are distinct in structure from variants of ft (140. 2, 3),
and occur with them (393). Sundwall (1920, no. 47) compared Eg. wdhw 'table of offerings'.
In B the variant f^ with central line between the stems (not found in A and perhaps a district sign,
because differently drawn, as at Pylos) occurs with ^ on 1119; 04. 78. 6. With 983. 2 compare if^
on 984.1. Cf. the variant on the gold ring from Mavro-spelio (A 20. 8: PM II. 557, fig. 352). Sund-
wall regarded this as a variant of the 'man' sign (SM I. 181, no. 1).
AB49 fVVT A 47, B21, S15, 17, PC 52, Hr 34
Frequent both in A and in B, in groups, especially as initial. The double-bar variant in A confirms
its derivation from a double axe (SM I. 195, no. 36; PM IV. 686, fig. 664), a popular Hittite cult
346a