DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1793#0029
THE MINOAN LINEAR SIGNARY
21
The closed variant m may be derived from a 'grid-iron' sign, as at Thebes and at Tiryns (PM IV.
757; cf. p. 31 below), but this is not a Pictographic or a Hieroglyphic sign.
AB60 f A 46, B 55, S 21, PC 97, B 3, Hr 48
Frequent both in A and in B, with little variation, in groups, and also in B surcharged on a vessel
followed by numerals (774-6; cf. PM IV. 731, fig. 714 c, d) partially denoting its contents. Sundwall
1920, no. 21) compared Eg. ©JPS hbs='h.oe'. It is clearly distinguished from miswritten 1 which
always faces left.
f *f *
[B21] T { I B3i,S3o,PC(B59), Hr 47
Though only in B, this sign is noted here and in the Vocabulary: see p. 26. The ligature f^ is
associated with vessels.
AB 61 ? f [| A 39, B 56, S 34, PC 49, Hr 27, 28
Rare in A in more pictorial form c, but frequent in B, in groups, with a few hasty variants. 'The
upright loop which forms its lower member suggest comparisons with ^ and npr' [AB]. The variant
with side-hooks only occurs on 04. 31, 34, 48, 49. Sundwall (1914, no. 13; 1920, no. 22) compares
SM I. 190, no. 26 and Phaestos Disk no. 23 (SM I. 176); the Eg. 'club' sign=m«='strong' in f shm
'to lead' or 'sceptre' ebr. cf. SM I. 190, no. 26 (='white' or 'brilliant'): all this does not help much
to vocalize ^.
B 56a and B 56b seem to be variants of AB 61: but B 56a may be a mirror, as 'rebus' sign for
an unusual syllable: only in 894. 1; 04. 31. 2. B 56b occurs only in 258. 1 referring to corselets:
compare ^f]j^ with |fj]/[ 254 in the same 'corselet'-series. AE thought it a ligature of ^ and |.
A 111 only occurs (AE) on HT 101. 6 alone followed by a numeral: compare B 92 with £ for ^.
AB 62 6 A 57, B 97, PC 83, Hr 9on
This variable sign is rare both in A and in B. In A it occurs in short groups followed by numerals:
AE records it on a sealing, without reference; the pictorial sign on A 56 (Knossos) may be a variant:
cLPM IV. 800-1, fig. 775.
In B it occurs on 902. 1-12 in the phrase Y^f^—11 denoting something connected with horses,
perhaps 'reins' or 'traces'. AE compared Eg. nwh^'coil of rope', and '100 cubits' as a numeral.
But it may be a 'rebus' sign and phonetic.
Rare Pictorial Signs common to A and to B
AB 63 A ZAIZa B Ml A 64, PC 85, Hr 6
'Balance' signs, more or less pictorial, and variously constructed, occur both in A and in B; but
only have phonetic value in A, where the balance is always suspended, not supported on a stem as in
B; cf. the sealing, SM I. 43, fig. 20 a 1. Sundwall (1920, no. 6) compared the Eg. 'balance' sign.
21
The closed variant m may be derived from a 'grid-iron' sign, as at Thebes and at Tiryns (PM IV.
757; cf. p. 31 below), but this is not a Pictographic or a Hieroglyphic sign.
AB60 f A 46, B 55, S 21, PC 97, B 3, Hr 48
Frequent both in A and in B, with little variation, in groups, and also in B surcharged on a vessel
followed by numerals (774-6; cf. PM IV. 731, fig. 714 c, d) partially denoting its contents. Sundwall
1920, no. 21) compared Eg. ©JPS hbs='h.oe'. It is clearly distinguished from miswritten 1 which
always faces left.
f *f *
[B21] T { I B3i,S3o,PC(B59), Hr 47
Though only in B, this sign is noted here and in the Vocabulary: see p. 26. The ligature f^ is
associated with vessels.
AB 61 ? f [| A 39, B 56, S 34, PC 49, Hr 27, 28
Rare in A in more pictorial form c, but frequent in B, in groups, with a few hasty variants. 'The
upright loop which forms its lower member suggest comparisons with ^ and npr' [AB]. The variant
with side-hooks only occurs on 04. 31, 34, 48, 49. Sundwall (1914, no. 13; 1920, no. 22) compares
SM I. 190, no. 26 and Phaestos Disk no. 23 (SM I. 176); the Eg. 'club' sign=m«='strong' in f shm
'to lead' or 'sceptre' ebr. cf. SM I. 190, no. 26 (='white' or 'brilliant'): all this does not help much
to vocalize ^.
B 56a and B 56b seem to be variants of AB 61: but B 56a may be a mirror, as 'rebus' sign for
an unusual syllable: only in 894. 1; 04. 31. 2. B 56b occurs only in 258. 1 referring to corselets:
compare ^f]j^ with |fj]/[ 254 in the same 'corselet'-series. AE thought it a ligature of ^ and |.
A 111 only occurs (AE) on HT 101. 6 alone followed by a numeral: compare B 92 with £ for ^.
AB 62 6 A 57, B 97, PC 83, Hr 9on
This variable sign is rare both in A and in B. In A it occurs in short groups followed by numerals:
AE records it on a sealing, without reference; the pictorial sign on A 56 (Knossos) may be a variant:
cLPM IV. 800-1, fig. 775.
In B it occurs on 902. 1-12 in the phrase Y^f^—11 denoting something connected with horses,
perhaps 'reins' or 'traces'. AE compared Eg. nwh^'coil of rope', and '100 cubits' as a numeral.
But it may be a 'rebus' sign and phonetic.
Rare Pictorial Signs common to A and to B
AB 63 A ZAIZa B Ml A 64, PC 85, Hr 6
'Balance' signs, more or less pictorial, and variously constructed, occur both in A and in B; but
only have phonetic value in A, where the balance is always suspended, not supported on a stem as in
B; cf. the sealing, SM I. 43, fig. 20 a 1. Sundwall (1920, no. 6) compared the Eg. 'balance' sign.