Decades after Michael Ventris deciphered Linear B and showed that its language was Greek, nearly one-sixth of its syllabic signs' sound-values are still unknown. This book offers a new approach to establishing these undeciphered signs' possible values. Analysis of Linear B's structure and usage not only establishes these signs' most likely sound-values - providing the best possible basis for future decipherments - but also sheds light on the writing system as a whole. The undeciphered signs are also used to explore the evidence provided by palaeography for the chronology of the Linear B documents and the activities of the Mycenaean scribes. The conclusions presented in this book therefore deepen our understanding not only of the undeciphered signs but also of the Linear B writing system as a whole, the texts it was used to write, and the insight these documents bring us into the world of the Mycenaean palaces. A colour version of figures 5.1-5.4 of chapter 5 can be found under the 'Resources' tab.

Ground-breaking analysis of the Linear B undeciphered signs shedding light on the writing system and the activities of its writers.

About the Author
Anna P. Judson is a Research Fellow in Classics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Her Ph.D. thesis on the undeciphered signs of Linear B won the University of Cambridge's Hare Prize for the best Classics thesis. She is now researching the writing practices of the Mycenaean scribes.


Book Information
ISBN 9781108494724
Author Anna P. Judson
Format Hardback
Page Count 372
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 900g
Dimensions(mm) 253mm * 178mm * 22mm