How Was Linear B Decoded to Reveal Its Greek Roots?

TL;DR

Linear B was deciphered as Greek, revealing that the Minoan civilization's script was not their language but rather adopted by Greek invaders. Alice Kober's frequency analysis and Michael Ventris's comparative techniques with inscriptions from Crete and Cyprus were crucial to this discovery. The true Minoan language, represented by Linear A, remains undeciphered.

Transcript

In the early 1900s on the island of Crete, British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans uncovered nearly 3,000 tablets inscribed with strange symbols. He thought these symbols represented the language spoken by Europe’s oldest civilization. Their meaning would elude scholars for 50 years. Evans discovered these tablets amid the colorful frescoes and m... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔙 Linear B deciphers as Greek, not Minoan as previously believed.
• 💨 Alice Kober's systematic approach paved the way for Linear B decipherment.
• 💳 Michael Ventris compared different scripts to unlock the mystery.
• ❓ Linear A, representing true Minoan language, remains a mystery.
• 🔙 Linear B's decipherment redefined the historical relationship between Minoans and mainland Greeks.
• 🔙 Deciphering Linear B required years of meticulous analysis and comparison.
• 😒 The use of word frequencies and comparisons led to the breakthrough in unlocking Linear B.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Alice Kober contribute to the decipherment of Linear B?

Alice Kober meticulously analyzed symbol frequencies, studying word endings for grammar, and approached decoding Linear B as a puzzle methodically.

Q: What was Michael Ventris's breakthrough in deciphering Linear B?

Michael Ventris compared Linear B tablets from different locations, recognized certain words as place names, and found similarities with a Cypriot syllabary, leading to the breakthrough in understanding the script as Greek.

Q: What did the decipherment of Linear B reveal about Minoans and mainland Greeks?

The decipherment showed that mainland Greeks adopted the Minoan script for their language, overturning the belief that Minoans conquered the mainland Greeks.

Q: Why is Linear A still a mystery?

Linear A, representing the language of the Minoans, remains undeciphered, posing a continued challenge to archaeologists and historians.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Sir Arthur Evans found Linear B tablets in Crete, believed it was Minoan language.

• Alice Kober and Michael Ventris decoded Linear B as Greek, not Minoan.

• Linear A, representing true Minoan language, remains undeciphered.