The Earliest Inscription in Arcado-Cypriot Linear C (11th. century BCE): Click to ENLARGE


Now that we have introduced you all to the Arcado-Cypriot Linear C syllabary, it is time for us to reveal to you our very first translation of an inscription in this syllabary, dating from the time of the earliest appearance of the script in the 11th. century BCE, a mere 100 years or so after the fall of Mycenae ca. 1200 BCE. As I have pointed out several times over the past year, Mycenaean & Arcado-Cypriot Greek were the two most closely allied ancient Greek dialects, even more closely related than Ionic & the classical Attic Greek dialect some six centuries later (from ca. 500-400 BCE). The significance of this inscription from Palaepaphos cannot be stressed enough. I only just became aware of its existence today, and it came as an exciting discovery. I had previously assumed that there were no inscriptions in Linear C from the very first century in which it rose to prominence. But as is always the case, it is foolish to make assumptions; and so I plead guilty. This inscription finally closes the gap between the earliest written Greek, in Mycenaean Linear B (ca. 1450-1200 BCE) and the next appearance of writing in Greek to a mere century, give or take, as illustrated by the time line which I previously posted on our blog. Click on the Time Line graph to read that post.


We'll be posting two more brief inscriptions in Linear C this month. Throughout 2015, we shall translate as many inscriptions and tablets in Arcado-Cypriot Linear C, including the famous Idalion Decree composed in the fifth century BCE in both Linear C and the Arcado-Cypriot alphabet, leaving the interpretation of this particular tablet pretty much set in stone (although the decree was inscribed on bronze). 

Richard