Standing the archaeological world on its pomegranate.
(the Aegean Unicode signs and symobls do not yet resolve properly here under Blogger but you can find them at the LexiLine posting)
Here is the teaser to get everyone's interest out there:
(copyright by Andis Kaulins as original work, except for the Aegean Fonts by George Douros, the cited texts and linked images and Ancient Greek definitions of words from Liddell-Scott): (Update: I see from original posting that Blogger is not reproducing the Douros Unicode fonts which show the signs and symbols involved so I will be working to correct this so that the actual concordance postings will show those signs and symbols)
RE Ῥέα (Rhea) writes that "pomegranate- shaped vases have been found at Phaistos and Knossos on Crete by the Middle Minoan period (ca 18th century BC)". This pomegranate identification was a surprise but is confirmed in Linear A. | RA2 or RYA in Linear B. ��(76) Pruned pomegranate tree(s) with trellis? Cypriot syllabary: ��re | Phaistos Disk �� A wedge of pomegranate "knob ...like a pomegranate... tassel of like shape" | No similar sign on the Axe. See the Image showing pomegranate wedges on a sliced pomegranate at http://rubyredpomegranates.co.uk/how-to-eat.html--- | Old Elamite IR according to one source. See the image at that link. The image is "wedge-shaped" representing a horse collar yoke oxbow ἐώρα "halter" | Wikipedia Rhea (mythology): the RU+JA sign combination meaning pomegranate is attested in Linear A. |
[1] Linear A, Glossary, Wikipedia, writes "RU+JA (the two signs joined together into a ligature): pomegranate, same as Classic Greek rhoia (or Rhea)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_A
The Origin of Writing in Western Civilization represents the great turning point in the development of humanity in the modern age.
I am on track to explain how it happened and my research will elevate inquiry into this field at least one notch, if not more.
I have finished the Minoan Sign Concordance in its basic form and will start publishing the results -- sign by sign -- with one sign per posting -- either at year end 2010 or the start of the New Year 2011, depending on when I find time to do it.
This Concordance to begin with will not "decipher" any text as such, but will only show HOW the signs of Linear B, the Phaistos Disk symbols, the Cypriot Syllabary, Old Elamite texts and the inscription on the Axe of Arkalochori were DERIVED and how all can be shown to originate in ONE central syllabic Ancient Greek language system, comprising a system which by and large retains the values now in use in Linear B, but which also shows the language foundation from which the syllabic values emerged.
Using this Concordance, serious scholars should in the future be able to reproduce Minoan decipherments on their own by applying the syllabic values obtained to the texts in question.
I specifically exclude Linear A from the Concordance, as it is a special case to which I have not yet directed enough attention.
I wish everyone the happiest of holidays.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
and Happy Holidays to those of other Faiths.