Writing on Bronze Age Crete has a long history of use (as well as a veiled mystery), dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. The so-called Linear A script, of ideosyllabic type, was in use in the period ca. 1800-1450 BCE on Crete and the Aegean islands (and also sporadically in mainland Greece and the Levant), and remains undeciphered to the present day. How much do we know of this script, the language it encodes (the ‘Minoan’ language), as well as its writers, readers and users? And, perhaps more accurately, how much do we still not know? Swinging between knowns and unknowns, this talk will give the audience an informed overview of this enigmatic, yet fascinating script, and a captivating snapshot into current and future research pathways. The talk will end with a short hands-on session, giving the audience the unique opportunity to ‘read’ and ‘interpret’ a Linear A inscription under the guidance of the speaker (needless to say, no prior knowledge of Linear A is required!)

Organizer and contact
Evert van Emde Boas
E-mail: evert.vanemdeboas@cas.au.dk

Classical Studies, Aarhus University.