Miscellaneous Hieroglyphic Documents

a web edition with commentary

inaugural date: 2 January 2005; last update: 7 December 2007


Comments, corrections, questions: John Younger (jyounger@ku.edu)


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Notes
For best viewing results, widen this webfile to at least 25 cm.

In the commentary (not in the headings), CHIC documents (numbers preceded by #) in bold (e.g., #225) are sealstones or impressions.

In the "normalizations" (phonetic readings) suggested below, the phonetic identifications of the Hiero signs are based on Notes on the Signs, a separate study of the individual signs, their resemblances to Linear A/B signs and the patterns of their use in Hiero. The phonetic values of signs in black are considered certain; those in red are considered probable; and those in green are considered possible. With green values, sometimes only the consonant is guessed and the syllable is then rendered as in the following Kv.

A raised asterisk after the syllabogram indicates the reading is doubtful (e.g., *), similarly for the underlined transnumeration and normalization (e.g., 042 A).


Knossos


KNOSSOS S: CMS II 3.23 (amygdaloid of black steatite, from a "house south of the palace," perhaps the South House, though Brice 1961: 24 says "Little Palace")

Using the sequence of commodities and fractions on three seals (CHIC #206, #291, #292) reconstructed in Notes to Signgroups XV, it is possible to see on CMS II 3.23, reading left to right in impression FIC spanning the top and bottom lines, and, in the bottom line, *309, perhaps *308, and *157, and, in the top line (after the top of FIC, the remnants of a sign (perhaps Δ) and Σ.

As on the seal:

a1 (bottom line, right to left)    *        *157, *308, *309
a1-2 (spanning both lines, then reading left to right)    *         FIC, *302, *307

JGY normalizes
seal faceinscriptiontransnumerationnormalization
a1   *      *157 *308 *309*157/AB*123 Koppa "mina"
a1-2   *    *155 Δ Σ FIC 1/3 Σ


KNOSSOS Ha (Knossos StratMus P92/SF 162; CMS II 8, no. 15), nodulus; from Knossos, South House (MM IIA context, found with Linear A tablet; Weingarten in Evely et al., Knossos: A Labyrinth of History, 177-8: according to the technical definition of an inscription [at least two signs], this is not an inscription, but it does perhaps present "the earliest evidence for the use of Hieroglyhphic seals at Knossos"). The seal that impressed the nodulus looks as if it were made of ivory (hippopotomus) or bone.

against an interlace background
seal impressiontransnumerationnormalization
008A3

Comments
As a single sign, 008, A3 also appears on #315.J from Arkhanes (MM IA context), also of ivory.


Malia


#316 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 01: HMp 18382 [Mu I 35], Chamaizi Vase; from V 5

inscriptiontransnumeration
X X 049-041-006-025

Comments
Cf. * 049-041-006-057 (#327). Notes to Sign 041, App. VI, and Notes to Signgroups, App. XVI suggest separating the signs thus: or .

#316 in AB values
signgroupLinear A
RO3-WA-NWA-TEU-NA-RU-KA-NA-TI (PK Za 11c), A-RI-NI-TA (HT 25a.3, ZA 8.2-3), DA-RU-NE-TE (HT 98b.2), I-*79-RI-NI-TA (PH 6.2)


#317 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 02: MASM M 67/260 [Mu I 37], pithos; from Mu III 8

inscriptiontransnumeration
*** >< 042-057-010-034-028-093-065

Comments
CHIC: Sign 010 or 088? Sign 093, 031 or 049? Sign 070 at the end (Mu I) is excluded. JGY: For the possibility that the penultimate sign is 031, cf. ^gt;? 070-028-031 (#307.b).
Since 042 is an initial, the signgroup begins there; the last two signs may be retrograde.
Sign * 010 is doubtful; sign 057 lacks the usual haft in signs incised on clay - haftless, it resembles 057 on sealstones.
Sign * 093 appears only here.
The way the signs were written on the pithos suggests separations: the first four signs are arranged in a straight line, but 028 is positioned above 034 and the final two signs are placed at some distance away, 065 above * 093. The first three signs may be a separate signgroup; see Inflection Sequence 1.

JGY normalizes

* ** >< 042-057-010-034 028 093-065 ><

There is no Linear A parallel for A-KI-RI-TA, but if A were the common prefix, there are parallels for KI-RI-TA, and, with a suffix, SU-KI-RI-TA (PH Wa 32; cf. HT HT Zb 158b).

#317 in AB values
signgroupLinear A
A-KI-RI-TA


KU2

NU?-TI or TI-NU?
KI-RI-TA2 (HT 114a.1; HT 121.1 (heading/placename), KI-RE-TA2 (HT 85b.1-2; HT 129.1); the objective ]KI-RE-TA-NA (KH 2.3, 2nd heading). Cf. SU-KI-RI-TA (PH Wa 32; cf. HT HT Zb 158b)
KU common (e.g., HT 127b.4-5; HT Wa 1471-1622); and as adjunct *188+KU, TELA+KU, GRA+KU
TU-NU (KA Zf 1)


#318 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 03: MASM M 68/151 [Mu I 38], plate; from Mu IV 4, central compartment

inscriptiontransnumeration
* >< 051-092-092 ><


#318 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 03: MASM M 68/151 [Mu I 38], plate; from Mu IV 4, central compartment

inscriptiontransnumeration
* >< 051-092-092 ><

Comments
CHIC: the drawing of 051 is rather crude; one might also consider 037. The inscription was incised after firing. Compare 051-051-051-041 (#089.b2), and X 7000 X 016-038-007 *051 7000 (#090.a-b), both from Mallia Mu.

#318 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
>KI-RU-RU
<RU-RU-KI
~KI-RO ("owed"); cf. KA-RE-RO (HT Wc 3003)
cf. RU-RA2 (HT 11b.1); cf. A-RU 11 , *312 1 (HT 49a.6)


#319 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 04: MASM 65 M/H 200 [Mu I 39], pithos cover; from Mu

inscriptiontransnumeration
]* >< ]088-087-070-027 ><

Comments
CHIC: 087, certainly not 072 (Mu I). The inscription was incised after firing. Sign 088 occurs only one other time: X 160 -003/VIR3 160 (#049.d2). If an adjunct, it would then function like Linear A *313 which occurs in three versions, all only with VIR. This suggests that VIR might have occurred before the break in the sherd. In three Linear A documents, VIR+*313 occurs at the end of a list (HT 89.3; HT 94a.2; HT 100.3) and just before the total (KU-RO; also see HT 127b.5); *313 occurs thrice more, as part of a couple VIR+*313b and CYP+D, on just one document KH 7a.2-5. It is possible, then that the rest of the inscription here, 087-070-027 A*301-RO-RA3, is some version of KU-RO.

JGY normalizes

+]* >< 003+]088 087-070-027 ><

#319 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
>VIR3+]A*313-A*301-RO-RA3
<RA3-RO-A*301-A*313[
VIR+*313 KU-RO ("balance," "total")
SA-*301-RI (ZA 11b.1); cf. VIR+*313c ... *310 (HT 127b.4-5)


#320 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 05: MASM 68 M/H 205 [Mu I 400, base of a small vase; from Mu III 3b

inscriptiontransnumeration
>? 041-059-025 >?

Comments
The signgroup may be intact or consist of a signgroup plus logogram or a string of logograms; see Notes to sign 041, App. VI.

#320 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
WA-MA-TEA-MI-TA (ZA 10b.4-5)


#321 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yb 06: MASM 69 M/H 206 [Mu I 41], sherd; from Mu H/J 3 east part

inscriptiontransnumeration
] >< ]056-070 ><

#321 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
]KU-RO~KU-RO ("balance," "total")


#322 MA/M (Malia, Quartier Mu) Yc 01: HMp 18383[Mu I 36], Chamaizi Vase; from Mu III 4, west bench

inscriptiontransnumeration
X

Comments
CHIC: or 096- ? Inscribed in black paint (before firing?).
Notes to Sign 068, App. XXIX, suggests that 068 is a terminal. For the signgroup, compare < <-070-050-056 009-068 (#119.v), and * 009-068 *011 (#225, normalized).
Phonetically, the signgroup recurs on Chamaizi Vase, #329, and probably on #331.

#322 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
A-RvA-RI (PH 6.1, 3), A-RU (HT 9a.5-6, b.2-3; HT 49a.6)


#323 MA/N (Malia, Quartier Nu) Yb 01: MASM N 2260, pithos cover; from outside the Chrysolakkos.

inscriptiontransnumeration
X [

#323 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
NWA[ 


#324 MA/N (Malia, Quartier Nu) Yb 02: HMp 11149, Chamaizi Vase from Quartier Nu, charnier 3 (EM III-MM II)

inscriptiontransnumeration
X X 057-023-070-018

Comments
Mallia Document Sets, II: Palace 1, related
The same signgroup probably recurs: ] [ ]023 018-070[ (#055.a), and see Notes to Signgroups, App. XX and 06b Transaction Terms, App. XXVIII, both of which suggest separating 018.
If the two signgroups are basically identical, the switch in the last two signs may reflect differences between the two supports, their provenance, and their context dates.

#324 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
KI-TU-RO-RA4QE/KA-TI-RA-DU (HT 58.1)


#325 MA/P (Malia, Palace) Yb 01: HMp no. ? [ÉM], Chamaizi Vase

inscriptiontransnumeration
[028[

#324 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
KU2[KU-RO ?


#326 MA/P (Malia, Palace) Yb 02: HMp 7833 [ÉM], Chamaizi Vase

inscriptiontransnumeration
]•]•-053

Comments
CHIC: For the sign to the left of the "jug", cf. Chapouthier 1946, p. 89, whose "double horn" is hardly convincing.

#326 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
]•-JA 


#327 MA/P (Malia, Palace) Yb 03: HMp no. ?, Chamaizi Vase

inscriptiontransnumeration
*049-041-006-057

Comments
Cf. 049-041-006-025 (#316, #327). Notes to Sign 041, App. VI, and Notes to Signgroups, App. XVI suggest separating the signs thus: * or *.

#327 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
RO3-WA-NWA-KIU-NA-RU-KA-NA-TI (PK Za 11c), A-RI-NI-TA (HT 25a.3, ZA 8.2-3), DA-RU-NE-TE (HT 98b.2), I-*79-RI-NI-TA (PH 6.2)


#328 MA/V (Malia, Town) Ya 01: HM E 415. Offering table of blue limestone (context not datable)

inscriptiontransnumeration
*062-034-002-056-070-025-019-051-070-094-034-056-077-049-038-029

Comments
CHIC: a piece carrying the extreme left of the first sign is now missing: sign 065 is therefore theoretically possible, but see Marinatos's drawing (JdI 52, 1937, cols. 229-230) and Chapouthier 1938 (in Chapouthier 1937, there is an initial mark).
Some sign combinations appear in other documents:

*
X X 034-002 20 (#058.c2)
X X 008-056-070 (#132)
X X 022-056-070-061 (*#071)
056-070 KU-RO ~ Linear A KU-RO ("balance", "total")
cf. 070-031-034 (#054.e) [also 070-031-019 (#056.aA)]. Linear A RU-SA (HT 96a.3) and Linear B Ru-SI (KN Ak 634L, X8214B, and L 588.01)
X X 034-056 6400 (#049.c1); Notes to Signgroups, App. XXII
X X 056-077 (#112.b, #113.b2, #200)
X X 029-077-049 (#295.b)
[049-038[ (E113.a)
             *011-038-029 (#072)

JGY normalizes, based on the above

062-034-002056-070025-019-051070-094-034056-077049-038-029
]NA-TA-VIR2KU-ROTE-SA-KIRO-E-TAKU-RU2RO3-JA-MA

#328 in AB values
wordsigngrouptransactionLinearA
1.]NA-TA-VIR2common ending -NA-TE, NA-TI; cf. VIR+KA ... NA-TI (HT 97a.1, 4), VIR ... TA-NA-TI (HT 7a.1, 4), VIR ... KU-PA3-NA-TU (HT 119a.1, 3)
2. KU-RO KU-RO ("balance," "total")
3. TE-SA-KI TU-SU (PK 1.6-7); TE-JA ("five"; HT Zd 156); I 051 = ? fraction (see notes to #089, and Notes to Sign 051)
4. RO-E-TA
5.KU-RU2KU-RO ("balance," "total")
6. RO3-JA-MA RU-JA (KN Wc 26 ), ]RE-JA-MA[ (TRA Zb 1 alternative)
cf. common endings -RA-JA (KI-KI-RA-JA, HT 85b.1), -RI-JA (e.g., KU-PA3-RI-JA & PA-SA-RI-JA: HT 24a.1), -RU-JA (I-RU-JA, HT 7a.2; )

Given the parallels, it is remotely possible that this inscription records
adj/verbplacecommoditytransaction
]NA-TAVIR2KU-RO
TE-SA-KI
RO-E-TA
KU-RU2
RO3-JA-MA


#329 MA/V (Malia, Town) Yb 01: HMp 11158, base of a Chamaizi Vase

inscriptiontransnumeration
X X 049-042

Comments
Mallia Document Sets, II: Palace 1, related
CHIC reads an initial X, but the mark, perhaps a potter's mark, is placed at a little distance from the signgroup.
Since 042 is an initial, the inscription should be read retrograde.
Phonetically, the signgroup recurs on Chamaizi Vase, #322, and probably #331.

JGY normalizes

042-049

#329 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
<A-RO3A-RI (PH 6.1, 3), A-RU (HT 9a.5-6, b.2-3; HT 49a.6)


#330 MA/V (Malia, Town) Yb 02: MASM 90-109/4.1, amphora handle

inscriptiontransnumeration
]• >< ]029-064-•[ ><

#330 in AB values
signgroup Linear A
>]MA-DA-•[
<]•-DA-MA[
MA-DA-TI (PK 1.8)
DU-DA-MA (HT 6b.4), I-DA-MA-TE (AR Zf 1 & 2), MI-DA-MA-RA2 (ARCH Zf 9)


MA/V (Malia, Town) Yb 03: MASM 93.0540.28, amphora handle (Schoep, Ilse. 1995. "A New Cretan Hieroglyphic Inscription from Malia (MA/V Yb 03)," Kadmos 34: 63-77)
inscriptiontransnumerationnormalization
] []042-028[]A-KU2[

Compare
Linear A: A-KI-RO (ARKH 4b.4)

Petras


PE He 01 -- Medallion from E-W corridor of the N. magazines [LM IB destruction context?], just south of the eastern-most ashlar block [just outside and east of the entrance to Magazine 2, the second from the west] (M. Tsipopoulou and E. Hallager, "Inscriptions with Hieroglyphs and Linear A from Petras, Siteia," SMEA 37 (1996) 7-46, esp. 39-42)
sideinscriptiontransnumeration
aX X 042-033-011
b+[•]   703040+[•]   703

Comments
JGY: a: a heading; cf. PE Ha 003.c: 042-023-011
JGY: b: The ligatured sign looks like an abbreviated 039 or an abbreviated and haftless 042. Cf. PE PE Hh 017.a 740.
JGY: in the Notes to Sign 033, I suggest that it (besides being a predecessor to A*47) represents a voiced dental (Tv, Dv); if so, then 042-033 could join the list of other occurrences of A-TU at Petras (see note to PE Hh 016), with the alternative possibility of being a spelling variation on the more common A-DE heading in Hieroglyphic, meaning "contributions" (cf. A-DU in Linear A).

JGY normalizes
sideinscriptiontransnumerationnormalization
a-bX     +[•]   703X 042-033-011   040+[•]   703A-/TvDv/-SI   RO2+[•]

b: or: <-- [] [057-]040, [KI-]RO2

Compare
a: if something like A-/TvDv/-SI, cf. Linear A: A-DU (common)
b: Linear A: KI-RU (common)

The Hieroglyphic deposit (all other PE Hieroglyphic documents, except the medallion He 1) comes from inside the north doorway of the main building (M. Tsipopoulou and E. Hallager, "A New Hieroglyphic Archive from Petras, Siteia," Kadmos 35 (1996) 164-67; Metaxia Tsipopoulou, "The Hieroglyphic Archive from the Palatial Building at Petras," AJA 102 (1998) 391). The deposit fell during a conflagration in MM IIB from an upper room onto a hard yellow clay floor laid over the monumental N. doorway. The deposit consists of something like the following:

  • nine impressed nodules (= 01-09), of which three are two-hole hanging nodules (= 02, 06, 08) impressed by large sealstones carrying quadrupeds; and a few irregular clay lumps,
  • nine medallions (He 4-12 = 10-18),
  • one incised and impressed crescent and fragments of four others (= 19, 20, and 21 & 22, termed "roundels"),
  • two unpierced four-sided clay bars (Hh 1 & 2 = 21, 22),
  • and two impressed door/chest sealings (= 25, 26).

  • Phaistos


    CHIC #122. PH Hi 01 (HM 1), Tablet: SM I P.121, pp. 21, 148, 179: from the palace, but recognized only after being excavated, 1901: MonAnt 12, 1902, pp. 96-97, pl. VIII, fig. 2; 13, 1903, p. 26, fig. 11) (8.1 x 4.1 x 1.1 cm)
    As on the tablet
    sideinscriptiontransnumeration
    r.1**    20    20    20    20038-047-047   *153 20Δ   *158 20Δ   *154 20Δ   *155 20Δ
    r.2 25    25*       25*    25*153 25ΔΣ   *158 25ΔΣ      *154 25Σ   *155 25Σ   
    vvacatvacat

    CHIC normalizes
    sideinscriptiontransnumeration
    r.1** 20038-047-047*153 20Δ
    20*158 20Δ
    20*154 20Δ
    20*155 20Δ
    r.2 25*153 25ΔΣ
    25*   *158 25ΔΣ   
    25**154 25Σ
    25   *155 25Σ
    vvacatvacat

    Comments
    CHIC: Linear A according to Raison-Pope 1980 (PH 32).
    r.1.2: *158 recurs only on KN bar #065. The document presents two lists (r.1 & r.2) of the same commodities, ordered in the same order. The first list has a heading ** 038-047-047; the second list has none. The second list records amounts of 5-plus over those of the first list. One interpretation would be to see list 2 as a target and list 1 as amounts collected; on the model of #118, ** 038-047-047 could even be similar to KU-RO-RO (see #061). The Linear A parallels suggest a retrograde reading for this signgroup.

    JGY normalizes
    sideinscriptiontransnumerationtransnumeration
    r.1** 20038-047-047*153 20ΔJA-QE*-QE*GRA 20 1/3
    20*158 20ΔOLE 20 1/3
    20*154 20ΔOLIV 20 1/3
    20*155 20ΔFIC 20 1/3
    r.2vacat 25*153 25ΔΣ GRA 25 1/3 Σ
    25*   *158 25ΔΣ   OLE 25 1/3 Σ    
    25**154 25ΣOLIV 25 Σ
    25*155 25*155 25FIC 25
    vvacatvacatvacat

    Compare
    r.1: Linear A: JA-QE (HT 37.6 alternative), ]-JA-QE (KN Za 17); or, if retrograde, QA-QA-RU (HT 93a.4; HT 111a.3; HT 118.2-3; HT 122b.3-4); QA-QA-DA (PE 2.3-4)


    Prodromos


    #331 PRODROMOS Yb 01: drawing in SM I, Chamaizi Vase (according to Sabine Beckman [pers. com. email 6 Sep 2009): "Prodromos" is actually "Prodromos Botzano," as given by Evans. Beckman has determined that this is the area around a small church south and above the plateia of Kritsa, opposite the large modern church.

    inscriptiontransnumeration
    X X 042-091

    #331 in AB values
    signgroup Linear A
    A-

    Beckman (pers. com. email 19 Sep 2009) suggests, probably rightly, 091 (hapax here) is a tripliate of 049, and she compares #329 from MA Ville (Quartier Theta [Malia beach]): X X 049-042; if so, then compare #322 and #329.


    Pyrgos

    PYR Yb 01: CMS II 6, no. 230 (Knossos StratMus. MP/94/2), impressed handle fragment, from Pyrgos, the west quarter
    inscriptiontransnumerationnormalization
    >< 019-070SA-RO

    Compare
    Linear A: SA-RA2 (see Notes to Signgroups II); if <-- RO-SA, cf. RO+SE (HT 93a.1)


    Symi

    SY Hf 01: Lame (MM IIB context; A. Lebessi, P. Muhly, J.-P. Olivier, "An Inscription in the Hieroglyphic Script from the Syme Sanctuary, Crete (SY Hf 01)," Kadmos 34.1 [1995] 63-77)
    sideinscriptiontransnumerationnormalization
    A-B]       |      ] *171   *308   |   *159   *308] *171   Koppa   |   *159   Koppa

    Comments
    The lame's inscription is somewhat similar to those using fractions found on a few seals (CHIC #206, #291, #292; and KN S = CMS II 3.23) reconstructed in Notes to Signgroups XV. From the discussion there, if might be possible to recognize in *159 the logogram for CYP.


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    Comments, corrections, questions: John Younger (jyounger@ku.edu)