Linear A Decipherment: Translation of Minoan inscriptions in Linear A - Paperback

by Stuart L. Harris (Author)

Linear A Decipherment cracks the code of the written language of Minoan Crete. The breakthrough came from recognizing a single word, tulos, meaning 'comes to' in Finnish at the end of a list of accounting figures. Because of all the work done in a similar script called Linear B, the complete decipherment of the basic syllabary was accomplished in one evening. The details, however, took three years because of having to learn how to read a syllabary and simultaneously constructing a matching dictionary with tens of thousands of words. As everyone hoped, the translations led to the identification of who founded Minoan Crete. The key was to recognize that Frisian history matched Greek history, only the names were different. Teunis became Tunisia, Phoenicia became Phoenix, Wodin became Cadmos. The great advantage of Frisian history is that it provides exact dates: Minoans colonized both Crete and Tyre in 2093 BC.