What is the difference between linear a and linear b

The analysis of differences between Linear A and Linear B is closely connected to the problem of the origin of Linear B. I consider this a very important issue since even up to date publications continue to suggest that Linear B simply developed from the Linear A administrative system, whereas the real situation is much more complex.

A careful comparison of the signaries does support the notion that the Linear A script was a. This leads to a conclusion that Linear B may have derived not from a single source, as traditionally assumed, but from two different sources: one was used for the script, the other for the administrative practice. Despite a significant chronological gap, Linear B administrative practice corresponds better to Cretan Hieroglyphic than to Linear A Tomas The term administrative practice is here understood to cover the types of documents used for running an administration, the mutual correlation of those documents, methods of organising information on them, etc.

The types of documents can be divided into three groups: those that were only written, those that were only sealed, and those that were both written and sealed. Clay tablets are the most prominent form of unsealed written document in both Linear A and Linear B administrations, but they display significant differences in the two systems.

Whereas Linear B makes use of both page-shaped and palm leaf-shaped tablets, only the former are employed during the latest stages of Linear A. Furthermore, page-shaped tablets also differ in the two systems, as will be shown below.

Apart from tablets, the following types of documents were used in Linear A during its latest phase LM IB , and these are presented in the descending order of the total number of documents: the single-hole hanging nodule, about ; the flat-based nodule, about ; the roundel, about ; the nodulus, about ; and the two-hole hanging nodule, about 70 examples counts according to Hallager , vol. When we move to Linear B, we find, surprisingly, that only two document-types continued from Linear A: the page-shaped tablet and the two-hole hanging nodule.

Two-hole hanging nodules, however, appear to have acquired a different function in Linear B, which is why Hallager suggests a new name, string nodules see below. Occasional noduli are found as well, but with the total of nineteen examples Weingarten , p.

From this overview we see that the three most represented Linear A types of sealings were abandoned in Linear B: the single-hole hanging nodule, the roundel and the flat-based nodule, of the latest mentioned we find only several examples in the Room of the Chariot Tablets at Knossos RCT. Since the RCT is considered by a number of scholars, including myself, the earliest extant Linear B deposit and thus to represent the transitional stage in the development of Linear B as proposed by Driessen ; a , we may regard its flat-based nodules as a short-lived legacy from Linear A.

The reason why the single-hole hanging nodule and the flat-based nodule were abandoned may lay in their function. Flat-based nodule sealed documents in perishable material, probably folded parchment, as indicated by the imprints on the bottom side of the sealing.

As far as single-hole hanging nodules are concerned, it has been suggested that these were hanging off the papyrus-rolls. Both documents were used to authenticate records on perishable material and prevent their unauthorised viewing Weingarten ; Hallager , p.

These two documents are our best evidence of writing on perishable material in the Minoan society. Their disappearance in Linear B, however, does not indicate that documents on perishable material were no longer used, but rather that perhaps there was no need for their authentication in the way that was done within Linear A administration.

The same explanation cannot be given for the disappearance of the roundel, since this document type was not attached to the records on perishable material, but served as a receipt for goods taken out of the storage room.

As for the documents that are supposedly common to Linear A and B, meticulous analyses have shown that there are noticeable differences. This problem has been stressed by Erik Hallager on a number of occasions, particularly with regard to the two-hole hanging nodule, typical of Linear A administration.

Its name was readily applied to similar-looking Linear B sealings, although in their nature they were quite different. In Linear B, two-hole hanging nodules served to document primary transactions and they accompanied the relevant commodities; information recorded on them was later on transferred onto page-shaped tablets Piteros, Olivier, Melena , p. The same cannot be argued for Linear A two-hole hanging nodules. In Linear B, this type of document was more frequently inscribed than in Linear A6 which may be taken as evidence that writing had a more prominent role than sealing, unlike in Linear A administration where writing and sealing practice appear to have been equally important.

Due to such fundamental differences, Hallager introduced his new name for these Linear B documents, string nodules, and divided them into two sub-types, regular and irregular Hallager , p.

This example indicates that we must be more careful in equating the types of documents in the two administrative systems. The other supposedly common document type in fact offers another example where the use of the same name may mislead us into believing that the two groups of documents played the same role in the two administrative systems.

Linear A and Linear B page-shaped tablets are similar only in their shape. The type of information on them does not suggest that they had similar purposes.

Whereas Linear B page-shaped tablets served as summaries of the primary information from sealings and palm leaf-shaped tablets, this cannot be established in Linear A. Pinacological and epigraphical features of Linear A and B tablets also reveal significant differences.

These cannot be here discussed in detail, so only some features are presented. One of the most prominent pinacological differences — shape— has already been mentioned.

Linear A page-shaped tablets are generally smaller, as is the average amount of information on them. There may be several reasons for this. One may be different nature of the two languages being recorded, since a comparison of the number of signs in syllabic groups indicates that Linear A words may be generally shorter than those in Linear B Duhoux , p.

Second, the methods of recording information may be different in the two scripts; one possibility, for example, is that Linear A used abbreviations more frequently. Finally, the disparity in the length of texts may also imply certain differences in administrative practices — for example, that Linear B page-shaped tablets may have been intended to contain more information than Linear A tablets.

Epigraphical differences are just as significant. Linear A and Linear B page-shaped tablets differ in most epigraphic features, of which we briefly present the following: opisthography, ruling lines, line-spacing and blanks, insertions and squeezing, layout of the text. In Linear B administration, opisthographic tablets — and they are much rarer than in Linear A— mostly have related lists on their rectos and versos.

It is not usual for these to have different sets of contents, or different lists on the recto and the verso, as is often the case with Linear A opisthographic tablets. Thus, Linear B tablets, even when opisthographic, often represent a single set of contents. One of the implications of this may be that Linear A tablets were meant only for rough and more temporary records. It did not matter that there were two different lists on a single document, as long as they were clearly separated for example, by a ruling line , so that there could be no confusion when the text was transferred onto other media.

Perhaps this feature indicates less reliance on perishable material amongst the Linear B scribes see Bennet , p. Nearly all Linear B tablets that have more than one inscribed line contain ruling lines between the lines of text. In Linear A ruling lines are not common.

Not only are they rare, but their purpose is different from the purpose of ruling lines on Linear B documents: with the exception of a tablet from Palaikastro PK 1 and another one from Phaistos PH 8a they do not divide the lines of the text, but sets of contents — that is, different lists e. This practice is irregular and not all sets of contents are divided by a ruling line; a change of contents is sometimes indicated by other means; for example, by spacing or a blank line.

Differences in line-spacing and blanks between Linear A and Linear B tablets are mostly a result of the different layout of the text. In most cases Linear B scribes employ a columnar arrangement of the text.

In order to organise the text in this manner, blanks are often left between words, logograms and numbers. On Linear A tablets blanks are often a result of a disparity between the size of the tablet and the length of the text e. HT 17, HT In some cases, however, spacing and blanks are used to emphasise certain words like KU-RO, indicating the total — cf.

HT 27b, HT b , but again this practice is not regular. As for insertions and squeezing of the signs, there are three main reasons for their use: scribal omission, lack of space and additional clarification e. HT 8b. In Linear B these occur less frequently, which means that the scribes made less mistakes while inscribing, or misjudgements about the space they needed to fit the text on the tablet.

Linear A texts have a higher frequency of insertions and squeezing; this indicates not only that Linear A scribes made mistakes more often, but also that they were less skilful in organising the space on a tablet in relation to the length of the text. If, however, clay tablets were only used for rough notes, perhaps no special attention was paid to fitting in the text properly. Most of the epigraphical features discussed contribute to the layout of the text.

The open-access SigLA database of inscriptions was created in collaboration with computer scientist Dr. Simon Castellan, from the University of Rennes in France. It features a list of standard signs and inscriptions which were copied by hand. It is still under construction, but more than 3, individual signs found within the inscriptions are currently searchable.

Professor Tim Whitmarsh, the A. Salgarella has demonstrated that Linear B is closely related to its mysterious and previously illegible predecessor. She has brought us one step closer to understanding it. See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos.

Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email! GR News. Greek News. Linear B writing survives mainly as records and accounts. Both forms of writing have been found elsewhere in the Ancient Greek world. They have also identified it on Cyprus where it survived, developing into Cypro-Minoan script.

Most surviving evidence for Linear B writing is on Crete, but at least pieces of evidence have been found at sites such as Thebes, Pylos, Mycenae, Tiryns, and Chania, with some inscriptions on vases from Eleusis. On the Greek mainland, experts believe Linear B represents an early form of Greek- demonstrating the spread and influence of Minoan culture on the developing Greek world. Adam Editions: Athens, You must be logged in to post a comment.

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