The Race to Decode a Mysterious Language: Unraveling Linear B

The Enigmatic Linear B: A 50-Year Quest to Decode an Ancient Script

In the early 1900s, the world of archaeology was set ablaze when Sir Arthur Evans unearthed nearly 3,000 clay tablets on the island of Crete. These tablets were covered in a mysterious script, later dubbed Linear B, sparking a decades-long race to decipher its meaning. What secrets did these ancient symbols hold? Was it the key to understanding Europe's oldest civilization, or something else entirely?

The Minoan Mystery

Evans, captivated by his discovery at the Palace of Knossos, believed that Linear B represented the language of the Minoans, a civilization named after the mythical King Minos. This theory ignited the curiosity of scholars worldwide, each proposing their own interpretations. Some speculated that it was the lost language of the Etruscans, while others thought it might be an early form of Basque. The mystery deepened as Evans, while sharing some inscriptions, closely guarded the tablets, hindering progress in decipherment.

Alice Kober's Pioneering Work

Amidst this enigma, Alice Kober, a Classics professor from Brooklyn College, emerged as a key figure. In a time when women rarely held such academic positions, Kober dedicated herself to unraveling Linear B. She mastered numerous languages, understanding their importance in deciphering the script. Kober meticulously analyzed the symbols, recording their frequency and relationships. Despite limited resources during World War II, she diligently documented her findings, discovering that Linear B used word endings to convey grammar. Her work laid the foundation for future breakthroughs, but her untimely death in 1950 cut her research short.

Michael Ventris's Breakthrough

Another pivotal figure in the Linear B saga was Michael Ventris, an architect who developed a fascination with the script after hearing Evans speak. Ventris built upon Kober's work, utilizing newly published Linear B inscriptions from Pylos, a site on mainland Greece. His crucial insight came from comparing tablets from Pylos and Knossos, noticing that certain words appeared only on tablets from one site. Ventris hypothesized that these words represented place names specific to each location.

He compared Linear B to an ancient syllabary from Cyprus, recognizing similarities in some symbols. By applying the sounds of the Cypriot syllabary to the Linear B inscriptions, he deciphered the word "Knossos," the very city where Evans had made his discovery. This breakthrough triggered a domino effect, leading Ventris to unravel Linear B and reveal a stunning truth: the language was not Minoan, but Greek.

Rewriting History

Ventris's discovery, though followed by his tragic death, revolutionized our understanding of ancient history. Evans had believed that the Minoans conquered mainland Greece, explaining the presence of Linear B on the mainland. However, the decipherment revealed that the opposite occurred: mainland Greeks invaded Crete and adopted the Minoan script for their own language.

The Unsolved Mystery of Linear A

While Linear B has been deciphered, the story is far from over. The language of the Minoans, represented by another script called Linear A, remains a mystery. Its secrets are still waiting to be unlocked, presenting a new challenge for future generations of scholars.

Key Takeaways:

• Linear B was a script discovered on Crete in the early 1900s.
• Sir Arthur Evans believed it represented the Minoan language.
• Alice Kober's work on symbol frequencies was crucial.
• Michael Ventris deciphered Linear B, revealing it was Greek.
• The decipherment rewrote the history of Minoan and Greek interactions.
• Linear A, the Minoan language, remains undeciphered.