Linear B: An Introduction

by J.T. Hooker

This introduction is suitable for the student with some knowledge of Greek who wishes to have access to Linear B material. Part One places the development of the Linear B script against its historical background; the earlier varieties of Aegean writing are discusses, and Ventris' decipherment of Linear B is described and the Mycenaean dialect of Greek is examined. In Part two, the reader is taken through a number of important Linear B texts. These are presented first in a 'normalised' transcription of the Linear B characters, so as to induce familiarity with the lay-out of the original texts, secondly in transliteration, and thirdly in translation where this is possible.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Classics

216 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[Koen Crolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adequate but not great. It's impressive that Hooker did all of the "typesetting" on a typewriter, but the fact that everything is in monospace, however fancy that typewriter was otherwise (and it was very fancy), often makes it surprisingly hard to get a sense of the information on a page, and the problem with typewritten text is that it's more difficult to move stuff around, leading to a somewhat haphazard structure in places. Most of the information you'd expect to be in an introduction like this is there, though, even if it—like Hooker's attitude towards female scholars—is now forty years out of date.

I just really wish people would use the word "demonym" instead of "ethnic".

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the understanding of Linear B, including a full table of syllabary values, in depth analysis of the relationship to later Greek words and meanings, and explanation of a number of specific inscriptions from Knossos, Pylus and Mycenae. There is much more to be known, but this is a great way to get your feet wet!