The Problem of Semitic in Ancient Crete

Evidence for the Minoan Language' is a systematic summary of almost a decade of Cyrus H. Gordon's research into the nature of ancient Cretan non-Greek inscriptions, viz., in Linear A and Eteocretan. book consists of an introduction and sixteen tersely written chapters totalling 180 paragraphs. Its style and method of exposition are similar to those of Gordon's Ugaritic grammar.2 Two of the sixteen chapters (I, and XIV, The Phaistos Disc) are devoted to marginal problems. book is illustrated with 10 facsimile plates of Eteocypriote, Eteocretan, and Linear A texts, a partial grid of the Minoan syllabary, and a chart of provisional values of some Phaistos Disc signs. It is impossible to examine here all details of Gordon's highly condensed exposition. In his Foreword, the author sums up the results of his investigation thus

Ancient history · Arabic · Linguistics · Semitic languages · Ancient Near East History · Classical Antiquity Studies · History · Linguistics and language evolution · Philosophy

• The Primacy of the Political

  Open Access•Patricia Springborg•Political Studies•1990

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