Translation of Linear A tablet (HT 8) for Ancient Foods et al., dealing with “barley wine” = beer


Translation of Linear A tablet (HT 8) for Ancient Foods and anyone who likes beer, dealing with “barley wine” = beer:

Linear A tablet HT 8 Haghia Triada

There is little doubt but that this tablet deals with the production of barley wine, which is the Mycenaean + Classical Greek word for wine. Here is the running partial translation, with enough text in the Mycenaean-derived superstrate to make it quite clear that this tablet deals with the production of beer:

RECTO: JEDI (OM) = a person? (involved in the production of) KI = 1 unit (something like a pithos or very large vase) of barley wine, the PA3KARATI (OM) sowing? (of the barley for this barley wine) + TE = tereza (OM) = liquid unit (of this barley wine) + 301 (unknown), 2 units + QA301* (unknown) + I (unknown) + production? of sweet fermented liquor, i.e. beer+ harvesting? Of barley

VERSO:

(serving) a large bowl (Semitic) + KA? And 1 large jar (Anatolian), 2 and 5 units (a large liquid amount), 2 of the first and 5 of the second + PA2? (unknown, possibly millet or spelt) + 1 unit of *301 (unknown) + ZARIRE? (OM, unknown) + harvesting share? of the ripe crop or fruit (i.e. barley for sweet fermented liquor) + 1 PAJARE? (OM) = indentured land? + *86 & *188 (both unknown), 1/2

While all of the Old Minoan words (OM) words on this tablet are conjectural, the New Minoan words (NM), such as barley and sweet fermented liquor and the Semitic and Anatolian words, a large bowl and a large jar, perhaps provide some clues as to the meaning of the latter. JEDI (OM) = person? is highly conjectural. The numeric syllabograms *301, *86 & *188, of which the phonetic value is unknown, cannot possibly be deciphered.

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vallance22

Historical linguist, Linear B, Mycenaean Greek, Minoan Linear A, Arcado-Cypriot Linear C, ancient Greek, Homer, Iliad, only Blog ENTIRELY devoted to Linear B on Internet; bilingual English- French, read Latin fluently, read Italian & ancient Greek including Linear B well, Antikythera Mechanism

11 thoughts on “Translation of Linear A tablet (HT 8) for Ancient Foods et al., dealing with “barley wine” = beer”

  1. Thanks Richard. Yes I reposted this, it’s fantastic. It just also happens to be my birthday so it’s like a present.

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  4. Good morning Richard,

    Concerning the second 301 sign in line 3 of the side A of the tablet, I think you may have made a typo mistake and labelled it as 301 instead of 310.

    Also, this is just a crazy theory of mine (also shared by others) that Lin A sign 301 could be read as JO. In this case it could make sens. TE-JO for greek θείο, sulphur. Adding 2 sulphur in the mix for preservation? I very well might be 100% wrong but this is just what came to mi mind.

    First time commenting here and I have to say that I really enjoy reading your translation.

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    1. This makes sense. But Linear B TEO means god, not sulpher. I am confused re. where you got this idea from.

      RE pasi teoi cannot mean: all the sulphers.

      Thanks

      Richard

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      1. I was comparing signs between linear a and linear b. Lin A is missing the JO sign and Lin B sign JO somewhat looks like Lin A 301. I did some research after that and it might be possible. As for Lin A 301 it is a.logogram, a syllabogram or both and what is it suppose to represent?

        I read TE-301 TE-JO (Te-i-o) which is a means sulphur in modern greek. I did not beleived it and it might just be a coincidence but I felt like it was worth mentioning.

        Thanks

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        1. I don’t know what *301 means phonetically. Some people think they know, but they are only guessing. As for TEJO, I did not know it means sulphur in modern Greek, as I do not speak modern Greek. Thanks! Richard

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          1. I did some research because this bothers me more than it should.

            Sulphur is mentioned in the Iliad book 16 line 228: θεείῳ

            The word god is mentioned countless times in the Iliad : θεῶν

            As for modern greek, god : θεο
            gods : θεοί
            sulphur : θείο

            In linear B sulphur does not seem to be mentioned

            I might try to do more research on the Lin sign 301 to prove or disprove it’s phonetical meaning.

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