The decipherment of the Linear B tablets from Knossos and Pylos revolutionized our understanding of the Mycenaean world. But how did a small group of dedicated Greek scholars arrive at the solution? This episode recounts the painstaking process that ultimately led to the paradigm-shifting conclusion that Linear B was an early form of Greek.
For samples of the writing system and a link to an interactive site where you can try your hand at constructing words in Linear B characters, check out Episode 4 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com
Reading Suggestions:
The Decipherment of Linear B by John Chadwick (1958 and later editions)
The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox (2013)
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