By Dimosthenis Vasiloudis

The Linear B script of the Mycenaean civilization presents an intriguing glimpse into the early workings of written language in ancient Greece. Originating around 1450 BCE, this script is a derivative of the older, yet still undeciphered, Linear A used by the Minoans. Linear B, however, was deciphered in the 1950s by Michael Ventris, whose efforts shed light on the earliest known form of the Greek language. The script was mainly used for bureaucratic purposes, cataloguing inventories and transactions within the Mycenaean civilization. In essence, the Linear B script offers valuable insight into the socio-economic and religious facets of Mycenaean life during the Late Bronze Age.

The Homeric words for boys and girls were among the first to be deciphered by Michael Ventris, the man who deciphered Linear B script. The specific syllabograms that we present to you in the upper image were also accompanied on Mycenaean tablets by pictographs that resembled male and female figures.

Of course, the assistance of his partner and professor of classical literature, John Chadwick at this point was decisive. With his valuable help, it is possible to identify the Mycenaean terms (ko-wa) and (ko-wo) with the Homeric words "korai" and "koroi".

As can be understood, in Mycenaean Greek, an original form of the terms "korwai" and "korwoi" appears, with the "(w)" vowel (ϝ=γ) which has disappeared from the modern Greek language but it still preserved in some dialects.

This particular example helped both to further understand the spelling of Mycenaean written words and also the fact that Linear B is an elliptical script (its spelling excludes the existence of symphonic complexes).

As the research of the two Britons progressed, the reading of more and more words left no doubt that Linear B represented the first writing system of the Greek language.