Cypro-Minoan syllabary in the context of "Cypriot syllabary"

⭐ In the context of the Cypriot syllabary, what linguistic characteristic distinguishes the Amathus bilingual from most other texts written in the script?

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⭐ Core Definition: Cypro-Minoan syllabary

The Cypro-Minoan script (CM) or Cypro-Minoan syllabary, is an undeciphered syllabary used on the island of Cyprus and at its trading partners during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (c. 1550 – c. 1050 BC). The term "Cypro-Minoan" was coined by Arthur Evans in 1909 based on its visual similarity to Linear A on Minoan Crete, from which CM is thought to be derived. Approximately 250 objects—such as clay balls, cylinders, and tablets which bear Cypro-Minoan inscriptions, have been found. Discoveries have been made at various sites around Cyprus, as well as in the ancient city of Ugarit on the Syrian coast. It is thought to be somehow related to the later Cypriot syllabary.

The Cypro-Minoan script was in use during the Late Cypriot period from the LC IA:2 period until the LC IIIA period or roughly from 1500 BC until 1150 BC. This is mainly based with the stratigraphy of the Kourion site but is in line with examples excavated at other sites.

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👉 Cypro-Minoan syllabary in the context of Cypriot syllabary

The Cypriot or Cypriote syllabary (also Classical Cypriot Syllabary) is a syllabic script used in Iron Age Cyprus, from about the 11th to the 4th centuries BCE, when it was replaced by the Greek alphabet. It has been suggested that the script remained in use as late as the 1st century BCE. A pioneer of that change was King Evagoras of Salamis. It is thought to be descended from the Cypro-Minoan syllabary, itself a variant or derivative of Linear A. Most texts using the script are in the Arcadocypriot dialect of Greek, but also one bilingual, the Amathus bilingual, a Greek and Eteocypriot, was found in Amathus.

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Cypro-Minoan syllabary in the context of Eteocypriot language

Eteocypriot is an extinct non-Indo-European language that was spoken in Cyprus by a non-Hellenic population during the Iron Age. The name means "true" or "original Cypriot" parallel to Eteocretan, both of which names are used by modern scholars to mean the non-Greek languages of those places. Eteocypriot was written in the Cypriot syllabary, a syllabic script derived from Linear A (via the Cypro-Minoan variant Linear C). The language was under pressure from Arcadocypriot Greek from about the 10th century BC and finally became extinct in about the 4th century BC.

The language is as yet unknown except for a small vocabulary attested in bilingual inscriptions. Such topics as syntax and possible inflection or agglutination remain an enigma. Partial translations depend to a large extent on the language or language group assumed by the translator, but there is no consistency.

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Cypro-Minoan syllabary in the context of Enkomi (archaeological site)

Enkomi (also Mallia) is a 2nd millennium BC archaeological site on the eastern coast of Cyprus a short distance from the village of Enkomi. The site appears to currently be under disputed governance. A number of Cypro-Minoan Script inscriptions were found there including the longest known clay tablet. It has been suggested that this city was the Alashiya of the Amarna letters and in texts from several areas of the ancient Near East. The site is known for the hundreds of rich tombs that have been excavated and for exceptional metallurgic finds like the Ingot God and the Horned God.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Cypriot syllabary ← Eteocypriot language ← Enkomi (archaeological site)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Syllabary → Cyprus → Late Bronze Age → Early Iron Age → Arthur Evans → Linear A → Minoan Crete → Clay tablet → Ugarit → Syria → Cypriot syllabary → Kourion →