Online Book Review American Journal of Archaeology Vol. 113, No. 4

AJA Online Publications: Book Review

A Co m p a n i o n t o Li n e a r B: My c e n a e a n Gr e e k Te x t s a n d Th e i r Wo r l d . Vo l . 1

Edited by Yves Duhoux and Anna Morpurgo Davies. Pp. xi + 448, figs. 96, tables 5. Peeters, Louvain and Dudley, Mass. 2008. €55. ISBN 078-90-42-1848-1 (paper).

This volume has nine chapters written by with dictionaries, grammars, symposia, and specialists. Volume 2 is in preparation, and bibliographies (44–51). Her conclusion deals more may be coming (ix). An editorial note (xi) briefly with ambiguities in Mycenaean spelling warns that transcriptions of Linear B words (e.g., pa-te for both Greek πατήρ and πάντες). will vary (e.g., doelos and dohelos for do-e-ro); Chapter 3, “Chronology of the Linear B readers should take this warning broadly— Texts,” by Driessen (69–79), discusses the the book is aimed not at beginners but at the findspots of the tablets (76 [chart]). The bulk already well informed. of the Knossos material dates to the end of Chapter 1 (1–23), “The Decipherment Late Minoan (LM) IIIA2; from late LM/Late of Linear B,” by Pope, begins by giving a Helladic (LH) IIIB1 come the tablets from chronological sketch of the progress toward Khania, Pylos, and Tiryns; the Thebes and decipherment: Cowley, in 1927 (the words Mycenae documents come from two major for “total,” and “boys” and “girls”); Evans, periods (late LH IIIB1: Thebes Kadmeion and before 1935 (inflections); Kober, between 1945 Mycenae houses; at the end of LH IIIB: Thebes and 1950; and the first photographs of Pylos “Archives” and Pelopidou, and Mycenae cita- tablets, in 1939, and Bennett’s use of them, del). A short appendix updates us on the latest in 1951, to demonstrate that the Pylos and Mycenae document, new Thebes tablets, and Knossos documents used the same script. the near certainty that the Kafkania pebble is Bennett also devised the classification of signs a forgery (T. Palaima, “OL Zh 1,” Minos 37–38 and used logograms to classify the tablets. In [2002–2003] 373–85). 1952, Myres’ edition of Scripta Minoa (vol. 2 Chapter 4, “Mycenaean History,” by de [Oxford]) published the full Knossos corpus; Fidio (81–114), begins with a discussion of the in the same year, Ventris published his deci- chronology (82–5). Her section, “Coming of pherment after two years of collaboration with the Greeks” (85–7), concludes that though the scholars through mimeographed reports that, problem is “outdated,” still “[t]he dispersal of among other things, developed the grid (9–13 Indo-European dialects actually took place,” [fig. 2.2]). Pope describes the decipherment’s even though “the Greeks . . . did not ‘come,’ but merica confirmation by tablet PY Ta 641 (317–21), the ‘were formed’ in Greece only” (87 [emphasis development of a general interpretation (Docs1, original]). She then discusses the develop- Docs2), and the identification of complex syl- ment of Mycenaean civilization, starting with Online Book Review labograms (e.g., dwe, twe, nwa) (fig. 2.2c). the shaft graves. She puts the Mycenaeans in Chapter 2, “How to Begin?,” by Palmer Crete “at the end of LM IB” (94) but places the (25–68), tackles Linear B conventions: the destruction of Knossos at the end of LM IIIB nstitute of A I nstitute rchaeological tablets’ classifications, peculiarities of syllabo- so that Knossos may control the Khania tablets grams and logograms, and editing principles. (but see Driessen [70–2]). “International Rela- She describes the editorial process first in tions” (97–102) is a discussion of Egyptian and words (35–43) and then through illustrations Hittite texts. Her last section sketches the end of (66–8 [figs. 2.5–2.7]) that the beginning student Mycenaean culture, which she links to contem- opyright © 2009 by the A © 2009 by opyright

113.4 (October 2009) Journal of ArchaeologyAmerican C should study closely. Her last section deals porary crises in the Near East and Egypt. 2 American Journal of Archaeology Online Book Review service (contingents, service military and 194)]) (190–91, [Killen home at simple textile or garment [*146] probably made a and products,hides, agricultural of butions fulfilled two state obligations: taxation (contri (130–34; Killen [143]). People outside the palace the [345]); Duhoux see but Pylos, at Organisation” (127–35): the merdine (115–58), is first concerned with “State measure land in precise units of (the logogram “rateable,” or appraised, value (163). Thus, they cerning these landholdings are assessing their or in the “household” of the ferred to by profession or by their membership to the center. Landholders can be named or re close land on focus documents most though palace is interested in all land in the kingdom, The holder. the benefits it how and it, owns who land, on focuses then Killen complexes. palace large by dominated 5), n. (160 type” East: a “non-market, non-money, redistributive ancientNearthe of that to(159–200), itlikens coast watchersand600rowers). ( “benefit” a or land get workers to outside workers for finishing; in return, the talansia mothers. In the “allotment system” ( and workers (139–41), as women discusses briefly Family” she “The In slaves. also are workers” (i.e., women workers given rations) sumes that “groups of fully dependent textile ( god” the of “slaves unnamed and named landholders; and named unnamed workers sometimes listed by owner; ( Slaves ple. collapsed” (135). their increased status after the palatial system and survival their for both account “would which communities,” local from power their derived really officials “these Gerousia): and (Basileus times classical into survived that Geronsia Gwasileus ( service their ( private hold The scribes. and mayors); (provincial Damokoros the palace); the outside produced modities (a com for responsible those for “Collectors” term modern companions); (followers, land the of size the one-third controls who Wedaneus?), Pylos, (at lawagetas Chapter 5, “Mycenaean Society,” by Shel Society,”by “Mycenaean 5, Chapter Chapter 6, “Mycenaean Economy,” by Killen peo- ordinary discusses then Shelmerdine ), the palace distributes raw material material raw distributes palace the ), (duties not fully understood) are titles , the head of work groups, and the and groups, work of head the , (provincial governor); the governor); (provincial ( do-e-ro/ra ra-wa-ke-si-jo telos ki-ti-me-no ) to the wanax.” Finally,wanax.” the to ) the te-o-jo do-e-ro/ra te-o-jo o-ka, ) come in three types: types: three in come ) ) land “in return for return “in land ) wanax wanax ). Most tablets con tablets Most ). totaling some 800 800 some totaling wanax ( ’s; the ’s; wa-na-ka-te-ro (Ekhelawon o-no, onon o-no, ta-ra-si-ja, ). She as She ). lawagetas Heq Koreters Telestai w etai - - - ) - - - )

the palaces as gift exchanges (182–84), and he Killen speculates that exotic materials came to copper from Cyprus and tin from farther east. of ingots bronze, for and, furniture, for East Near the from ebony and ivory imported: be produced (e.g., wool for textiles), others had to locally were materials raw most While (177). finishing for specialists to these of allocations the and (189–90), materials raw necessary the (191–93), industries the state-controlled lists various He clear. this make not do tablets the but (173–74), resourcesstate of the within redistributionthe for be should it taxation; of on PY An 661). rowers assessed on PY Na 1027 and exempted ties. Exemptions could be made for service (e.g., assessed the taxes to be paid by their communi probably officials local provinces; two the for Pylos kingdom as a whole, then divided in half for) “wheat.” These appraisals are made for the for a variety of objects (211–13), but the authors wa-no glass (ingots on the Uluburun shipwreck), blue” “Egyptian of ubiquity the and seals), rarity of lapis lazuli in the Aegean (apart from eral; I mention a few concerns. Consideringgen are the discussions the of Most “weaved”). and “spinned” are (textiles perfect not is lish helpful and is the only chapter where the Eng be to curt too is (201–33), Luján and Bernabé MY V659)(butseeDuhoux[289–94]). presumably in exchange for service (PY Vn 851, women, and men to out given and 82) n. (193 mi-ni-ja state-controlled product, Killen cites a beds ( of example an As [164]). prince” (“crown the or 42) n. (176 Collectors the as the to related been have might been distributed have to palace personnel. Some would officials These furniture). goods, leather armor, (chariots, prestige and wealth with elite the provided that products plied = their containers,thestirrup jars(*210 and 267) and 1184,249 Fr (PYUn ingredients their of hear we perfume, the For finishers). of makers makers, headband (e.g., women mostly specialists, of hear we a-ro examples produced for export (“better” cloth, 649) and perfumed oil (on PY Fr 1231) serve as foreigners” [Duhoux (264)]). Cloth (on KN Ld termed goods, stored cites ka-ra-re-we Killen’s second part discusses the purpose Chapter 7, “Mycenaean Technology,” by by Technology,” “Mycenaean 7, Chapter Most of the state-controlled industries sup 2 -a (202–5) should be the latter. Horn is used , is reserved for palace use). For cloth, For use). palace for reserved is , ), which are made in palatial workshops ). ke-se-ni-wi-ja te-pa wanax cloth, and cloth, lawagetas VAS , such such , +KA (“for ku- de- - - - -

3 American Journal of Archaeology Online Book Review do not appreciate its suitability (smooth, strong a few: follow.discussions note individual I the tion, mentary on 44 texts. After a detailed introduc com- up-to-date an gives (243–397), Duhoux name oftheproducer. the present inscriptions one-word The (238). number” tracking or serial of sort “a lector, should represent the producer, place, and Col (or simply or (genitive) name personal + place-name + (nominative) name personal tive); the rest consist of a three-word formula: (nomina names personal single of consist to the mainland. Two-thirds of the inscriptions perfumed oil and exported from western Crete jars (capacity 12–14 liters) that were filled with stirrup inscribed IIIB LM 180 approximately by van Alfen (235–42), succinctly discusses the and dresses” (222[evidencenotcited]). harnesses and women with that of shoes, bags, that men are entrusted with the production of seems “[i]t leatherworkers, For it. like exactly the of detailed logogram *163 (fig. 7.9) spite that looks in (215) Dendra,” in found armour PY Sh 737) “similar to the magnificent bronze that there is nothing in the armor tablets (e.g., yet supple) for harness rigging. They also state 5. MY V 659 (women and daughters [289– daughters and (women 659 V MY 5. 4. KN Gg 702 (honey given to “all the gods” and Knossos by distributed (oil 1 Fp KN 3. delivered(oil 5451 Fh KN 2. from Amnisos 1. KN Ca 895 (254–56, horses and asses): Chapter 9, “Mycenaean Anthology,” byAnthology,” “Mycenaean 9, Chapter Chapter 8, “The Linear B Inscribed Vases,” 94]) is usually interpreted as females females as interpreted usually is 94]) may beaqueen. when modified or associated with a place, she but goddess, a is Potnia alone, of “Potnia to and he occupied later.” that place pre-eminent the yet not “had he oil, most the get not does Zeus since [257–61]): divinities to Amnisos worked onanannualbasis.” administration Mycenaean “the that for this year [256–57]): “this year” implies hypercorrection. ( Greek later in horse, from IE * wa ). This formula (cf. KN D series) ekwos híppos da-pu , becomes aspirated ), perhaps throughperhaps ), 2 -ri-to wa-na-ka-te-ro ” [262–64]): ” i-qo - - - ,

[email protected] lawrence, kansas 66045-7973 university 1445 jayhawk boulevard, 1032wescoe department ofclassics book. this have to need Aegeanists All B. Linear of summary of the present state of our knowledge thought tobeanenclitic“sonof.” *65 in ending names men’s several has also series Fq TH The exists. texts these in animals sacred claimed the of none named man a to given is barley (371–81), 130 Fq TH on And names. new gods claimed on the TH tablets are men’s ( god new a not name, man’s Thus, Greek. into transcription their in ambiguities great present they since caution with treated be wordsshould short circumstances forceit; gious interpretation should be avoided unless first relia approachingB: when Linear principles (349–61) presents Duhoux tablets, Fq 6. PY Ae 303 (14 slaves of the priestess “on priestess the of slaves PY(14 6. 303 Ae 8. PY Un 718 (banquet materials for Po for materials (banquet 718 Un PY 8. 7. PY Tn 316 (divinities getting gold vessels, In short, this is a valuable and informative TH three of discussion his Introducing je-re-ja when [295–96]): gold the of” account (also PY Vn851?). daughters their and workers women woman’s name, and the text simply lists quently, conse overseer?); female the of (name n. 87]), but the real heading is getting bedding ( tion for Homeric abbrevia “FAR”(acrophonic logogram *65 [342–47]): seidon po-re-na of the gold vessels, since there are fewer “bearers” not “victims,” as translated [321–35]): women and men, with the priestess at Pylos, (‘GRA’) andbarley(‘HORD’).” wheat from different pulse) or (cereal ma-ka ofkansas is not modified, this must be the be must this modified, not is (e.g., TH Fq 126, 361–71) is a is 361–71) 126, Fq TH (e.g., than vessels. da-mo de-mi-ni-ja , PY Eb297,see300–2). zeiaí de-mi-ni-ja ku-si e-ri-ta s rbby lo a also probably is ?); “some solid food ju , not to “dogs”— to not , J ju? (for her dispute n h o ? Ma Ga Ma is used as the the as used is ; this is now now is this ; ) (Killen [195 G. po-re-na wo-di-je-ja )—all the )—all Y n u o g is is r e i- - - - -