Trojan script is a series of signs of unknown origin found on vessels from Troy excavated by Heinrich Schliemann's expedition.[1] Their status is disputed.
Depiction of an inscription found on the terracotta vase by the royal palace.
While excavating Troy Heinrich Schliemann unearthed various objects he believed to depict a Trojan script. These include: a vase found within the royal palace, two terracotta seals, a red slate, and two clay spindle whorls.[2] He was especially interested in the text on the vase, which, according to Schliemann, contained a letter similar to the modern "P."[2] Schliemann initially attempted to translate the inscriptions based on the Cypriot syllabary.[3]Émile-Louis Burnouf, a leading orientalist, racialist, and friend of Schliemann during the time, believed these inscriptions represented an ancient Graeco-Asiatic alphabet. Professor Haug, another contemporary scholar, argued that the inscriptions were connected to the Phoenician alphabet and the Cypriot syllabary.[2]
Philologues attempted to transliterate the signs as Greek. Professor Haug attempted to translate the seal; he claimed to have read the words “ta.i.o.si.i.go.” Haug believed this meant “to the divine Sigo.” He argued that the deity “Sigo” appeared in the names of Sigeum, Scamander, and Sicyon. Austrian classical philologist Theodor Gomperz attempted to decipher this same inscription. Gomperz utilized the same method as Haug, however he chose to read the seal from right to left instead of from left to right. He claimed it translated to “to the divine commander." Gomperz went on to translate four more terracotta seals. However, other scholars were alarmed that perfect Greek had been found in Trojan inscriptions, and the inscriptions should predate the form of Greek which was used. Soon, these translations were soon revealed as erroneous; they had been based on a mistranslation of the Cypriot script. British AssyriologistArchibald Sayce attempted to read the translation utilizing more recent advancements in academic understanding of the Cypriot syllabary. Professor Sayce believed that the Trojan inscriptions were copies of a Babylonian script and were influenced by the Hittites.[4]
In 1994, Dr. Louis Godart, republished the inscriptions; he identified the script as Linear A. Dr. Cynthia W. Shelmerdine, an American classicist and archaeologist, considers this theory "highly unlikely." According to Dr. Shelmerdine, the signs found on the spindle whorls appear in numerous other ancient scripts and ornaments. Dr. Shelmerdine has argued that any analysis of the signs is problematic due to inability to analyze the original finds.[6]Dr. Paul MacKendrick argued they were written using Linear A to transcribe a dialect of the Luwian language.[7]
Another inscription in the Trojan script was found in Troy II.[3] Soviet historian of antiquity Nikolay Kazansky [ru; fr] found them much similar to Linear B signs,[1][8] while another Soviet historian, Arkady Molchanov [ru], regarded them as "imitation of writing".[citation needed] Archaeological analyses of the inscriptions have indicated that Troy III (2250–2100/2050 BCE) and Troy IV (2100/2050–2000/1950 BCE) predate Linear A, Troy V (2000/1950–1900/1850 BCE) coincides with linear A, and Troy II (2600/2550–2250 BCE) may be an intermediate link to Bronze Age societies such as the Usatove or Ezero cultures.[3]
Inscriptionsedit
Drawing by Soviet historian of antiquities Nikolay Kazansky which depicts a sample of the Trojan script
Inscription № 2445 is illegible and seems to have partly deteriorated; several signs may be identified as fragments of Linear A or Linear B signs but not as whole signs.[citation needed]
Dr. Paul MacKendrick claims that two of the spindle whorls can be read as "PI-MI-D/MI-D/TA." “PI-MI-D” can be translated as “Pimidas”, a personal name in the possessive genitive. “Pi” or “Piya” appears in many ancient Anatolian names such as Piyamarandu or Pissillis. Similarly, “MI-D/TA” appears frequently in ancient Anatolian names such as Mita, Mida, and Midas. In Luwian hieroglyphics the name “Mita” means “servant.” However, in this context it may refer to devoted servitude of a deity. “Puri(y)as” may be read as a noun in the nominative singular or plural form” It is possible that this word is a cognate with the Hittite word “Purpura,” meaning “dumpling” or “lump.” If “Puri(y)as” shares the same meaning, then the term may refer to the spindle whorl itself, which was made of a lump of clay. It is possible the entire sentence may be translated to read: “Pimidas’s spindle whorl” or perhaps as “The spindle whorl is Pimidas’s.”[7]
^ abcSchliemann, Heinrich; Smith, Philip; Schmitz, L. Dora (1875). Troy and its remains; a narrative of researches and discoveries made on the site of Ilium, and in the Trojan plain. Princeton Theological Seminary Library. London, J. Murray. pp. 23–24.
^ abcdMosenkis, Iurii. Trojan script: proto-Linear A of Anatolian Greeks?.
^Schliemann, Heinrich (1881). Ilios. The city and country of the Trojans. University of Michigan. New York, Harper & brothers.
^Mosenkis, Iurii. Trojan Greek inscriptions: Troy III 2150 BC and later.
^Gulizio, Joann; James, Sarah A.; Nakassis, Dimitri (2014-12-31). KE-RA-ME-JA: Studies Presented to Cynthia W. Shelmerdine. INSTAP Academic Press. p. 256. ISBN978-1-62303-357-6.
^ abMacKendrick, Paul Lachlan (1998). Qui Miscuit Utile Dulci: Festschrift Essays for Paul Lachlan MacKendrick. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers. pp. 52–56. ISBN978-0-86516-406-2.
^"ТРОЯНСКОЕ ПИСЬМО. К ПОСТАНОВКЕ ВОПРОСА". www.kladina.narod.ru. from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
Sourcesedit
Kazansky, NN. (1984). Троянское письмо: к постановке вопроса. In Bernstein, S.B.; Gindin, L.A.; Golubtsova, E.S.; I.A.; Orel, V.E. (eds.). Античная балканистика: Карпато-балканский регион в диахронии (Предварительные материалы к международному симпозиуму) (in Russian). (Includes images of inscriptions 2444 and 2445.)
Zurbach, Julien (2003). "Schriftähnlihe Zeichen und Töpferzeichen in Troia". Studia Troica (in German). 13: 113–130.
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trojan, script, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations,. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Trojan script news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Trojan script is a series of signs of unknown origin found on vessels from Troy excavated by Heinrich Schliemann s expedition 1 Their status is disputed Trojan scriptScript typeUndecipheredStatusExtinctLanguagesUnknown Contents 1 Analysis 2 Inscriptions 3 See also 4 References 4 1 SourcesAnalysis edit nbsp Depiction of an inscription found on the terracotta vase by the royal palace While excavating Troy Heinrich Schliemann unearthed various objects he believed to depict a Trojan script These include a vase found within the royal palace two terracotta seals a red slate and two clay spindle whorls 2 He was especially interested in the text on the vase which according to Schliemann contained a letter similar to the modern P 2 Schliemann initially attempted to translate the inscriptions based on the Cypriot syllabary 3 Emile Louis Burnouf a leading orientalist racialist and friend of Schliemann during the time believed these inscriptions represented an ancient Graeco Asiatic alphabet Professor Haug another contemporary scholar argued that the inscriptions were connected to the Phoenician alphabet and the Cypriot syllabary 2 Philologues attempted to transliterate the signs as Greek Professor Haug attempted to translate the seal he claimed to have read the words ta i o si i go Haug believed this meant to the divine Sigo He argued that the deity Sigo appeared in the names of Sigeum Scamander and Sicyon Austrian classical philologist Theodor Gomperz attempted to decipher this same inscription Gomperz utilized the same method as Haug however he chose to read the seal from right to left instead of from left to right He claimed it translated to to the divine commander Gomperz went on to translate four more terracotta seals However other scholars were alarmed that perfect Greek had been found in Trojan inscriptions and the inscriptions should predate the form of Greek which was used Soon these translations were soon revealed as erroneous they had been based on a mistranslation of the Cypriot script British Assyriologist Archibald Sayce attempted to read the translation utilizing more recent advancements in academic understanding of the Cypriot syllabary Professor Sayce believed that the Trojan inscriptions were copies of a Babylonian script and were influenced by the Hittites 4 nbsp Depiction of two of the spindle whorls 5 In 1994 Dr Louis Godart republished the inscriptions he identified the script as Linear A Dr Cynthia W Shelmerdine an American classicist and archaeologist considers this theory highly unlikely According to Dr Shelmerdine the signs found on the spindle whorls appear in numerous other ancient scripts and ornaments Dr Shelmerdine has argued that any analysis of the signs is problematic due to inability to analyze the original finds 6 Dr Paul MacKendrick argued they were written using Linear A to transcribe a dialect of the Luwian language 7 Another inscription in the Trojan script was found in Troy II 3 Soviet historian of antiquity Nikolay Kazansky ru fr found them much similar to Linear B signs 1 8 while another Soviet historian Arkady Molchanov ru regarded them as imitation of writing citation needed Archaeological analyses of the inscriptions have indicated that Troy III 2250 2100 2050 BCE and Troy IV 2100 2050 2000 1950 BCE predate Linear A Troy V 2000 1950 1900 1850 BCE coincides with linear A and Troy II 2600 2550 2250 BCE may be an intermediate link to Bronze Age societies such as the Usatove or Ezero cultures 3 Inscriptions edit nbsp Drawing by Soviet historian of antiquities Nikolay Kazansky which depicts a sample of the Trojan script Inscription 2444 may be read 3 ku pa a ro ma ku pa a ro ma Inscription 2445 is illegible and seems to have partly deteriorated several signs may be identified as fragments of Linear A or Linear B signs but not as whole signs citation needed Dr Paul MacKendrick claims that two of the spindle whorls can be read as PI MI D MI D TA PI MI D can be translated as Pimidas a personal name in the possessive genitive Pi or Piya appears in many ancient Anatolian names such as Piyamarandu or Pissillis Similarly MI D TA appears frequently in ancient Anatolian names such as Mita Mida and Midas In Luwian hieroglyphics the name Mita means servant However in this context it may refer to devoted servitude of a deity Puri y as may be read as a noun in the nominative singular or plural form It is possible that this word is a cognate with the Hittite word Purpura meaning dumpling or lump If Puri y as shares the same meaning then the term may refer to the spindle whorl itself which was made of a lump of clay It is possible the entire sentence may be translated to read Pimidas s spindle whorl or perhaps as The spindle whorl is Pimidas s 7 See also editAlphabets of Asia Minor Cypro Minoan syllabary Old European script Trojan language Teucer Undeciphered writing systemsReferences edit a b Kazansky 1984 a b c Schliemann Heinrich Smith Philip Schmitz L Dora 1875 Troy and its remains a narrative of researches and discoveries made on the site of Ilium and in the Trojan plain Princeton Theological Seminary Library London J Murray pp 23 24 a b c d Mosenkis Iurii Trojan script proto Linear A of Anatolian Greeks Schliemann Heinrich 1881 Ilios The city and country of the Trojans University of Michigan New York Harper amp brothers Mosenkis Iurii Trojan Greek inscriptions Troy III 2150 BC and later Gulizio Joann James Sarah A Nakassis Dimitri 2014 12 31 KE RA ME JA Studies Presented to Cynthia W Shelmerdine INSTAP Academic Press p 256 ISBN 978 1 62303 357 6 a b MacKendrick Paul Lachlan 1998 Qui Miscuit Utile Dulci Festschrift Essays for Paul Lachlan MacKendrick Bolchazy Carducci Publishers pp 52 56 ISBN 978 0 86516 406 2 TROYaNSKOE PISMO K POSTANOVKE VOPROSA www kladina narod ru Archived from the original on February 5 2024 Retrieved 2024 02 05 Sources edit Kazansky NN 1984 Troyanskoe pismo k postanovke voprosa In Bernstein S B Gindin L A Golubtsova E S I A Orel V E eds Antichnaya balkanistika Karpato balkanskij region v diahronii Predvaritelnye materialy k mezhdunarodnomu simpoziumu in Russian Includes images of inscriptions 2444 and 2445 Zurbach Julien 2003 Schriftahnlihe Zeichen und Topferzeichen in Troia Studia Troica in German 13 113 130 nbsp This writing system related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about the Ancient Greek language is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trojan script amp oldid 1218465912, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
