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Social and symbolic aspects of Minoan writing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

Helène Whittaker
Helène Whittaker*
Affiliation:
University of Tromsø, Norway
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Abstract

This article looks at the non-utilitarian functions of writing in Crete during the Palatial period. It argues that writing was used as a marker of status and prestige and that it was also used for communication with the divine. It also attempts to interpret what have usually been seen as isolated examples of writing systems as pseudo-writing.

Cet article se penche sur l'emploi non fonctionnel de l'écriture en Crète pendant la période palatiale. On prétend que l'écriture fut utilisée comme indicateur de statut et de prestige, de même que comme moyen de communication avec le monde divin. De plus, on essaie d'interpréter comme pseudoécriture ce qui jusqu'à présent a été considéré comme des systèmes d'écriture isolés.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Der Artikel beschäftigt sich mit den non-utilitaristischen Funktionen der Schrift während der kretischen Palast-Epoche. Er legt dar, dass Schrift als Marker von Status und Prestige sowie weiterhin auch für die Kommunikation mit der göttlichen Ebene genutzt wurde. Zudem versucht er, das, was gewöhnlich als isolierte Beispiele von Schriftsystemen angesehen worden ist, als Pseudo-Schrift zu interpretieren.

Keywords

Aegean Bronze AgeArkalochori axeCreteCretan HieroglyphicLinear ALinear BPhaistos discpseudo-writingâge du Bronze égéenhache de ArkalochoriCrètehiéroglyphes crétoislinéaire Alinéaire Bdisque de PhaistospseudoécritureÄgäische BronzezeitAxt von ArkalochoriKretakretische HieroglyphenLinear ALinear BDiskos von PhaistosPseudo-Schrift
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , 2005 , pp. 29 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 Sage Publications 

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