Aegean Bronze Age Scripts

This series offers a basic introduction to the Aegean Bronze Age scripts, with particular focus on Linear B and what it can tell us about Mycenaean society. The course is intended for undergraduates taking Homeric Archaeology, Bronze Age & Early Iron Age Aegean and Minoan Crete, graduate students taking Scripts as an examined option (and any other grads who would like to sit in), and anyone generally interested in the scripts. Knowledge of Greek is not required and there is no need to sign up - just come along.

Undergraduates (and graduates)

The undergraduate part of the course runs in Weeks 1-4. Graduates should also attend this section, where we will set out the basics of what you need to know to study Linear B. Topics are as follows:

1. Introduction (overview of the scripts; decipherment of Linear B; basics)
2. Running a polity and running a palace: administration and political geography
3. The Mycenaean economy
4. Religion and banqueting

Graduates

The course will continue for graduate students in Weeks 5-8. We will identify as a group topics we wish to explore further, and students doing the Scripts option will be expected to make presentations. Topics treated in previous years include:

- Mycenaean land tenure
- Linear B ideograms
- the Pylos furniture tablets
- Mycenaean sealing systems
- Mycenaean weaponry and chariots

At some point there will be a handling session at the Ashmolean Museum, which has the largest collection of Minoan artefacts (including Linear B tablets from Knossos), outside Crete. Date and time tba.

Data last updated 23 January 2013 , 02:07 PM.

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