Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach

Francesco PERONO CACCIAFOCO; Niki Cassandra Min EU

doi:10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069

Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach

Francesco PERONO CACCIAFOCO^*
, Niki Cassandra Min EU

^*Corresponding author for this work

Nanyang Technological University

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

Linear A is the yet undeciphered Aegean writing system of the ancient Minoan civilization which flourished in Crete. Many attempts have been made to decipher Linear A, or connect it to a plausible language family, with limited success. The Indo-European connection to Linear A has been rigorously explored over time because of the Mycenean Greek encoded by its descendant writing system, Linear B. This paper proposes possible etymologies of place names in the Linear A script, following a hypothetical relationship to the Indo-European family of languages. We apply historical-phonetic methodologies and the comparative method in order
to analyze these plausible toponyms. Potential place names were determined using Linear B phonetic values to determine the phonetic equivalents of Linear A signs, and by examining the position of these sign clusters on various articles. This paper does not attempt to connect Linear A to a language family – rather, it explores the hypothetical connections that could be drawn, the reconstructions we could make, and aims to contribute to the current debate and discussion around Minoan toponymy.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS)
Editors	Urszula BIJAK, Paweł SWOBODA, Justyna B. WALKOWIAK
Place of Publication	Kraków, Poland
Publisher	Jagiellonian University Press
Pages	405-418
Number of pages	13
Volume	1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics)
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-83-233-7502-9, 978-83-233-7501-2
ISBN (Print)	978-83-233-5305-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069
Publication status	Published - 20 Dec 2023
Event	27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS): ICOS Kraków 2021 - Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland Duration: 22 Aug 2021 → 27 Aug 2021 Conference number: 27 https://icos2020.ijp.pan.pl/

Conference

Conference	27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS)
Abbreviated title	ICOS 2021
Country/Territory	Poland
City	Kraków
Period	22/08/21 → 27/08/21
Internet address	https://icos2020.ijp.pan.pl/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 15 Life on Land

Keywords

Linear A
Toponymy
Language Deciphering
Minoan
Proto-Indo-European

Access to Document

10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

PERONO CACCIAFOCO, F., & EU, N. C. M. (2023). Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach. In U. BIJAK, P. SWOBODA, & J. B. WALKOWIAK (Eds.), Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) (1 ed., Vol. 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics), pp. 405-418). Jagiellonian University Press. https://doi.org/10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069

PERONO CACCIAFOCO, Francesco ; EU, Niki Cassandra Min. / Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete : An Etymological Approach. Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS). editor / Urszula BIJAK ; Paweł SWOBODA ; Justyna B. WALKOWIAK. Vol. 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics) 1. ed. Kraków, Poland : Jagiellonian University Press, 2023. pp. 405-418

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title = "Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach",

abstract = "Linear A is the yet undeciphered Aegean writing system of the ancient Minoan civilization which flourished in Crete. Many attempts have been made to decipher Linear A, or connect it to a plausible language family, with limited success. The Indo-European connection to Linear A has been rigorously explored over time because of the Mycenean Greek encoded by its descendant writing system, Linear B. This paper proposes possible etymologies of place names in the Linear A script, following a hypothetical relationship to the Indo-European family of languages. We apply historical-phonetic methodologies and the comparative method in order to analyze these plausible toponyms. Potential place names were determined using Linear B phonetic values to determine the phonetic equivalents of Linear A signs, and by examining the position of these sign clusters on various articles. This paper does not attempt to connect Linear A to a language family {\textendash} rather, it explores the hypothetical connections that could be drawn, the reconstructions we could make, and aims to contribute to the current debate and discussion around Minoan toponymy.",

keywords = "Linear A, Toponymy, Language Deciphering, Minoan, Proto-Indo-European",

author = "\{PERONO CACCIAFOCO\}, Francesco and EU, \{Niki Cassandra Min\}",

note = "PERONO CACCIAFOCO, Francesco, and Niki Cassandra Min EU. (2023). Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach. In BIJAK, Urszula, and Pawe{\l} SWOBODA, Justyna B. WALKOWIAK. (2023). Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS), Volume 1: Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics. Krak{\'o}w: Jagiellonian University Press: 405-418; 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS) : ICOS Krak{\'o}w 2021, ICOS 2021 ; Conference date: 22-08-2021 Through 27-08-2021",

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PERONO CACCIAFOCO, F & EU, NCM 2023, Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach. in U BIJAK, P SWOBODA & JB WALKOWIAK (eds), Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS). 1 edn, vol. 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics), Jagiellonian University Press, Kraków, Poland, pp. 405-418, 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS), Kraków, Poland, 22/08/21. https://doi.org/10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069

Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach. / PERONO CACCIAFOCO, Francesco; EU, Niki Cassandra Min.
Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS). ed. / Urszula BIJAK; Paweł SWOBODA; Justyna B. WALKOWIAK. Vol. 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics) 1. ed. Kraków, Poland: Jagiellonian University Press, 2023. p. 405-418.

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Proceeding › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete

T2 - 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS)

AU - PERONO CACCIAFOCO, Francesco

AU - EU, Niki Cassandra Min

N1 - Conference code: 27

PY - 2023/12/20

Y1 - 2023/12/20

N2 - Linear A is the yet undeciphered Aegean writing system of the ancient Minoan civilization which flourished in Crete. Many attempts have been made to decipher Linear A, or connect it to a plausible language family, with limited success. The Indo-European connection to Linear A has been rigorously explored over time because of the Mycenean Greek encoded by its descendant writing system, Linear B. This paper proposes possible etymologies of place names in the Linear A script, following a hypothetical relationship to the Indo-European family of languages. We apply historical-phonetic methodologies and the comparative method in order to analyze these plausible toponyms. Potential place names were determined using Linear B phonetic values to determine the phonetic equivalents of Linear A signs, and by examining the position of these sign clusters on various articles. This paper does not attempt to connect Linear A to a language family – rather, it explores the hypothetical connections that could be drawn, the reconstructions we could make, and aims to contribute to the current debate and discussion around Minoan toponymy.

AB - Linear A is the yet undeciphered Aegean writing system of the ancient Minoan civilization which flourished in Crete. Many attempts have been made to decipher Linear A, or connect it to a plausible language family, with limited success. The Indo-European connection to Linear A has been rigorously explored over time because of the Mycenean Greek encoded by its descendant writing system, Linear B. This paper proposes possible etymologies of place names in the Linear A script, following a hypothetical relationship to the Indo-European family of languages. We apply historical-phonetic methodologies and the comparative method in order to analyze these plausible toponyms. Potential place names were determined using Linear B phonetic values to determine the phonetic equivalents of Linear A signs, and by examining the position of these sign clusters on various articles. This paper does not attempt to connect Linear A to a language family – rather, it explores the hypothetical connections that could be drawn, the reconstructions we could make, and aims to contribute to the current debate and discussion around Minoan toponymy.

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KW - Toponymy

KW - Language Deciphering

KW - Minoan

KW - Proto-Indo-European

UR - https://icos2020.ijp.pan.pl/

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DO - 10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069

M3 - Conference Proceeding

SN - 978-83-233-5305-8

VL - 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics)

SP - 405

EP - 418

BT - Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science

A2 - BIJAK, Urszula

A2 - SWOBODA, Paweł

A2 - WALKOWIAK, Justyna B.

PB - Jagiellonian University Press

CY - Kraków, Poland

Y2 - 22 August 2021 through 27 August 2021

ER -

PERONO CACCIAFOCO F, EU NCM. Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach. In BIJAK U, SWOBODA P, WALKOWIAK JB, editors, Onomastics in Interaction with Other Branches of Science: Proceedings of the 27th International Congress of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS). 1 ed. Vol. 1 (Keynote Lectures, Toponomastics). Kraków, Poland: Jagiellonian University Press. 2023. p. 405-418 doi: 10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18069

Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Giving Voice to the Minoan People: The Decipherment of Linear A

Are the Minoan Linear A PK Za 4–PK Za 18 libation invocations in Anatolian proto-Greek?

Minoan and the Machines: Computational Approaches to the Decipherment of Linear A

The Lonely Life of a Glyph-breaker

Decoding the lost scripts of the ancient world

Giving Back to the Minoan People Their Own Voice: How to Be Awarded with a Research Grant on Language Deciphering and Successfully Manage It

It's All Indo-European: A New Interpretation of Minoan Toponymy

Cite this

Indo-European Toponymy in Minoan Crete: An Etymological Approach

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Giving Voice to the Minoan People: The Decipherment of Linear A

Research output

Are the Minoan Linear A PK Za 4–PK Za 18 libation invocations in Anatolian proto-Greek?

Minoan and the Machines: Computational Approaches to the Decipherment of Linear A

The Lonely Life of a Glyph-breaker

Activities

Decoding the lost scripts of the ancient world

Giving Back to the Minoan People Their Own Voice: How to Be Awarded with a Research Grant on Language Deciphering and Successfully Manage It

It's All Indo-European: A New Interpretation of Minoan Toponymy

Cite this