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Eteocretan language - Known inscriptions

Eteocretan language - Known inscriptions: Encyclopedia II - Eteocretan language - Known inscriptions

Dreros 1 1: ---rmaw|et|isalabre|komn 2: ---d|men|inai|isaluria|lmo 3: ----tonturonmēa.oaoiewad 4: eturo---munadoa-enē-- 5: --matritaia-- Part of the inscription (lines 3 to 5) is written in Greek, probably the Doric dialect. Due to the lack of preservation of many of the words, it is difficult to ascertain what even the Greek text is saying. It has been pointed out that <ewade> ...

Eteocretan language: Encyclopedia II - Eteocretan language - Known inscriptions

Eteocretan language - Known inscriptions

Dreros 1

Part of the inscription (lines 3 to 5) is written in Greek, probably the Doric dialect. Due to the lack of preservation of many of the words, it is difficult to ascertain what even the Greek text is saying. It has been pointed out that <ewade> (lines 3-4) may be "it is decided". Another suggestion is that <turon> (line 4) and <ton turon> (line 3) refers to "goat cheese" which is further connected to what are believed to be Pelasgian words for 'goat' found in various forms in Greek dialects (ιξάλη, ιζάλη, ιζάνη, ισάλη, ισσέλα, ιτθέλα, ισθλη, ισσέλη) showing a goat-like root *it^sala which is perhaps present in Eteocretan <isalabre> (line 1) and <isaluria> (line 2). The word <inai> is found also on the Praisos 2 artifact on line 2 and may be a verb (cf. Etruscan <en-aš> and <en-iac-a>).

Dreros 2

The following inscription was published by Henri van effenterre in Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 70, 1946 (Paris), pages 602 & 603. The artifact originates from the Delphinion in Dreros and contains an inscription written on a long block made from grey schist. It is not preserved in entirety and so there are chips on either end of the artifact that obscure the text. Parts of the artifact have been lost but thankfully we at least have what was recorded before its disappearance.

1: --S|TUPRMĒRIĒIAomo 2: saidaperenorkioisi|a-- 3: --kaθarongenoito

The text is in fact a bilingual inscription. Part of the text is recognizably Doric Greek, and so there is hope that the Eteocretan text at least partially repeat similar notions. The Greek section of the text was written above in miniscule letters and is translated thus:

Ομοσαι δαπερ Ενορκίοισι. Omosai d-haper Enorkioisi. But may he swear [these] very things to the Oath-Keepers (aka 'the gods'). Α.... καθαρον γένοιτο. A---- kaθaron genoito. … may it become pure.

The Eteocretan text is much shorter suggesting that it is merely a summary of the Greek text:

--S|TUPRMĒRIĒIA

Praisos 1

1: --nkalmitke 2: os barze a-- o-- 3: --ark-agset med- 4: arkrkokles de--- 5: --asegdnanit

Praisos 2

1: --onadesimetepimitsφa 2: --do--iaralaφraisoiinai vac. 3: --restnmtorasardoφsano 4: --satoissteφ-satiun vac. 5: -animestepaluneutat vac. 6: -sanomoselosφraisona 7: --tsaadoφtena-- 8: --maprainaireri-- 9: --ireirereie--- 10: --nrirano-- 11: --askes-- 12: --i-t-- 13: ---

What is intriguing about this longer text is its evident mention of the city of Praisos, showing differing inflections as well. We see this city's name on line 2 (<φraiso-i> 'in Praisos') and again on line 6 (<φraiso-na> 'of Praisos').

Praisos 3

1: -x-nnumit 2: --atarkomn 3: ---ēdēsdea 4: --sōpeirari 5: --en tasetwseu 6: --nnasiroukles 7: --irermēiamarφ 8: --eirerφinasdan 9: --mamdedikark 10: --risrairariφ 11: ---nneikarx 12: --taridoēi 13: --enba 14: --dnas 15: ----- 16: ---

Praisos 4

1:----uo-- 2:---oit||s-- 3:--φ|ras|--- 4:---is--

Praisos 5

1: --artia-- 2: --e-at-- 3: -----a-- 4: --θert--- 5: vacat 6: --kosa-- 7: --tern-- 8: --komne-- 9: --atate-- 10: --dears-- 11: vacat

Praisos 6

1: --ea-- 2: --arr--- 3: vacat