Mycenaean Greek

This article is about the Greek language as spoken in the Late Bronze Age. For the later dialect used in Achaea and the Peloponnese, see Achaean Doric Greek.

Mycenaean Greek
𐘚𐀫 𐀂𐀫
Pronunciation	[ˈiːɾŏ]
Region	Southern Balkans/Crete
Era	16th–12th century BC
Language family	Indo-European Hellenic Greek Mycenaean Greek
Writing system	Linear B
Language codes
ISO 639-3	gmy
Linguist List	gmy
Glottolog	myce1242
Map of Greece as described in Homer's Iliad. The geographical data is believed to refer primarily to Bronze Age Greece, when Mycenaean Greek would have been spoken, and so can be used as an estimator of the range.

Mycenaean Greek is the most ancient attested form of the Greek language, on the Greek mainland and Crete in Mycenaean Greece (16th to 12th centuries BC), before the hypothesised Dorian invasion, often cited as the terminus ad quem for the introduction of the Greek language to Greece. The language is preserved in inscriptions in Linear B, a script first attested on Crete before the 14th century BC. Most inscriptions are on clay tablets found in Knossos, in central Crete, as well as in Pylos, in the southwest of the Peloponnese. Other tablets have been found at Mycenae itself, Tiryns and Thebes and at Chania, in Western Crete. The language is named after Mycenae, one of the major centres of Mycenaean Greece.

The tablets long remained undeciphered, and many languages were suggested for them, until Michael Ventris, building on the extensive work of Alice Kober, deciphered the script in 1952.

The texts on the tablets are mostly lists and inventories. No prose narrative survives, much less myth or poetry. Still, much may be glimpsed from these records about the people who produced them and about Mycenaean Greece, the period before the so-called Greek Dark Ages.

Orthography

Inscription of Mycenaean Greek written in Linear B. Archaeological Museum of Mycenae.

Further information: Linear B

The Mycenaean language is preserved in Linear B writing, which consists of about 200 syllabic characters and ideograms. Since Linear B was derived from Linear A, the script of an undeciphered Minoan language, the sounds of Mycenaean are not fully represented. A limited number of syllabic characters must represent a much greater number of syllables used in spoken speech: in particular, the Linear B script only fully represents open syllables (those ending in vowel sounds), where Mycenaean Greek frequently used closed syllables (those ending in consonants).

Orthographic simplifications therefore had to be made:

• Contrasts of voice and aspiration were not marked for any consonants except the dentals d, t. For example, 𐀁𐀒, e-ko may be either egō ("I") or ekhō ("I have").
• r and l are not distinguished: 𐀣𐀯𐀩𐀄, qa-si-re-u is gʷasileus (classical βασιλεύς basileús "king").
• The rough breathing /h/ is generally not indicated: 𐀀𐀛𐀊, a-ni-ja is hāniai ("reins"). However, 𐁀, a₂ is optionally used to indicate ha at word beginning.
• The consonants l, m, n, r, s are omitted at the end of a syllable or before another consonant (including word-initial s before a consonant): 𐀞𐀲, pa-ta is panta ("all"); 𐀏𐀒, ka-ko is khalkos ("copper"), 𐀲𐀵𐀗, ta-to-mo is σταθμός stathmós ("station, outpost").
• Double consonants are not represented: 𐀒𐀜𐀰, ko-no-so is Knōsos (classical Knossos).
• Other consonant clusters are dissolved orthographically, creating apparent vowels: 𐀡𐀵𐀪𐀚, po-to-ri-ne is ptolin (Ancient Greek: πόλιν pólin or πτόλιν ptólin, "city" accusative case).
• Length of vowels is not marked.

Certain characters can be used alternately: for example, 𐀀, a, can always be written wherever 𐁀, a₂, can. However, these are not true homophones (characters with the same sound) because the correspondence does not necessarily work both ways: 𐁀, a₂ cannot necessarily be used in place of 𐀀, a. For that reason, they are referred to as 'overlapping values': signs such as 𐁀, a₂ are interpreted as special cases or 'restricted applications' of signs such as 𐀀, a, and their use as largely a matter of an individual scribe's preference.

Phonology

Warrior wearing a boar's tusk helmet, from a Mycenaean chamber tomb in the Acropolis of Athens, 14th–13th century BC.

Type		Bilabial	Dental	Palatal	Velar		Glottal
					central	lab.
Nasal		m	n
Stop	voiceless	p	t	ts*	k	kʷ
	voiced	b	d	dz*	ɡ	ɡʷ
	aspirated	pʰ	tʰ		kʰ	kʰʷ
Fricative			s				h
Approximant				j		w
Trill			r
Lateral			l

Mycenaean preserves some archaic Proto-Indo-European and Proto-Greek features not present in later ancient Greek:

• labialized velar consonants [ɡʷ, kʷ, kʷʰ], written ⟨q⟩. In other ancient Greek varieties, labialized velars were replaced with labials /b, p, pʰ/, dentals /d, t, tʰ/, or velars /ɡ k kʰ/, depending on the context and the dialect. For example, 𐀦𐀄𐀒𐀫, qo-u-ko-ro is gʷoukoloi (classical βουκόλοι boukóloi, "cowherds").

• The semivowels /j w/. Both were lost in standard Attic Greek, although /w/ was preserved in some Greek dialects and written as digamma ⟨ϝ⟩ or beta ⟨β⟩.

• The glottal fricative /h/ between vowels.

The consonant usually transcribed z probably represents *dy, initial *y, *ky, *gy. It is uncertain how it was pronounced. It may have represented a pair of voiceless and voiced affricates /ts/ and /dz/ (marked with asterisks in the table above): /ts/ deriving from Pre-Greek clusters of a voiceless or voiceless aspirated velar stop + *y (*ky, *kʰy, *kʷy, kʷʰy) and corresponding to -ττ- or -σσ- in Greek varieties written in the Greek alphabet, and /dz/ deriving from Pre-Greek clusters of a voiced dental or velar stop + *y (*dy, *gy, *ɡʷy), or in certain instances from word-initial *y, and corresponding to ζ in the Greek alphabet.

There were at least five vowels /a e i o u/, which could be both short and long.

As noted above, the syllabic Linear B script used to record Mycenaean is extremely defective and distinguishes only the semivowels ⟨j w⟩; the sonorants ⟨m n r⟩; the sibilant ⟨s⟩; the stops ⟨p t d k q z⟩; and (marginally) ⟨h⟩. Voiced, voiceless and aspirate occlusives are all written with the same symbols except that ⟨d⟩ stands for /d/ and ⟨t⟩ for both /t/ and /tʰ/). Both /r/ and /l/ are written ⟨r⟩; /h/ is unwritten unless followed by /a/.

The length of vowels and consonants is not notated. In most circumstances, the script is unable to notate a consonant not followed by a vowel. Either an extra vowel is inserted (often echoing the quality of the following vowel), or the consonant is omitted. (See above for more details.)

Thus, determining the actual pronunciation of written words is often difficult, and using a combination of the PIE etymology of a word, its form in later Greek and variations in spelling is necessary. Even so, for some words the pronunciation is not known exactly, especially when the meaning is unclear from context, or the word has no descendants in the later dialects.

Morphology

Nouns likely decline for 7 cases: nominative, genitive, accusative, dative, vocative, instrumental and locative; 3 genders: masculine, feminine, neuter; and 3 numbers: singular, dual, plural. The last two cases had merged with other cases by Classical Greek. In Modern Greek, only nominative, accusative, genitive and vocative remain as separate cases with their own morphological markings. Adjectives agree with nouns in case, gender, and number.

Verbs probably conjugate for 3 tenses: past, present, future; 3 aspects: perfect, perfective, imperfective; 3 numbers: singular, dual, plural; 4 moods: indicative, imperative, subjunctive, optative; 3 voices: active, middle, passive; 3 persons: first, second, third; infinitives, and verbal adjectives.

The verbal augment is almost entirely absent from Mycenaean Greek with only one known exception, 𐀀𐀟𐀈𐀐, a-pe-do-ke (PY Fr 1184), but even that appears elsewhere without the augment, as 𐀀𐀢𐀈𐀐, a-pu-do-ke (KN Od 681). The augment is sometimes omitted in Homer.

Greek features

Main article: Proto-Greek language

Mycenaean had already undergone the following sound changes particular to the Greek language and so is considered to be Greek:

Phonological changes

• Initial and intervocalic *s to /h/.
• Voiced aspirates devoiced.
• Syllabic liquids to /ar, al/ or /or, ol/; syllabic nasals to /a/ or /o/.
• *kj and *tj to /s/ before a vowel.
• Initial *j to /h/ or replaced by z (exact value unknown, possibly [dz]).
• *gj and *dj to /z/.
• *-ti to /-si/ (also found in Attic-Ionic, Arcadocypriot, and Lesbian, but not Doric, Boeotian, or Thessalian).

Morphological changes

• The use of -eus to produce agent nouns
• The third-person singular ending -ei
• The infinitive ending -ein, contracted from -e-en

Lexical items

• Uniquely Greek words:
  • 𐀣𐀯𐀩𐀄, qa-si-re-u, *gʷasiléus (later Greek: βασιλεύς, basiléus, "king")
  • 𐀏𐀒, ka-ko, *kʰalkós (later Greek: χαλκός, chalkos, "bronze")
• Greek forms of words known in other languages:
  • 𐀷𐀙𐀏, wa-na-ka, *wánaks (later Greek: ἄναξ, ánax, "overlord, king, leader")
  • 𐀷𐀙𐀭, wa-na-sa, *wánassa (later Greek: ἄνασσα, ánassa, "queen")
  • 𐀁𐀨𐀺, e-ra-wo or 𐀁𐁉𐀺, e-rai-wo, *élaiwon (later Greek: ἔλαιον, élaion, "olive oil")
  • 𐀳𐀃, te-o, *tʰehós (later Greek: θεός, theos, "god")
  • 𐀴𐀪𐀡, ti-ri-po, *tripos (later Greek: τρίπους, tripous, "tripod")

Comparison with Ancient (Homeric) Greek

Translation of the first 100 lines of the Iliad into Mycenaean Greek

Line	Mycenaean Greek (Linear B script)	Transliteration of Mycenaean Greek	Homeric Greek (Greek alphabet: modern orthography)	Transliteration of Homeric Greek
1	𐀗𐀛𐄁𐀀𐀸𐀆𐄁𐀳𐀀𐄁𐀟𐀩𐀷𐀆𐀃𐀍𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀺𐄁	Monin aweyde Tʰeha Pelewadeohyo Akʰilēwos	Μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος	Mênin áeide theà Pēlēïádeō Akhilêos
2	𐀃𐀫𐀕𐀙𐄁𐁀𐀘𐀹𐀊𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀊𐄁𐀁𐀳𐀐𐄁	olomenān, hā=murwia Akʰaywoys algya etʰēke,	οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε᾽ ἔθηκε,	ouloménēn, hḕ murí᾽ Akhaioîs álge᾽ éthēke,
3	𐀡𐀩𐀷𐀆𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀴𐀗𐄁𐀢𐀱𐀏𐄁𐀀𐀹𐀅𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀊𐀟𐀮𐄁	polewas=de ipʰtʰimons psūkʰans Awidāy proyapse	πολλὰς δ᾽ ἰφθίμους ψυχὰς Ἄϊδι προΐαψεν	pollàs d’ iphthímous psukhàs Áïdi proḯapsen
4	𐀁𐀫𐀺𐄁𐁂𐀵𐀆𐄁𐀸𐀫𐀨𐄁𐀳𐀄𐀐𐄁𐀓𐀯𐄁	hērōwōn, awtons=de welōra tewkʰe kunsi	ἡρώων, αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν	hērṓōn, autoùs dè helṓria teûkhe kúnessin
5	𐀃𐀺𐀜𐀂𐀤𐄁𐀞𐀯𐄁𐀇𐀺𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀤𐀩𐀁𐀵𐄁𐀦𐀨𐄁	oywonoyhi=kʷe pansi, Diwos=de ekʷeleeto gʷōlā,	οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι, Διὸς δ᾽ ἐτελείετο βουλή,	oiōnoîsí te pâsi, Diòs d᾽ eteleíeto boulḗ,
6	𐀁𐀐𐀰𐀍𐄁𐀆𐄁𐀲𐀡𐀫𐀷𐀲𐄁𐀇𐀹𐀀𐀂𐀲𐀲𐄁𐀁𐀪𐀭𐀳𐄁	eks=hohyo dē tā≈prōwata dwiahistātān erisante	ἐξ οὗ δὴ τὰ πρῶτα διαστήτην ἐρίσαντε	ex hoû dḕ tà prôta diastḗtēn erísante
7	𐀀𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐀤𐄁𐀷𐀙𐀏𐄁𐀀𐀈𐀫𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀇𐀺𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀄𐄁	Atrewidās=kʷe wanaks andrōn kas diwos Akʰilews.	Ἀτρεΐδης τε ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν καὶ δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς.	Atreḯdēs te ánax andrôn kaì dîos Akhilleús.
8	𐀥𐀤𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀸𐄁𐀳𐀃𐄁𐀁𐀪𐀆𐄁𐀓𐀱𐀚𐀋𐀐𐄁𐀔𐀐𐀲𐄁	Kʷis=kʷe ar=spʰōwe tʰehōn eridey ksuneyēke makʰestʰay;	Τίς τ᾽ ἄρ σφωε θεῶν ἔριδι ξυνέηκε μάχεσθαι;	Tís t᾽ ár sphōe theôn éridi xunéēke mákhesthai;
9	𐀨𐀵𐀺𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀇𐀺𐄁𐀄𐀍𐄁𐀍𐀒𐄁𐀣𐀯𐀩𐀹𐄁𐀒𐀫𐀳𐄁	Lātows kas Diwos huyos: yo=gor gʷasilēwi kʰolotʰēns	Λητοῦς καὶ Διὸς υἱός: ὃ γὰρ βασιλῆϊ χολωθεὶς	Lētoûs kaì Diòs huiós: hò gàr basilêï kholōtheìs
10	𐀜𐀺𐄁𐀃𐀙𐄁𐀵𐀫𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀮𐄁𐀏𐀏𐄁𐀃𐀩𐀒𐀵𐀆𐄁𐀨𐀺𐀂𐄁	noswon ona stroton orse kakān, olekonto=de lāwoy,	νοῦσον ἀνὰ στρατὸν ὄρσε κακήν, ὀλέκοντο δὲ λαοί,	noûson anà stratòn órse kakḗn, olékonto dè laoí,
11	𐀃𐀄𐀁𐀚𐀏𐄁𐀵𐄁𐀓𐀬𐀭𐄁𐀀𐀁𐀥𐀔𐀮𐄁𐀀𐀷𐀳𐀨𐄁	oyu=eneka ton Kʰrūsān aekʷīmase arwātēra	οὕνεκα τὸν Χρύσην ἠτίμασεν ἀρητῆρα	hoúneka tòn Khrúsēn ētímasen arētêra
12	𐀀𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐄁𐀍𐀒𐄁𐀁𐀬𐀳𐄁𐀵𐀷𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀙𐀷𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	Atrewidās: yo=gor elutʰe tʰowans ipi≈nāwas Akʰaywōn	Ἀτρεΐδης: ὃ γὰρ ἦλθε θοὰς ἐπὶ νῆας Ἀχαιῶν	Atreḯdēs: hò gàr êlthe thoàs epì nêas Akhaiôn
13	𐀬𐀰𐀕𐀜𐀤𐄁𐀶𐀏𐀲𐀨𐄁𐀠𐀫𐀜𐀰𐀤𐄁𐀀𐀠𐀷𐀯𐀊𐄁𐀀𐀦𐀙𐄁	lūsomenos=kʷe tʰugatra pʰirōns=kʷe apirwasia akʷoyna,	λυσόμενός τε θύγατρα φέρων τ᾽ ἀπερείσι᾽ ἄποινα,	lusómenós te thúgatra phérōn t᾽ apereísi᾽ ápoina,
14	𐀴𐀡𐀗𐀲𐄁𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀂𐀐𐀯𐄁𐀸𐀏𐀦𐀫𐀍𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐀜𐄁	stipʰmota hekʰons in=kʰehrsi hwekagʷolohyo Apollōnos	στέμματ᾽ ἔχων ἐν χερσὶν ἑκηβόλου Ἀπόλλωνος	stémmat᾽ ékhōn en khersìn hekēbólou Apóllōnos
15	𐀓𐀬𐀮𐀃𐄁𐀃𐀙𐄁𐀏𐀡𐀵𐀫𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀪𐀮𐀵𐄁𐀞𐀲𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	kʰrūseōy ona skāptrōy, kas lisseto pantas Akʰaywons,	χρυσέῳ ἀνὰ σκήπτρῳ, καὶ λίσσετο πάντας Ἀχαιούς,	khruséōi anà skḗptrōi, kaì lísseto pántas Akhaioús,
16	𐀀𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐀆𐄁𐀗𐀪𐀲𐄁𐀉𐀺𐄁𐀒𐀕𐀵𐀩𐄁𐀨𐀺𐄁	Atrewidā=de molista duwō, kosmētore lāwōn:	Ἀτρεΐδα δὲ μάλιστα δύω, κοσμήτορε λαῶν:	Atreḯda dè málista dúō, kosmḗtore laôn:
17	𐀀𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐀤𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀀𐀫𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀏𐀙𐀖𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	Atrewidāy=kʷe kas alloy ehuknāmides Akʰaywoy,	Ἀτρεΐδαι τε καὶ ἄλλοι ἐϋκνήμιδες Ἀχαιοί,	Atreḯdai te kaì álloi eüknḗmides Akhaioí,
18	𐀄𐀖𐄁𐀕𐄁𐀳𐀃𐄁𐀈𐀋𐄁𐀃𐀬𐀠𐀊𐄁𐀈𐀔𐀲𐄁𐀁𐀒𐀳𐄁	umi≈men tʰehoy doyen Olumpia dōmata hekʰontes	ὑμῖν μὲν θεοὶ δοῖεν Ὀλύμπια δώματ᾽ ἔχοντες	humîn mèn theoì doîen Olúmpia dṓmat᾽ ékhontes
19	𐀁𐀑𐀠𐀭𐄁𐀠𐀪𐀀𐀗𐀍𐄁𐀡𐀪𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀆𐄁𐀺𐀏𐀆𐄁𐀂𐀐𐀲𐄁	ek=pirsay Priamohyo polin, ehu=de woykade hikestʰay:	ἐκπέρσαι Πριάμοιο πόλιν, εὖ δ᾽ οἴκαδ᾽ ἱκέσθαι:	ekpérsai Priámoio pólin, eû d᾽ oíkad᾽ hikésthai:
20	𐀞𐀹𐀅𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀗𐄁𐀬𐀭𐀳𐄁𐀠𐀨𐄁𐀲𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀦𐀙𐄁𐀆𐀐𐀲𐄁	pawida=de emoy lusayte pʰilān, ta=de akʷoyna dekestʰay,	παῖδα δ᾽ ἐμοὶ λύσαιτε φίλην, τὰ δ᾽ ἄποινα δέχεσθαι,	paîda d᾽ emoì lúsaite phílēn, tà d᾽ ápoina dékhesthai,
21	𐀊𐀿𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀇𐀺𐄁𐀄𐀍𐄁𐀸𐀏𐀦𐀫𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐀙𐄁	yazomenoy Diwos huyon hwekagʷolon Apollōna.	ἁζόμενοι Διὸς υἱὸν ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωνα.	hazómenoi Diòs huiòn hekēbólon Apóllōna.
22	𐀁𐀲𐀀𐀫𐀕𐄁𐀞𐀲𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀄𐀞𐀔𐀭𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	Entʰa≈alloy≈men pantes ipihupʰāmāsa Akʰaywoy	Ἔνθ᾽ ἄλλοι μὲν πάντες ἐπευφήμησαν Ἀχαιοὶ	Énth᾽ álloi mèn pántes epeuphḗmēsan Akhaioì
23	𐁁𐀆𐀲𐀤𐄁𐀂𐀋𐀩𐀷𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀀𐀒𐀫𐀷𐄁𐀆𐀏𐀲𐄁𐀀𐀦𐀙𐄁	aydestʰay=kʷe iherēwa kas aglowa dekstʰay akʷoyna:	αἰδεῖσθαί θ᾽ ἱερῆα καὶ ἀγλαὰ δέχθαι ἄποινα:	aideîsthaí th᾽ hierêa kaì aglaà dékhthai ápoina:
24	𐀀𐀨𐀃𐀄𐀏𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀕𐀜𐀛𐄁𐀷𐀆𐄁𐀶𐀗𐄁	alla≈oyuk=Atrewidāy Agamemnoni hwande tʰūmōy,	ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ Ἀτρεΐδῃ Ἀγαμέμνονι ἥνδανε θυμῷ,	all᾽ ouk Atreḯdēi Agamémnoni hḗndane thumôi,
25	𐀀𐀨𐄁𐀏𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀠𐀋𐄁𐀒𐀫𐀳𐀫𐀆𐄁𐀂𐀠𐄁𐀘𐀵𐄁𐀁𐀤𐀩𐄁	alla≈kakōs apʰiyē, kroteron=de ipi≈mūtʰon ekʷelle:	ἀλλὰ κακῶς ἀφίει, κρατερὸν δ᾽ ἐπὶ μῦθον ἔτελλε:	allà kakôs aphíei, krateròn d᾽ epì mûthon ételle:
26	𐀕𐁌𐄁𐀐𐀫𐄁𐀒𐀹𐀨𐄁𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀡𐀨𐄁𐀙𐀄𐀯𐄁𐀑𐀐𐀃𐄁	mē=te geron kowilāys egō pora≈nāusi kikʰēō	μή σε γέρον κοίλῃσιν ἐγὼ παρὰ νηυσὶ κιχείω	mḗ se géron koílēisin egṑ parà nēusì kikheíō
27	𐀸𐀝𐄁𐀅𐀷𐀶𐀜𐀲𐄁𐀸𐄁𐀄𐀳𐀫𐄁𐁂𐀴𐄁𐀂𐀃𐀲𐄁	wē=nūn dwātunonta wē usteron autʰis ihonta,	ἢ νῦν δηθύνοντ᾽ ἢ ὕστερον αὖτις ἰόντα,	ḕ nûn dēthúnont᾽ ḕ hústeron aûtis iónta,
28	𐀕𐀝𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀄𐀒𐀫𐀕𐀂𐄁𐀏𐀡𐀵𐀫𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀴𐀞𐀔𐄁𐀳𐀃𐀍𐄁	mē=nū=toy oyu=kʰroysmēhi skaptron kas stipʰma tʰehohyo:	μή νύ τοι οὐ χραίσμῃ σκῆπτρον καὶ στέμμα θεοῖο:	mḗ nú toi ou khraísmēi skêptron kaì stémma theoîo:
29	𐀲𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀃𐀄𐀬𐀰𐄁𐀠𐀪𐀖𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀐𐀨𐄁𐀂𐀟𐀯𐄁	tān=de egō oyu=lūsō: prin≈min kas gēras ip=eysi	τὴν δ᾽ ἐγὼ οὐ λύσω: πρίν μιν καὶ γῆρας ἔπεισιν	tḕn d᾽ egṑ ou lúsō: prín min kaì gêras épeisin
30	𐀀𐀕𐀳𐀫𐄁𐀂𐀛𐀺𐀒𐄁𐀂𐀙𐀐𐀂𐄁𐀤𐀫𐀴𐄁𐀞𐀲𐀨𐄁	ameterōy ini=woykōy in=Argēyi kʷēlotʰi patrās	ἡμετέρῳ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ ἐν Ἄργεϊ τηλόθι πάτρης	hēmetérōi enì oíkōi en Árgeï tēlóthi pátrēs
31	𐀂𐀲𐀖𐄁𐀂𐀡𐀒𐀕𐀙𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀁𐀗𐄁𐀩𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀯𐀃𐀺𐀯𐀊𐄁	histāmi ipoykʰomenān kas emon lekʰos ansiowosyan:	ἱστὸν ἐποιχομένην καὶ ἐμὸν λέχος ἀντιόωσαν:	històn epoikhoménēn kaì emòn lékhos antióōsan:
32	𐀀𐀨𐀂𐀴𐄁𐀕𐀕𐄁𐀁𐀩𐀴𐀽𐄁𐀲𐀷𐀺𐀳𐀫𐄁𐀃𐄁𐀀𐀙𐄁𐀚𐀁𐀀𐄁	allā≈itʰi mē=me eretʰize twawoteros hōs ana nehēay.	ἀλλ᾽ ἴθι μή μ᾽ ἐρέθιζε σαώτερος ὥς κε νέηαι.	all᾽ íthi mḗ m᾽ eréthize saṓteros hṓs ke néēai.
33	𐀃𐀁𐀞𐀵𐄁𐀁𐁃𐀮𐀆𐄁𐀍𐀐𐀫𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀁𐀠𐀳𐀵𐄁𐀘𐀵𐄁	Hōs≈epʰato, edweyse=de yo=gerōn kas epītʰeto mutʰōy:	Ὣς ἔφατ᾽, ἔδεισεν δ᾽ ὃ γέρων καὶ ἐπείθετο μύθῳ:	Hṑs éphat᾽, édeisen d᾽ hò gérōn kaì epeítheto múthōi:
34	𐀣𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀐𐀃𐄁𐀡𐀨𐀴𐀹𐀙𐄁𐀡𐀬𐀡𐀫𐀡𐀍𐄁𐀲𐀨𐄁	gʷa=de akēon pora≈tʰwīna polu=pʰloy(sb)ohyo tʰalassās:	βῆ δ᾽ ἀκέων παρὰ θῖνα πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης:	bê d᾽ akéōn parà thîna poluphloísboio thalássēs:
35	𐀡𐀩𐀷𐀆𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀲𐄁𐀀𐀞𐀚𐀄𐀳𐄁𐀑𐀃𐄁𐀁𐀀𐀷𐀵𐄁𐀍𐀐𐀨𐀍𐄁	polewa=de ipīta ap=anēwtʰe kīon earwato yo=gerayos	πολλὰ δ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπάνευθε κιὼν ἠρᾶθ᾽ ὃ γεραιὸς	pollà d᾽ épeit᾽ apáneuthe kiṑn ērâth᾽ hò geraiòs
36	𐀀𐀡𐀫𐀛𐄁𐀷𐀙𐀑𐀯𐄁𐀵𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀒𐀗𐄁𐀳𐀐𐄁𐀨𐀵𐀄𐄁	Apollōni wanaksi, ton ehukomos teke Lātow:	Ἀπόλλωνι ἄνακτι, τὸν ἠΰκομος τέκε Λητώ:	Apóllōni ánakti, tòn ēǘkomos téke Lētṓ:
37	𐀓𐀬𐀴𐀕𐀃𐄁𐀀𐀓𐀫𐀵𐀏𐀭𐄁𐀍𐀓𐀬𐀭𐄁𐀀𐀠𐀠𐀞𐀏𐄁	klutʰi=meo argurotokˢa, yos=Kʰrūsān ampʰibibāka	κλῦθί μευ ἀργυρότοξ᾽, ὃς Χρύσην ἀμφιβέβηκας	klûthí meu argurótox᾽, hòs Khrúsēn amphibébēkas
38	𐀑𐀨𐀤𐄁𐀇𐀹𐀀𐀳𐁀𐄁𐀳𐀚𐀈𐀍𐀤𐄁𐀹𐀠𐄁𐀷𐀙𐀮𐀂𐄁	Killan=kʷe dwiatʰehān Tenedohyo=kʷe wīpʰi wanassehi,	Κίλλάν τε ζαθέην Τενέδοιό τε ἶφι ἀνάσσεις,	Kíllán te zathéēn Tenédoió te îphi anásseis,
39	𐀖𐀳𐀄𐄁𐀁𐀦𐀤𐀵𐄁𐀒𐀪𐀸𐀲𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀙𐀺𐄁𐀁𐀪𐀞𐀭𐄁	Sminthew ē=kʷokʷe=toy kʰoriwenta ipi≈nahwon eripsa,	Σμινθεῦ εἴ ποτέ τοι χαρίεντ᾽ ἐπὶ νηὸν ἔρεψα,	Smintheû eí poté toi kharíent᾽ epì nēòn érepsa,
40	𐀸𐄁𐀁𐀆𐄁𐀦𐀤𐀵𐄁𐀏𐀲𐄁𐀠𐀺𐀙𐄁𐀕𐀪𐀊𐄁𐀁𐀏𐀷𐄁	we ē=dē kʷokʷe=toy kata pīwona mēria ekāwa	ἢ εἰ δή ποτέ τοι κατὰ πίονα μηρί᾽ ἔκηα	ḕ ei dḗ poté toi katà píona mērí᾽ ékēa
41	𐀲𐀄𐀫𐀚𐀆𐄁𐁁𐀒𐄁𐀵𐀆𐀗𐄁𐀒𐀫𐁁𐀜𐄁𐀁𐀸𐀈𐄁	taurōn=ēde aygōn to=de=moy krōhannon eweldōr:	ταύρων ἠδ᾽ αἰγῶν, τὸ δέ μοι κρήηνον ἐέλδωρ:	taúrōn ēd᾽ aigôn, tò dé moi krḗēnon eéldōr:
42	𐀥𐀮𐀊𐄁𐀅𐀙𐀍𐄁𐀁𐀔𐄁𐀅𐀓𐀬𐀀𐄁𐀵𐀯𐄁𐀤𐀩𐀯𐄁	kʷīseyan Danayoy ema dakrua toysi gʷelessi.	τίσειαν Δαναοὶ ἐμὰ δάκρυα σοῖσι βέλεσσιν.	tíseian Danaoì emà dákrua soîsi bélessin.
43	𐀃𐀁𐀞𐀵𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀒𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀵𐀍𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀓𐀬𐀁𐄁𐀡𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐄁	Hos≈epʰato eukʰomenos, tohyo=de eklue Pʰoygʷos Apollōn,	Ὣς ἔφατ᾽ εὐχόμενος, τοῦ δ᾽ ἔκλυε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,	Hṑs éphat᾽ eukhómenos, toû d᾽ éklue Phoîbos Apóllōn,
44	𐀣𐀆𐄁𐀏𐀲𐄁𐀃𐀬𐀡𐀍𐄁𐀒𐀨𐀜𐄁𐀒𐀺𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀐𐄁	gʷā=de kata Olumpohyo korannōn kʰowomenos kēr,	βῆ δὲ κατ᾽ Οὐλύμποιο καρήνων χωόμενος κῆρ,	bê dè kat᾽ Oulúmpoio karḗnōn khōómenos kêr,
45	𐀵𐀏𐀭𐄁𐀃𐀗𐀯𐄁𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀠𐀪𐀠𐁀𐀤𐄁𐀡𐀩𐀲𐀨𐄁	toksā ōmhoysi hekʰon ampʰiripʰiha=kʷe pʰoretrān:	τόξ᾽ ὤμοισιν ἔχων ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην:	tóx᾽ ṓmoisin ékhōn amphērephéa te pharétrēn:
46	𐀁𐀏𐀨𐀏𐀭𐀆𐄁𐀃𐀫𐀵𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀃𐀗𐄁𐀒𐀺𐀕𐀜𐀍𐄁	eklaŋksan=de or≈oystoy ipi≈omhōn kʰowomenohyo,	ἔκλαγξαν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὀϊστοὶ ἐπ᾽ ὤμων χωομένοιο,	éklanxan d᾽ ár᾽ oïstoì ep᾽ ṓmōn khōoménoio,
47	𐁂𐀵𐀍𐄁𐀑𐀚𐀭𐀵𐀍𐄁𐀍𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀁𐀋𐄁𐀝𐀑𐀯𐄁𐀸𐀺𐀒𐀺𐄁	awtohyo kinēsantohyo: yo=de eeye nuksi wewoykwōs.	αὐτοῦ κινηθέντος: ὃ δ᾽ ἤϊε νυκτὶ ἐοικώς.	autoû kinēthéntos: hò d᾽ ḗïe nuktì eoikṓs.
48	𐀁𐀽𐀵𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀲𐄁𐀀𐀞𐀚𐀄𐀳𐄁𐀙𐀺𐄁𐀕𐀲𐀆𐄁𐀂𐀃𐄁𐀁𐀋𐀐𐄁	Hezeto ipīta apanēutʰe nāwōn, meta=de ihon eyēke:	Ἕζετ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀπάνευθε νεῶν, μετὰ δ᾽ ἰὸν ἕηκε:	Hézet᾽ épeit᾽ apáneuthe neôn, metà d᾽ iòn héēke:
49	𐁃𐀙𐀆𐄁𐀏𐀨𐀏𐄁𐀐𐀚𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀓𐀩𐀃𐀊𐄁𐀠𐀃𐀍𐄁	dweynā=de klaŋgā geneto argureohyo biohyo:	δεινὴ δὲ κλαγγὴ γένετ᾽ ἀργυρέοιο βιοῖο:	deinḕ dè klangḕ génet᾽ arguréoio bioîo:
50	𐀃𐀩𐀷𐀕𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀺𐀵𐄁𐀂𐀡𐀐𐀵𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀓𐀙𐄁𐀀𐀒𐄁	orēwas≈men prōwoton ipoykʰeto kas kunās argons,	οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον ἐπῴχετο καὶ κύνας ἀργούς,	ourêas mèn prôton epṓikheto kaì kúnas argoús,
51	𐁂𐀲𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀲𐄁𐁂𐀵𐀂𐄁𐀤𐀫𐄁𐀁𐀑𐀠𐀄𐀐𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀋𐄁𐀣𐀩𐄁	awtar ipīta awtoyhi gʷelos hekʰipiwkes ipiyēs gʷalle:	αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ᾽ αὐτοῖσι βέλος ἐχεπευκὲς ἐφιεὶς βάλλ᾽:	autàr épeit᾽ autoîsi bélos ekhepeukès ephieìs báll᾽:
52	𐁁𐀸𐀂𐀆𐄁𐀢𐀩𐄁𐀚𐀓𐀃𐄁𐀏𐀺𐀵𐄁𐀲𐀕𐀁𐄁	aywehi=de pūres nekuōn kāwyonto tʰameyes.	αἰεὶ δὲ πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο θαμειαί.	aieì dè puraì nekúōn kaíonto thameiaí.
53	𐀁𐀙𐀗𐀕𐄁𐀃𐀙𐀵𐀫𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀐𐀵𐄁𐀏𐀸𐀨𐄁𐀳𐀃𐀍𐄁	Ennāmor≈men ona≈stroton oykʰeto kawelā tʰehohyo,	Ἐννῆμαρ μὲν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ᾤχετο κῆλα θεοῖο,	Ennêmar mèn anà stratòn ṓikheto kêla theoîo,
54	𐀲𐀂𐀆𐀏𐀲𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀒𐀨𐀆𐄁𐀒𐀩𐀭𐀵𐄁𐀨𐀺𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀄𐄁	tāhi≈dekatāy=de agorān=de kolesato lawon Akʰilews:	τῇ δεκάτῃ δ᾽ ἀγορὴν δὲ καλέσσατο λαὸν Ἀχιλλεύς:	têi dekátēi d᾽ agorḕn dè kaléssato laòn Akhilleús:
55	𐀵𐀒𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀤𐀩𐀯𐄁𐀳𐀐𐄁𐀳𐁀𐄁𐀩𐀄𐀒𐀩𐀜𐄁𐀁𐀨𐄁	tōy≈gor ipi≈gʷresi tʰēke tʰehā leukōlenos Hērā:	τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη:	tôi gàr epì phresì thêke theà leukṓlenos Hḗrē:
56	𐀏𐀆𐀵𐀒𐄁𐀅𐀙𐀍𐄁𐀍𐀥𐀫𐄁𐁌𐀙𐀒𐀲𐄁𐀺𐀨𐀵𐄁	kādeto≈gor Danayōn, yokʷi=ro tʰwenaskontas worāto.	κήδετο γὰρ Δαναῶν, ὅτι ῥα θνήσκοντας ὁρᾶτο.	kḗdeto gàr Danaôn, hóti rha thnḗskontas horâto.
57	𐀵𐀆𐀁𐀤𐄁𐀃𐀀𐀐𐀭𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀔𐀐𐀩𐀁𐀤𐄁𐀐𐀚𐀵𐄁	Toy=de≈ekʷey≈ōn agersatoy homagerees=kʷe genonto,	Οἳ δ᾽ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἤγερθεν ὁμηγερέες τε γένοντο,	Hoì d᾽ epeì oûn ḗgerthen homēgerées te génonto,
58	𐀵𐀯𐀆𐄁𐀃𐀛𐀲𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀕𐀲𐀞𐄁𐀡𐀅𐄁𐀃𐀓𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀄𐄁	toysi=de onhistamenos metapʰā podas ōkus Akʰilews:	τοῖσι δ᾽ ἀνιστάμενος μετέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:	toîsi d᾽ anistámenos metéphē pódas ōkùs Akhilleús:
59	𐀀𐀳𐀩𐀹𐀅𐀝𐄁𐀀𐀕𐄁𐀦𐀪𐀡𐀫𐀐𐀮𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀃𐀺𐄁	Atrewidā≈nūn ahme kʷolimploŋksmenōs oywō	Ἀτρεΐδη νῦν ἄμμε παλιμπλαγχθέντας ὀΐω	Atreḯdē nûn ámme palimplankhthéntas oḯō
60	𐀀𐀞𐀭𐀀𐀡𐀜𐀳𐀮𐀁𐄁𐀀𐀀𐀙𐄁𐀲𐀷𐀜𐀵𐀐𐄁𐀢𐀒𐀕𐄁	aps≈aponostēsehen, ē=ana tʰwanaton=ge pʰugoymen,	ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἴ κεν θάνατόν γε φύγοιμεν,	àps aponostḗsein, eí ken thánatón ge phúgoimen,
61	𐀁𐀆𐄁𐀃𐀗𐄁𐀡𐀩𐀗𐀤𐄁𐀅𐀔𐀮𐀂𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀫𐀗𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	ē=dē homō polemos=kʷe damasey kas loymos Akʰaywons	εἰ δὴ ὁμοῦ πόλεμός τε δαμᾷ καὶ λοιμὸς Ἀχαιούς:	ei dḕ homoû pólemós te damâi kaì loimòs Akhaioús:
62	𐀀𐀨𐄁𐀀𐀐𐀆𐀥𐀙𐄁𐀗𐀯𐄁𐀸𐀩𐀃𐀕𐄁𐀁𐀂𐀋𐀩𐀷𐄁	alla age≈dē=kʷina monsin wrēomen ē=iherēwa	ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε δή τινα μάντιν ἐρείομεν ἢ ἱερῆα	all᾽ áge dḗ tina mántin ereíomen ḕ hierêa
63	𐀀𐀏𐄁𐀃𐀚𐀫𐀦𐀫𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀏𐀤𐄁𐀃𐀜𐄁𐀁𐀑𐀇𐀺𐀁𐀯𐄁	ē=kas onerrokʷolon kas=gor=kʷe onor ek=Diwos=essi	ἢ καὶ ὀνειροπόλον, καὶ γάρ τ᾽ ὄναρ ἐκ Διός ἐστιν,	ḕ kaì oneiropólon, kaì gár t᾽ ónar ek Diós estin,
64	𐀍𐀀𐀙𐄁𐀸𐀦𐄁𐀃𐀥𐄁𐀵𐀰𐄁𐀁𐀒𐀄𐀭𐀵𐄁𐀡𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐄁	yos=ana weykʷoy ho=kʷi tossos ekʰowsato Pʰoygʷos Apollōn	ὅς κ᾽ εἴποι ὅ τι τόσσον ἐχώσατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,	hós k᾽ eípoi hó ti tósson ekhṓsato Phoîbos Apóllōn,
65	𐀁𐀤𐀃𐀫𐄁𐀃𐀐𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀏𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀕𐀠𐀵𐄁𐀁𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀏𐀵𐀣𐄁	ē=kʷe≈oro ho=ge ewkʰās ipimempʰitoy ē=de hekatomgʷās,	εἴτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὅ γ᾽ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται ἠδ᾽ ἑκατόμβης,	eít᾽ ár᾽ hó g᾽ eukhōlês epimémphetai ēd᾽ hekatómbēs,
66	𐀁𐀀𐀙𐀦𐄁𐀺𐀜𐄁𐀑𐀛𐀭𐄁𐁁𐀒𐀤𐄁𐀤𐀩𐀃𐄁	ē=ana=kʷōs wornōn knīssās aygon=kʷe kʷeleyhōn	αἴ κέν πως ἀρνῶν κνίσης αἰγῶν τε τελείων	aí kén pōs arnôn knísēs aigôn te teleíōn
67	𐀦𐀩𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀯𐀀𐀭𐄁𐀀𐀖𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀩𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀘𐀙𐄁	gʷōletoy ansiāsas ahmi apo≈leygon amūnay.	βούλεται ἀντιάσας ἡμῖν ἀπὸ λοιγὸν ἀμῦναι.	boúletai antiásas hēmîn apò loigòn amûnai.
68	𐀁𐀵𐄁𐀍𐀐𐄁𐀃𐀸𐀦𐄁𐀏𐀲𐀃𐀫𐄁𐀂𐀽𐀵𐄁𐀵𐀯𐀆𐄁𐀃𐀚𐀲𐄁	Ē=toy yo=ge hos=weykʷōn kata≈oro hizeto: toysi=de onestā	Ἤτοι ὅ γ᾽ ὣς εἰπὼν κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕζετο: τοῖσι δ᾽ ἀνέστη	Ḗtoi hó g᾽ hṑs eipṑn kat᾽ ár᾽ hézeto: toîsi d᾽ anéstē
69	𐀏𐀏𐄁𐀳𐀵𐀪𐀅𐄁𐀃𐀺𐀜𐀦𐀫𐄁𐀃𐀏𐀀𐀪𐀵𐄁	Kalkʰās Tʰestoridās oywonokʷolōn hokʰa≈aristos,	Κάλχας Θεστορίδης οἰωνοπόλων ὄχ᾽ ἄριστος,	Kálkhas Thestorídēs oiōnopólōn ókh᾽ áristos,
70	𐀍𐄁𐀁𐀸𐀹𐀆𐄁𐀲𐀤𐄁𐀁𐀃𐀲𐄁𐀲𐀤𐄁𐀁𐀰𐀕𐀙𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀤𐄁𐀁𐀃𐀲𐄁	yos ewewidē tā=kʷe ehonta tā=kʷe essomena pro=kʷe ehonta,	ὃς ᾔδη τά τ᾽ ἐόντα τά τ᾽ ἐσσόμενα πρό τ᾽ ἐόντα,	hòs ḗidē tá t᾽ eónta tá t᾽ essómena pró t᾽ eónta,
71	𐀏𐄁𐀙𐀄𐀯𐄁𐁀𐀏𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁𐀹𐀪𐀍𐀂𐀜𐄁	kas nāusi hāgāsato Akʰaywōn Wilion≈inō	καὶ νήεσσ᾽ ἡγήσατ᾽ Ἀχαιῶν Ἴλιον εἴσω	kaì nḗess᾽ hēgḗsat᾽ Akhaiôn Ílion eísō
72	𐀊𐄁𐀇𐀹𐀀𐄁𐀗𐀵𐀱𐀙𐄁𐀲𐄁𐀵𐀡𐀩𐄁𐀡𐀦𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐄁	yān dwia montosunān, tān toy=pore Pʰoygʷos Apollōn:	ἣν διὰ μαντοσύνην, τήν οἱ πόρε Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων:	hḕn dià mantosúnēn, tḗn hoi póre Phoîbos Apóllōn:
73	𐀃𐀠𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀡𐀫𐀚𐀃𐄁𐀀𐀒𐀨𐀭𐀵𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀕𐀲𐀸𐀤𐄁	ho=spʰin ehu=pʰroneōn agorāsato kas metaweykʷe:	ὅ σφιν ἐὺ φρονέων ἀγορήσατο καὶ μετέειπεν:	hó sphin eù phronéōn agorḗsato kaì metéeipen:
74	𐀃𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀄𐄁𐀐𐀩𐀃𐀕𐄁𐀇𐀸𐀂𐄁𐀠𐀩𐄁𐀘𐀳𐀭𐀲𐄁	ō Akʰilew kelehoi=me Diwei pʰile mūtʰēsastʰay	ὦ Ἀχιλεῦ κέλεαί με Διῒ φίλε μυθήσασθαι	ô Akhileû kéleaí me Diï̀ phíle muthḗsasthai
75	𐀗𐀛𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐀜𐄁𐀸𐀏𐀲𐀤𐀩𐀲𐀃𐄁𐀷𐀙𐀒𐀵𐄁	monin Apollōnos hwekatagʷelatāo wanaktos:	μῆνιν Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκατηβελέταο ἄνακτος:	mênin Apóllōnos hekatēbelétao ánaktos:
76	𐀦𐀒𐄁𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀸𐀩𐀃𐄁𐀶𐀆𐄁𐀓𐀱𐀳𐀃𐄁𐀏𐀗𐄁𐀃𐀗𐀰𐄁	kʷoy≈gor egō werehō: tu=de ksun=tʰēho kas=moy omoson	τοὶ γὰρ ἐγὼν ἐρέω: σὺ δὲ σύνθεο καί μοι ὄμοσσον	toì gàr egṑn eréō: sù dè súntheo kaí moi ómosson
77	𐀁𐄁𐀕𐀗𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀡𐀫𐄁𐀸𐀤𐀯𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀐𐀯𐄁𐀀𐀩𐀐𐀮𐀁𐄁	ē men=moy propʰrōn wekʷesi kas kʰehrsi areksehen:	ἦ μέν μοι πρόφρων ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν:	ê mén moi próphrōn épesin kaì khersìn arḗxein:
78	𐀁𐀒𐄁𐀃𐀺𐀔𐄁𐀀𐀅𐀨𐄁𐀒𐀫𐀮𐀕𐄁𐀍𐄁𐀕𐀏𐄁𐀞𐀵𐄁	ē≈gor oywomay andra kʰolōsemen, yos mega pantōn	ἦ γὰρ ὀΐομαι ἄνδρα χολωσέμεν, ὃς μέγα πάντων	ê gàr oḯomai ándra kholōsémen, hòs méga pántōn
79	𐀀𐀐𐀃𐄁𐀒𐀳𐀁𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀵𐀠𐀵𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁	Argēōn korteey kas toy=pītʰontoy Akʰaywoy:	Ἀργείων κρατέει καί οἱ πείθονται Ἀχαιοί:	Argeíōn kratéei kaí hoi peíthontai Akhaioí:
80	𐀐𐀰𐀒𐄁𐀣𐀯𐀩𐀄𐄁𐀃𐀤𐄁𐀒𐀄𐀮𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀇𐀪𐄁𐀐𐀩𐀂𐄁	kerssōs≈gor gʷasilews ho=kʷe kʰowsetoy andri kʰerehi:	κρείσσων γὰρ βασιλεὺς ὅτε χώσεται ἀνδρὶ χέρηϊ:	kreíssōn gàr basileùs hóte khṓsetai andrì khérēï:
81	𐀁𐀟𐀏𐀤𐄁𐀒𐀫𐀐𐄁𐀏𐄁𐁂𐀲𐀗𐄁𐀏𐀲𐀠𐀤𐀮𐄁	ē=per gor=kʷe kʰolon=ge kas awtāmor katapikʷsēy,	εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον γε καὶ αὐτῆμαρ καταπέψῃ,	eí per gár te khólon ge kaì autêmar katapépsēi,
82	𐀀𐀨𐀤𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀕𐀵𐀠𐀳𐄁𐀁𐀐𐄁𐀒𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀞𐀨𐄁𐀤𐀩𐀮𐄁	allā=kʷe kas metopitʰen hekʰey koton, opʰra kʷelesēy,	ἀλλά τε καὶ μετόπισθεν ἔχει κότον, ὄφρα τελέσσῃ,	allá te kaì metópisthen ékhei kóton, óphra teléssēi,
83	𐀂𐀳𐀳𐀯𐄁𐀸𐀃𐀯𐄁𐀶𐀆𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀰𐄁𐀁𐀕𐄁𐀭𐀺𐀮𐀂𐄁	in=stētʰesi hweoysi: tu=de pʰrosoy ē=me sawōsehi.	ἐν στήθεσσιν ἑοῖσι: σὺ δὲ φράσαι εἴ με σαώσεις.	en stḗthessin heoîsi: sù dè phrásai eí me saṓseis.
84	𐀵𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀞𐀕𐀦𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀡𐀫𐀮𐀞𐄁𐀡𐀅𐄁𐀃𐀓𐄁𐀀𐀑𐀩𐀄𐄁	Ton=de apameygʷomenos prosepʰā podas ōkus Akʰilews	Τὸν δ᾽ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς:	Tòn d᾽ apameibómenos proséphē pódas ōkùs Akhilleús:
85	𐀵𐀮𐀭𐄁𐀗𐀨𐄁𐀸𐀂𐀤𐄁𐀳𐀃𐀡𐀫𐀠𐀍𐄁𐀍𐀥𐄁𐀺𐀲𐄁	tʰorsēsas≈mola weykʷe tʰehopropion yo=kʷi woystʰa:	θαρσήσας μάλα εἰπὲ θεοπρόπιον ὅ τι οἶσθα:	tharsḗsas mála eipè theoprópion hó ti oîstha:
86	𐀃𐀄𐀔𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀫𐀙𐄁𐀇𐀸𐄁𐀠𐀫𐄁𐀵𐀤𐄁𐀶𐀏𐀏𐄁	oyu=ma=gor Apollōna diwey pʰilon tōy=kʷe tu=Kalkʰān	οὐ μὰ γὰρ Ἀπόλλωνα Διῒ φίλον, ᾧ τε σὺ Κάλχαν	ou mà gàr Apóllōna Diï̀ phílon, hôi te sù Kálkhan
87	𐀁𐀄𐀒𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀅𐀙𐀍𐀂𐄁𐀳𐀃𐀡𐀫𐀠𐀊𐄁𐀃𐀙𐀞𐀚𐀂𐄁	eukʰomenos Danayoyhi tʰehopropiāns onapʰannehi	εὐχόμενος Δαναοῖσι θεοπροπίας ἀναφαίνεις,	eukhómenos Danaoîsi theopropías anaphaíneis,
88	𐀃𐀄𐀥𐄁𐀁𐀕𐀍𐄁𐀿𐀵𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀒𐀵𐀛𐄁𐀆𐀒𐀕𐀜𐀍𐄁	oyu=kʷis emeyo zōntos kas ipi≈kʰtʰoni derkomenohyo	οὔ τις ἐμεῦ ζῶντος καὶ ἐπὶ χθονὶ δερκομένοιο	oú tis emeû zôntos kaì epì khthonì derkoménoio
89	𐀵𐀒𐀹𐀨𐄁𐀡𐀨𐄁𐀙𐀄𐀠𐄁𐀦𐀩𐀊𐄁𐀐𐀨𐄁𐀂𐀡𐀂𐀮𐄁	toy=kowilāys pora≈nāupʰi gʷorehyāns kʰehras ipoysey	σοὶ κοίλῃς παρὰ νηυσί βαρείας χεῖρας ἐποίσει	soì koílēis parà nēusí bareías kheîras epoísei
90	𐀓𐀱𐀞𐀵𐄁𐀅𐀙𐀍𐄁𐀃𐀄𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀙𐀏𐀕𐀜𐀙𐄁𐀸𐀤𐀂𐄁	ksumpanton Danayōn oyu=de ēn=Agamemnona weykʷēhi	συμπάντων Δαναῶν, οὐδ᾽ ἢν Ἀγαμέμνονα εἴπῃς,	sumpántōn Danaôn, oud᾽ ḕn Agamémnona eípēis,
91	𐀍𐀝𐄁𐀡𐀩𐀺𐄁𐀀𐀪𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀺𐄁𐀁𐀄𐀐𐀵𐄁𐀁𐀙𐄁	yos≈nūn polewon aristos Akʰaywōn eukʰetoy ēsnay	ὃς νῦν πολλὸν ἄριστος Ἀχαιῶν εὔχεται εἶναι.	hòs nûn pollòn áristos Akhaiôn eúkhetai eînai.
92	𐀏𐀦𐀤𐀆𐄁𐀵𐀮𐀋𐀮𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀁𐁂𐀅𐄁𐀗𐀴𐄁𐀀𐀘𐀗𐄁	kas=kʷokʷe≈dē tʰorseyese kas eawda montis amumōns:	Καὶ τότε δὴ θάρσησε καὶ ηὔδα μάντις ἀμύμων:	Kaì tóte dḕ thársēse kaì ēúda mántis amúmōn:
93	𐀃𐀄𐀤𐀃𐀫𐄁𐀃𐀐𐄁𐀁𐀸𐀏𐄁𐀂𐀠𐀕𐀠𐀵𐄁𐀃𐀄𐀆𐄁𐀁𐀏𐀵𐀣𐄁	oyu=kʷe≈oro ho=ge ewekʰās ipimempʰitoy oyu=de hekatomgʷās,	οὔ τ᾽ ἄρ ὅ γ᾽ εὐχωλῆς ἐπιμέμφεται οὐδ᾽ ἑκατόμβης,	oú t᾽ ár hó g᾽ eukhōlês epimémphetai oud᾽ hekatómbēs,
94	𐀀𐀨𐄁𐀁𐀚𐀏𐄁𐀀𐀨𐀳𐀫𐄁𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀥𐀔𐀮𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀕𐀜𐄁	alla heneka arāteros ton akʷimāse Agamemnōn,	ἀλλ᾽ ἕνεκ᾽ ἀρητῆρος ὃν ἠτίμης᾽ Ἀγαμέμνων,	all᾽ hének᾽ arētêros hòn ētímēs᾽ Agamémnōn,
95	𐀃𐀄𐀆𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀬𐀮𐄁𐀶𐀏𐀲𐀨𐄁𐀏𐄁𐀃𐀄𐀏𐀟𐀆𐀒𐀭𐀵𐄁𐀀𐀦𐀙𐄁	oyu=de apoluse tʰugatra kas oyuk=apedeksato akʷoyna,	οὐδ᾽ ἀπέλυσε θύγατρα καὶ οὐκ ἀπεδέξατ᾽ ἄποινα,	oud᾽ apéluse thúgatra kaì ouk apedéxat᾽ ápoina,
96	𐀦𐀁𐀚𐀏𐀀𐀨𐄁𐀀𐀏𐀊𐄁𐀁𐀈𐀐𐄁𐀸𐀏𐀦𐀫𐀮𐀆𐀁𐀴𐄁𐀈𐀮𐄁	kʷo=neka≈ara algya edōke hwekagʷolos=ēde≈eti dōsey:	τοὔνεκ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἄλγε᾽ ἔδωκεν ἑκηβόλος ἠδ᾽ ἔτι δώσει:	toúnek᾽ ár᾽ álge᾽ édōken hekēbólos ēd᾽ éti dṓsei:
97	𐀃𐀄𐀆𐄁𐀃𐀐𐄁𐀡𐀫𐄁𐀅𐀙𐀍𐀂𐄁𐀀𐀸𐀐𐀀𐄁𐀫𐀒𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀺𐀮𐄁	oyu-de ho=ge pron Danayoyhi aweykea loygon apowōssey	οὐδ᾽ ὅ γε πρὶν Δαναοῖσιν ἀεικέα λοιγὸν ἀπώσει	oud᾽ hó ge prìn Danaoîsin aeikéa loigòn apṓsei
98	𐀡𐀫𐀐𐄁𐀀𐀡𐀞𐀴𐀪𐄁𐀠𐀫𐄁𐀈𐀕𐀙𐄁𐀸𐀪𐀒𐀠𐀅𐄁𐀒𐀷𐄁	pron=ge apo≈patri pʰilōy domenay welikopida korwān	πρίν γ᾽ ἀπὸ πατρὶ φίλῳ δόμεναι ἑλικώπιδα κούρην	prín g᾽ apò patrì phílōi dómenai helikṓpida koúrēn
99	𐀀𐀥𐀪𐀀𐀲𐄁𐀀𐀙𐀦𐀜𐄁𐀀𐀐𐀁𐀤𐄁𐀂𐀋𐀩𐀷𐄁𐀁𐀏𐀵𐀣𐄁	akʷriatān anakʷoynon, agehen=kʷe iherēwān (he)katomgʷān	ἀπριάτην ἀνάποινον, ἄγειν θ᾽ ἱερὴν ἑκατόμβην	apriátēn anápoinon, ágein th᾽ hierḕn hekatómbēn
100	𐀁𐀓𐀬𐀮𐄁𐀦𐀤𐀀𐀙𐀖𐄁𐀂𐀨𐀭𐀕𐀜𐄁𐀠𐀠𐀵𐀕	ens≈Kʰrūsen: kʷokʷe=ana=min hilasamenoy pipitʰoymen.	ἐς Χρύσην: τότε κέν μιν ἱλασσάμενοι πεπίθοιμεν.	es Khrúsēn: tóte kén min hilassámenoi pepíthoimen.

Corpus

Main article: Linear B § Corpus

The corpus of Mycenaean-era Greek writing consists of some 6,000 tablets and potsherds in Linear B, from LMII to LHIIIB. No Linear B monuments or non-Linear B transliterations have yet been found.

The so-called Kafkania pebble has been claimed as the oldest known Mycenaean inscription, with a purported date to the 17th century BC. However, its authenticity is widely doubted, and most scholarly treatments of Linear B omit it from their corpora.

The earliest generally-accepted date for a Linear B tablet belongs to the tablets from the 'Room of the Chariot Tablets' at Knossos, which are believed to date to the LM II-LM IIIA period, between the last half of the 15th century BCE and the earliest years of the 14th.

Variations and possible dialects

While the Mycenaean dialect is relatively uniform at all the centres where it is found, there are also a few traces of dialectal variants:

• i for e in the dative of consonant stems
• a instead of o as the reflex of ṇ (e.g. pe-ma instead of pe-mo < *spermṇ)
• the e/i variation in e.g. te-mi-ti-ja/ti-mi-ti-ja

Based on such variations, Ernst Risch (1966) postulated the existence of some dialects within Linear B. The "Normal Mycenaean" would have been the standardized language of the tablets, and the "Special Mycenaean" represented some local vernacular dialect (or dialects) of the particular scribes producing the tablets.

Thus, "a particular scribe, distinguished by his handwriting, reverted to the dialect of his everyday speech" and used the variant forms, such as the examples above.

It follows that after the collapse of Mycenaean Greece, while the standardized Mycenaean language was no longer used, the particular local dialects reflecting local vernacular speech would have continued, eventually producing the various Greek dialects of the historic period.

Such theories are also connected with the idea that the Mycenaean language constituted a type of a special koine representing the official language of the palace records and the ruling aristocracy. When the 'Mycenaean linguistic koine' fell into disuse after the fall of the palaces because the script was no longer used, the underlying dialects would have continued to develop in their own ways. That view was formulated by Antonin Bartonek. Other linguists like Leonard Robert Palmer and Yves Duhoux also support this view of the 'Mycenaean linguistic koine'. (The term 'Mycenaean koine' is also used by archaeologists to refer to the material culture of the region.) However, since the Linear B script does not indicate several possible dialectical features, such as the presence or absence of word-initial aspiration and the length of vowels, it is unsafe to extrapolate that Linear B texts were read as consistently as they were written.

The evidence for "Special Mycenaean" as a distinct dialect has, however, been challenged. Thompson argues that Risch's evidence does not meet the diagnostic criteria to reconstruct two dialects within Mycenaean. In particular, more recent paleographical study, not available to Risch, shows that no individual scribe consistently writes "Special Mycenaean" forms. This inconsistency makes the variation between "Normal Mycenaean" and "Special Mycenaean" unlikely to represent dialectical or sociolectical differences, as these would be expected to concentrate in individual speakers, which is not observed in the Linear B corpus.

Survival

While the use of Mycenaean Greek may have ceased with the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, some traces of it are found in the later Greek dialects. In particular, Arcadocypriot Greek is believed to be rather close to Mycenaean Greek. Arcadocypriot was an ancient Greek dialect spoken in Arcadia (central Peloponnese), and in Cyprus.

Ancient Pamphylian also shows some similarity to Arcadocypriot and to Mycenaean Greek.

Sources

• Aura Jorro, Francisco (1985–1993). Diccinario micénico. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Instituto de Filología.
• Bakker, Egbert J., ed. 2010. A companion to the Ancient Greek language. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Bartoněk, Antonin (2003). Handbuch des mykenischen Griechisch. Heidelberg: Carl Winter. ISBN 3-8253-1435-9.
• Chadwick, John. 1958. The decipherment of Linear B. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Chadwick, John (1990) [1958]. The Decipherment of Linear B (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-39830-4.
• Chadwick, John (1976). The Mycenaean World. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-29037-6.
• Chadwick, John; Baumbach, Lydia (1963). "The Mycenaean Greek Vocabulary". Glotta. 41 (3/4): 157–271. JSTOR 40265918.
• Christidis, Anastasios-Phoivos, ed. 2007. A History of Ancient Greek: From the Beginnings to Late Antiquity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Colvin, Stephen C. 2007. A Historical Greek Reader: Mycenaean to the Koiné. Oxford: Oxford University Press.* Colvin, Stephen (2006). "Autosegmental Phonology and Word-Internal -h- in Mycenaean Greek". Glotta. 82: 36–54. JSTOR 40288084.
• Easterling, P. E., and Carol Handley. 2001. Greek Scripts: An Illustrated Introduction. London: Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies.
• Fox, Margalit. 2013. The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code. 1st edition. New York : Ecco Press.
• Hooker, J. T. 1980. Linear B: An introduction. Bristol, UK: Bristol Classical Press.
• Horrocks, Geoffrey. 2010. Greek: A history of the language and its speakers. 2nd ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
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External links

• Jeremy B. Rutter, "Bibliography: The Linear B Tablets and Mycenaean Social, Political, and Economic Organization"
• The writing of the Mycenaeans (contains an image of the Kafkania pebble)
• Program in Aegean Scripts and Prehistory (PASP)
• Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languages
• Studies in Mycenaean Inscriptions and Dialect, glossaries of individual Mycenaean terms, tablet, and series citations
• glottothèque – Ancient Indo-European Grammar online, an online collection of video lectures on Ancient Indo-European languages, including some information about Mycenaean Greek