This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2017) |
Minoan | |
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Region | Crete |
Era | About 2100–1450 BC |
Cretan hieroglyphs, Linear A | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | Either:omn – Minoanlab – Linear A |
omn Minoan | |
lab Linear A | |
Glottolog | mino1236 Minoan |
The Minoan language is the language (or languages) of the ancient Minoan civilization of Crete written in the Cretan hieroglyphs and later in the Linear A syllabary. As the Cretan hieroglyphs are undeciphered and Linear A only partly deciphered, the Minoan language is unknown and unclassified. With the existing evidence, it is even impossible to be certain that the two scripts record the same language.
The Eteocretan language, attested in a few alphabetic inscriptions from Crete 1,000 years later, is possibly a descendant of Minoan, but is also unclassified.