New discoveries about ancient Hellas are still being made every day, every week, every month of every year. All of these discoveries have the potential of not only building on our existing knowledge base, but also of upheaving all our preconceptions about ancient Hellas... and guiding our household worship. The ritual altar inscribed with Linear A found at Zominthos is an excellent example.
"The newly discovered inscribed stone libation altar from Zominthos is carefully
lifted from its hiding place" [Credit: To Vima]
The Archaeological News Network reports that "[a]rchaeologists excavating at Zominthos, a small plateau in the northern foothills of Mount Ida (Psiloritis) on the Greek island of Crete, have unearthed a rare stone libation altar inscribed with the enigmatic Minoan Linear A script. [...] Dr. Effie Sapouna-Sakellarakis, who discovered the rare artifact a few days ago during the excavation of the large building complex at Zominthos."
The altar is 20x20 cm, and consists of three stepped tiers or levels that extend upwards from the base. A small hollow cavity is found on the altar’s otherwise flat surface, and each of the altar’s twelve sides or registers is inscribed with symbols of the Linear A script.
Zominthos (Ζώμινθος) is a small plateau in the northern foothills of Mount Ida, οn the island of Krete. It is roughly 7.5 kilometers west of the village of Anogia, on the path from Knossos to Idaion Andron, the great sanctuary cave near the peak of Ida. Zominthos is best known for the large Minoan building discovered there; signs of permanent settlement date back to about 1800 BC. According to Dr. Sapouna-Sakellarakis:
“The study of the inscription will take time and will certainly be conducted by specialists of the Minoan script in the hope that it will reveal important information about the rituals that took place at Zominthos around 3,500 year ago”
Personally, I get very excited when finds like these are made. The Minoan culture is a very specific culture, and while it influenced the culture of Hellas, it did not equate it. Still, even evidence of the predecessors of ancient Classical culture could tell us something about them. When that translation comes in, I'll get the information to you. In the mean time, you can keep up to date on information concerning the Zominthos excavations here.
"The newly discovered inscribed stone libation altar from Zominthos is carefully
lifted from its hiding place" [Credit: To Vima]
The Archaeological News Network reports that "[a]rchaeologists excavating at Zominthos, a small plateau in the northern foothills of Mount Ida (Psiloritis) on the Greek island of Crete, have unearthed a rare stone libation altar inscribed with the enigmatic Minoan Linear A script. [...] Dr. Effie Sapouna-Sakellarakis, who discovered the rare artifact a few days ago during the excavation of the large building complex at Zominthos."
The altar is 20x20 cm, and consists of three stepped tiers or levels that extend upwards from the base. A small hollow cavity is found on the altar’s otherwise flat surface, and each of the altar’s twelve sides or registers is inscribed with symbols of the Linear A script.
Zominthos (Ζώμινθος) is a small plateau in the northern foothills of Mount Ida, οn the island of Krete. It is roughly 7.5 kilometers west of the village of Anogia, on the path from Knossos to Idaion Andron, the great sanctuary cave near the peak of Ida. Zominthos is best known for the large Minoan building discovered there; signs of permanent settlement date back to about 1800 BC. According to Dr. Sapouna-Sakellarakis:
“The study of the inscription will take time and will certainly be conducted by specialists of the Minoan script in the hope that it will reveal important information about the rituals that took place at Zominthos around 3,500 year ago”
Personally, I get very excited when finds like these are made. The Minoan culture is a very specific culture, and while it influenced the culture of Hellas, it did not equate it. Still, even evidence of the predecessors of ancient Classical culture could tell us something about them. When that translation comes in, I'll get the information to you. In the mean time, you can keep up to date on information concerning the Zominthos excavations here.
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