Mycenian spoke and wrote also in Proto-Slavonian

1st: VO-DI-JE-JA-stroke-KE-MI-NI-JA-

2nd: MA-NO-stroke-A-RE-CHA-SA-DA-RA-

3rd: RI-TA-RA-stroke-NE-TA

4th: E-RI-TU-VA-NA-stroke-TE-O-DO-RA

5th: O-TO-VO-VI-JE-TU-KA-TE

6th: A-NE-Á-stroke-TU-KA-TE

7th: PI-RO-VO-NA-KI-RA

8th: ??-KA-RO-stroke-KE-TI-DE

9th: ??-??-??-??-??-VO-ME

10th: ??-??-??-??-??-??-RA

11th missing

12th missing

13th missing

Transliteration of the vertical inscription: SE(or RE?)-stroke-??-??-KE-RA-ME-stroke-KI-RA

Copy of a clay tablet fragment in Archeological Museum at Mycenae.

In the transliteration of rows the strokes at the ends of rows have been omitted as well as the circle signs with four dots inside interpreted by the scientific community as „QE” sings with the meaning of „sum”. The reading of this sign as „QE” (Nr. 78 of the Ventris table) is an error and a correct reading should be ŠČĚ or ČE (pronunciation rules see below). According to Horák (1991) the phonetical value was acrophonically derived from „ščětúr“ (four). „Sčjot“ in Russian, which has similar pronunciation, means „calculation“ or „bill“. According to other clay tablets, „ščě“ used to have a broader meaning like „besides“ and „on top of that“.

Transcription of the clay tablet is in Proto-Slavonic using Czech diacritic signs followed by English transcription. Czech signs are used because of their shortness. Rules for pronunciation:

š ….. like “-sh” in “English”

č ….. like “cz-” in “Czech”

šč ….like “š” + “č” in one expiration. Let the air flow as if you would like to pronounce many „š“ – like „šššššššššš“ – and at the end of this „š“ tone up the air flow and exspirate „č“. The air flow change you realize with your tongue pressing against velum palatinum. When you have learned it, you reduce the number of „š“ just to one.

v ……like “v-“ in “value”; The present transliteration using „w-“ was left. There is no difference in pronunciation between „w” and „v“. This is the reason why do I transliterate VODIJE and not WODIJE.

CH …like “-ch-” in “Lochness”.

Ě…….like “YE”

Á…….like “-a-“ in “car”

Strokes on the tablet between the signs are not word delimiters but they are graphemes of speech sounds not coded in Linear B. So far recorded on various tablets they are according to the meaning these following „-s –šč –j –n –č –r –m –c –t –v –ch –d -k” derived at the ends of words. In the following transcription they are written in small letters.

1st VODIJE......JA-šč ...KE ...MI....NI....JA

.......guiding…..work.....to....me...not….I…….(to him)

2nd MÁ............NO-v ..............ARECHA....SADARA

........he has….new-fresh...…nuts………..fruit-grower’s

3rd RITA….....RA-n…….NĚ….TA

.......scruffs.….early…….not …here

4th row has two variants:

.......ĚRI..................TU.......VÁNA-m........TĚ…..ODORA

.......they believe...here…the Vanas …that....they worked it off by ploughing

5th O...........TOVO.................VIJE......TUKA............TĚ

.......at the ...feeding time ...driving...the turkey.....that

6th A…....NĚ.....Á - stroke - .....TUKA......TĚ

.......without ...............?..............turkey ....?

7th PIROVaO....NA..................KIRA

.......feasted……for {at, on} …rent?

8th ?U?-KA-RO-šč.....KE-TI-DE

Clay tablet from Archeological Museum at Mycenae

Kredit Gautier Poupeau, Wikimedia

The  reading of the 8th row is uncertain as the leading sign is missing

U-KÁ-RO-šč.may mean reproaching or censuring . Based on an analogy to tablet PY Ta 711 .

Meaning of KE-TI-DE unknown.

Transcription of the vertical inscription (not shown in this display), possibly 14th row, is

SE(or RE?)-stroke-??-??-KERAMĚ-j…..KIRÁ

……………………………...ceramist…….is doing charges

VODIJE ≈ guiding, similar to srbcr. "voditi" meaning to lead, guide

VODÍ JE = he-she guides them, is another possible reading

JA-šč = work or working, „jášč“ means also „producing-exercising“ and appears also in words like „dajášč“ („giving“, HG IV-16, AH_str 27), „larojašč“ („chiselling“, inscription on a statue of an actor at Volterra amphitheatre, AH_str193), „načánjašč“ („beginning“, Stela from Novilar, AH_str150), „rujášč“ („plowing“, Kn 1416, AH_str81) and several other.

WO-DI-JE-JA could be found on PY Cn 1287, MY V 659, KN Ap 639.3, PY Ub 1318.3, Vn 34.1 probably followed by a stroke which till this time was interpreted as a word delimiter. Of course, this is wrong because JA and a stroke interpreted as „šč“ form an integral word „jašč“.

KE ME = to me, pronunciation probably „ke mje“, dat. sg.

NI = no, not

JA = I

NI JA = not me

MÁ = he-she has

NO-v = new or fresh

ARECHA = nuts, in Belorussian „apзхi“ (pronounce like „aréchi“), in Russian „opéхи“ (pronounce like „arjéchi“), „urra“ in Basque language. A change from „a-“ to „o-“ like e.g. „arecha“ into Czech „ořechy“ and in other Slavonic languages you will also find in PY Cn 1287: ařějom“ (we are ploughing) into „ořeme“ (we are ploughing); and in AH_str43, AH_str44.

Model of Mycenae castle where the tablet was found

Kredit State University of New York

http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH209images/Mycenaean/Mycenae_recon.jpg

SADARA = fruit-grower’s or better plant-grower’s (gen. sg.); „sadar“ would be „fruit-grower“ (nom. sg.)

ARECHA SADARA = „арэхі садавода“ in Belorussian, "ořechy sadaře" in Czech

RITA = scruff, rag, marsh, bog. swamp, covered with reeds

RA-n = morning, early

NĚ = no, not

TA = „here“ or „there“

NĚ TA = „not here“ or „not there“

ĚRI = they believe, in Czech „věří“,

TU = here, only that

VÁNA-m = the Vanas, the Slavs, dat.sg., see also AH_str190, AH_str193, AH_str157, AH_str55

TĚ = that

ODORA = 2.,3. sg. of the srbcr. verbum "odorati" meaning work off by plowing

O = at certain time

TOVO = feeding, similar to srbcr. "toviti" meaning putting on weight

VIJE ≈ similar to srcr. "vijati"  ⇒ "on vije" = he drives, persues, chases, goes after

TUKA = turkey

TĚ = perhaps "that"

A  NĚ ≈ similar to "without"

A-stroke = there are several possible interpretations in srbcr.: "ad" means hell or underworld, "al" means pink, "am" has the same meaning like "ham" and means yoke, "ar" means shame or square measurement "are", "as" means a roman coin, "at" means a breeding studhorse

PIROVO ≈ similar to "pirovao" meaning "he feasted", from srbcr. "pirovati", also a wedding or a celebration, in Serbian „pirovati“ also means „to banquet“ or „to celebrate a wedding“

NA- = means to do something till the end

KIRA = rent, rental, in srbcr. „kirija“ means „rent“, „leasing“, „freight“

NAKIRA = he is charging

UKAROŠČ = possible meaning "censuring, remonstranting " because  the stem („-kar-“ or „-karo-“) suggests a possible connection to „káraja“ (reproach for, preach, take control of),  translation according tablet PY Ta 711

KERAMĚ-j = wheeler or potter, also found on tablet PY Cn-1287. Findings of the same words on other clay tablets supports strongly (validates) the Proto-Slavonic hypothesis.

An English reader might be surprized that various Slavonic languages like Serbian, Croatian and Belorisan are being used as reference languages. As a matter of fact, Slavonic languages developed very early and they can view back at least a 12000 years old history. They have reached a very solid level of development which is sufficient up to the present. Some words did not change for several thousands of years. For example the word „kiša“ or „kiše“ (in Serbian „rain“ or „it is raining“) which is being used in meteorological TV-news, you may also find on the clay tablet from Hagia Triada HT-87 in the form „NI KIŠE“ (= „it does not rain“) approximattely 4000 years old. And, of course, written in Linear A. The same holds for this tablet where we could identify Serbian "pirovo" (wedding, celebration) and "nakira" (charging).

Mycenae castle from bird’s-eye

Kredit State University of New York

http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH209images/Mycenaean/Mycenae_aerial.jpg

He is adding work to me, not I him

He has new (fresh) fruit-grower’s nuts

There are no scruffs in the morning here

Here they believe Vanas that they work it off by ploughing

At the feeding time he chases the turkey

Without {underworld, pink, yoke, shame, coin, studhorse} turkey

Translation of vertical inscription is only partially possible: „???… the ceramist is charging”

Up to now the scientists assumed Linear B tablets represent accounting data, various lists of goods or executed work. This tablet proves something different. Linear B was not used only for bureaucratic and administrative purposes. As we have seen at second sight - i.e. the initial translation - this tablet shows assertions which could be understood in various ways: list of issues, list of arguments or points. They concern work, relationships between co-workers, wedding etc. But if we examine the endings of the rows then at third sight we surprisingly observe a rhyme:

1st row: -JA

2nd row:.......-RA

3rd row: -TA

4th row:.......-RA

5th row: -TE

6th row: -TE

7th row:.......-RA

8th row: -DE

9th row: -ME

10th row:......-RA

---

14th row:......-RA

This means the tablet might be a record of a poem or a song - unfortunately incomplete. Against this background the ŠČĚ sign might not represent a sum of some commodity and might have completely different meaning. And indeed, ŠČĚ might mean ŠČĚPATI which in Serbian means „get by the hand“. And we may speculate that ŠČĚ plus two strokes at the end of the line might be a sign instructing to do something during singing or dancing.

Until we do not have proves for this circumstance, we should also keep in mind Horak’s interpretation that strokes on the right hand side camouflage the real content of the tablet as the ruling class was not literate and the Slavonic slaves could write.

On a discussion forum JS Lopes argued that:

"Female form of Alexandros would be Alexaneira, not "Alexandra", that is a name too recent, probably from XIX or XX centuries. But a final -andra is present in Kassandra, what make an Alexandra possible, maybe this ANDRA was a Pre-Greek suffix, not related to Greek aner, andros.
And add to A(l/m/n/r/s) also final -i:  A(l/m/n/r/s/i)". This means an interpretation of the second line as "Alexandra" would be very improbable.

http://tech.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/66877

In 1941 Max Vasmer published his book Die Slaven in Griechenland where he collected 2195 geographical Greek names of Slavonic origin. The aim of this book was to document the settlements of Slavs in Greece in the 6th century AD. But taking the MY V 659 tablet into account we have a prove that the word "areha" means nuts and that the folloing list supports t the idea  of autochton settlements of Slavs in Greece and Europe at all.

A list of 20 Slavonic (or Protoslavonic?) village names in Greece which are in relation to “nuts”.

1. Ἀραχοβίτσα ON, Kr. Argithea, Karditsa (Lex., Stat. Ap.). Aus slav. Orěchovica wie oben S. 21. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_5.htm#1

2. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Philiatōn (Lex., A.), aus altslav. Orěchovo zu orěchъ »Nuß, Nußbaum«, s. Hilferding I 287, Miklosich, Bildung 291. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_1a.htm#2

3. Ἀραχοβίτσα ON, Kr. Joannina (Lex., A.). Belegt auch als Ἀρεαχοβίτζαν, Acc. s. Epirotica, Frgm. 2 ed. Bonn. S. 227, 13. Der Name stammt aus altslav. Orěchovica. Vgl. skr. ON Orahavica. Weitere Belege s. Miklosich, Bildung 291. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_1a.htm#2

3. Ἀράχοβα ON. Kr. Parakampylíōn (St. Ap., Lex., Nuch.) aus slav. Orěchovo wie oben S. 21. Vgl auch Hilferding I 291. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_1a.htm#3

4. Ἀραχοβίστα O. N., Kr. Ktimeniōn (St. Ap., Lex., Nuch.) aus slav. Orěchovica wie oben S. 21. — Hilferding I 291 liest fälschlich Δραχοβίτσα und deutet den Namen von einem slav. *Dragovica. Die ersten Lesung ist gesichert und entscheidet die Deutung gegen Hilferding. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_4.htm#3

Ἀραχοβίτσα ON, Kr. Argithea, Karditsa (Lex., Stat. Ap.). Aus slav. Orěchovica wie oben S. 21. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_5.htm#1

5. Ἀράχοβα ON am Krisäischen Meerbusen = altgriech. Ἀνεμώρεια nach R. und Neumann-Partsch, Griechenland 166. Es steckt darin ein slav. *Orěchovo wie oben S. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_10.htm#521.

2. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Lebadeia (Stat. Ap., Lex.). Nuch. nennt den Ort Ῥάχοβα. Bei R. findet sich Ῥάχωβα und Δῆμος Ἀραχώβης. Aus slav. *Orěchovo wie oben S. 21. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_11.htm#2

Ἀραχοβίτικα ON, Kr. Trikkala (Nuch., fehlt in den Stat. Ap.). Eine griechische Neubildung von einem *Ἀράχοβα. In der Nähe dieses Ortes liegt Καρυώτικα. Also zwei »Nußorte«. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_14.htm#1

5. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Aigieis (Nuch., Stat. Ap., Lex,). Aus slav. Orěchovo. Also »Nußort« wie oben S. 21 und 114. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_16.htm#5

6. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Phelloē (Lex., Stat. Ap.). Dafür Ῥάχοβα bei R und Nuch. Zu deuten wie der vorhergehende Name. Ἀραχοβίτικα ON, http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_16.htm#5

1. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Buphagiōn (Nuch., Stat. Ap., Lex.). Am slav. Orěchovo »Nußort« wie oben S. 21. Eine griechische Ableitung haben wir in Ἀραχαμίτες ON, Kr. Tripolis, nach R II 713. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_19.htm#1

5. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Kalamia (Nuch., Stat. Ap., Lex.). Ein »Nußort«, slav. Orěchovo bzw. Orěchova, wie oben S. 21 und 150. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_20.htm#1

6. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Messene (Lex.). Zu deuten wie der vorige Name. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_20.htm#1

2. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Leuktru, südlich von Kardamyle (Nuch., Stat. Ap., Lex.). Wohl identisch mit Ἀρέχοβα locus Mainae, a. 1618 bei Mikl.-Müller III 272. Entspricht einem slav. Orěchovo bzw. Orěchova »Nußort«, wie oben S. 150. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_21.htm#2

3. Ἀράχοβα ON, Kr. Oinúntos (Nuch., Stat. Ap., Lex.). Zu identifizieren mit Ἀράχοβα Μεγάλη »in Laconia on the western slope of the Parnon Mountains; according to the Chronicle of Morea in the confines of Skorta« (s. J. Schmitt, The chronicle of Morea, Glossar s. v.). Etymologisch zu deuten wie das vorige. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_21.htm#2

104. Ὀρέχοβον ἢ Ῥάχοβα ON, Kr. Florina (Lex.), bei K. Orěchovo. Nach K. nur Bulgaren. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_23b.htm

105. Ὄροβνικ auch Καρυαί, ON, Kr. Florina (Lex.), nach K. Orovnik. Aus *Orěchovьnikъ »Nußort«, wie die griechische Form Καρυαί zeigt. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_23b.htm

111. Ῥάχοβα ON, Kr. Berrhoia (Lex.), fehlt bei K. Es ist ein »Nußort«, slav. Orěchovo bzw. Orěchova. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_23d.htm

112. Ῥεάχοβον Ort unweit Lozikin und Rendini 2, urk. a. 1327, s. Viz. Vrem. XVII 240. Auch Ῥεάχοβα nach urk. a. 1286, s. Viz. Vrem. XIII 27. Aus slav. *Orěchovo. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_23d.htm

144. Λασκοβίκια ἢ Λακοβίκια ON, Kr. Zichne (Lex.), fehlt bei K. Der erste Name ist als »Haselnußort« zu stellen zu bulg. Lěskovec (oft), skr. Leskovac, sloven. Leskovec (beides sehr häufig) und beruht auf der Vorstufe eines altslav. *Lěskovьcь. Der zweite griechische Name ist offenbar aus dem ersten umgestaltet durch volksetymologische Anlehnung an griech. Λάκκος »Graben«. http://www.promacedonia.org/en/mv/mv_3_23e.htm

The most important finding is that the writer knew Proto-Slavonic and that the tablet is not a form of Proto-Greek. Also, on this tablet we have a testimony how the Slavs called themselves, namely VANAs. In some details, the translation might not be fitting in each word as we do not know the language to a sufficient extent and about 25-30 signs are missing but we must opposite Michael Ventris conclusion that A-RE-HA-SA-DA-RA means ALEXANDRA. In fact, the meaning is "fruit-grower’s nuts".

srbcr = serbocroatian

sg. = singular

pl. = plural

nom. = nominative

gen. = genitive

dat. = dative

acc. = accusative

AH_str... = citation of Horák (1991) plus page (str...) -

Antonín Horák: O Slovanech úplně jinak, Publisher Lípa, Vizovice, 1991.

Kadmos. Band 4, Heft 2, Seiten 138-145, ISSN (Online) 1613-0723, ISSN (Print) 022-7498, DOI: 10.1515/kadm.1965.4.2.138,//1965

http://www.reference-global.com/doi/abs/10.1515/kadm.1965.4.2.138

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruceheam/1018705197/in/set-721576012388296705

http://mycenae-excavations.org/databases.html

The author thanks Petr Jandáček for fruitful English suggestions.

Updated January 2011