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AUTHOR(S): Giannakos Konstantinos
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ABSTRACT In the pre-mechanized era, the animals offered the required energy and traction power to agricultural work (e.g. plowing) and transport both in peaceful periods and in war operations. This presentation examines the recordings of the Mycenaean Age Linear B tablets (1450-1200 BC), from which the use of livestock and its utilization in these activities are implied. Oxen are recorded “u n a = we-ka-ta1 = ϝεργᾱται = workers” (obviously used in agricultural work), horse-pulled chariots and the tack of the horses, etc. The great importance that was attributed at that time to the contribution of livestock to the economy is also emphasized by: (a) the chariot in Linear B is called “e I p = i-qi-ja = ἱππία = (h)ippia”, from Greek (h)ippos = horse, namely the “pulled by horse” (vehicle), and, (b) Local deities are probably recorded: "Horse-Goddess", "Bullock-deity" and other Animal-deities. Furthermore, this article presents some individual parameters of daily life, related to animals, as recorded on the tablets. A possible efficiency comparison between the horses’ and oxens may also be based on relative later measurements (e.g. of James Watt in 1782-1786 AD and modern Universities and the Food Agriculture Organization [FAO] of the United Nations). |
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KEYWORDS Linear B script, Linear B Tablets, Chariot tablets, horse, chariot, oxen, agriculture, transportation, Watt, pair (of animals). |
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Cite this paper Giannakos Konstantinos. (2025) Mycenaean Linear B script: Records of Livestock as Source(s) of Energy in Agriculture and Transportation. International Journal of Cultural Heritage, 10, 21-36 |
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