Preliminary Notes (Dq series)

The tablets belonging to the series Dq fall into four sub-groups which are usually called ‘sets’ – conventionally, these are known to include Dq(1), Dq(2), Dq(3) and Dq(4), and are generally attributed to scribes H 121, H 216, H 217 and H 106, respectively.

This series, thus attributed to four scribes, records flocks of sheep made up either of rams alone, or of rams and ewes, or rams and ewes including old sheep / deficits.

Sets Dq(2), Dq(1) and Dq(3) seem to be linked to the administrative work of scribe H 117. This important scribe is known to have compiled numerous documents (Da, Db, Dc, Dd, De, Df, Dg, Dh, Dk, Dm, Dn, Dp and Dv).

Set Dq(3), to which the subject of this article belongs, comprises eleven texts. Seven of these are attributed to scribe H 217, while four remain of uncertain attribution. The find-spot is unknown and it is difficult to date the tablet with confidence. However, a comparison with the other tablets of the same set suggests that it may be dated approximately to LM IIIA2 (towards the end of 14^th cent. BC). This set appears to present analogous formulas to those used by scribe H 117: shepherd + toponym + (collector) + sheep.

Dq(3) 7126

The tablet Dq(3) 7126, in fact, presents two lines of writing, albeit very fragmentary. On the upper part there is only one incomplete word, which may be interpreted as an anthroponym, probably the name of a collector. Collectors are usually written in the genitive, as it seems in this case. On the lower part, the text presents a toponym + a logogram, OVIS^m.

Although the tablet is very fragmentary, its content may still be inferred; in all probability, it originally recorded the rams, and perhaps the relative wool, managed by an unknown collector whose name is partially preserved, ]ko-ta-o, but of whom unfortunately there is no other certain attestation.

The anthroponym, originally recorded first, has been lost, while trace remains of indications of the type of livestock: rams.

.a               ]ko-ta-o     [

.b        pa-]i-to             ỌṾỊS^m[

.a              ]ko-ta-o     [

.b (At) Phaistos: rams

]ko-ta-o: probably, an anthroponym in the genitive singular. Probably hapax.

Pa-i-to: toponym, in the locative (/ nominative of rubric). This is a place name of pre-Greek origin, generally interpreted as /P^haistos/ (: Φαιστόϛ). The geographical localization in the plain of the Mesara, to the south of river Ieropotamos, is unanimously accepted.

⇒ Further information on LiBER

This ‘palm-leaf’ tablet is badly fragmented and abraded. It is therefore difficult to analyse this text.

Probably, analogously to other documents compiled by scribe H 117, the tablet originally measured ca. <12> x 2.3/2.4 x 1 cm (Olivier 1967).

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