The Phaistos disc-alias the Minoan calendar
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Reading 1
Introductory remarks
It is fascinating, when the
opportunity occurs to make oneself familiar with a message, passed on by a
fellow human being, who lived some 3,500 years ago in a now extinct
civilization. This prospect was realized once again by the find of the Phaistos
disc on Crete in 1908. The famous object is described brilliantly several times
(i). Consequently I shall come straight to the point: how can we penetrate into
the secret, which is hidden behind the seal-imprints on the disc? Do we have
any other methods to approach the contents, than to ascribe phonetic or
numerical values to the signs?
Experimenting by inserting
syllables for the signs, has resulted in scores of equilibristic translations;
that is why the prevailing opinion is that linguistic interpretations are to be
regarded as dubious. Only more and similar findings will certify a correct
linguistic solution, if any.
Conversely, how would a
complex ideographical system be capable of confirming itself? The setter of the
signs has taken the trouble to divide the 244 signs into groups by 60
cross-dividers. My question is therefore: are any further subdivisions of the
61 signgroups to be performed? To attempt this question, I used a relatively
simple method as I introduce a stem-concept for the inscription, as two signs
in regular order recurring together in a minimum of one more signgroup. I then
proceed to enumerate the functions, that follow in the wake of this definition
(ii). This shows to be a promising method of investigation, which so to speak
provides a fixed framework for the inscription; conceivably even a calendar. In
fact: only the succession of the signgroups remains unclear, when the stems are
defined (iii).
The 22 defined stem-forms are
at the same time introductory and conclusive, as they are not consolidated
before the accordances that they bring about, finally turn up as an answer to
enumerations. When the signs outside the stems are redoubled (in a way like the
stems themselves), it is almost impossible not to see the calendar aspects.
Briefly and to the point, I
have designed a dozen figures, these illustrations, together with the legends
to match, are the principal part of my investigation. Having introduced the
stems, the figures can be studied profitably in themselves. After all, I have
tried my hand at a subordinated text.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This epigraphic document is a thorough and sober
structural and functional analysis of the Phaistos-disc inscription. It is based primarily on a combination of
the characters in its 61 signgroups (the same principle as in pictorial
lottery), and quickly shows a highly significant statistical outcome.
My analysis is sufficient to reveal the inscription
to be a coherent, ideographic system inside the framework of an accurate
ancient calendar.
Henceforth the subject should no longer be taken as
suspect.
About the Author
Contrary to my deciphering of the Phaistos disc
inscription, my biographical data is not particularly exciting. I was born in Jaegersborg near Copenhagen,
the capitol of Denmark. My father was a
surgeon. As a child, I was preoccupied
by drawing. Some years after ending
school, I decided to be a painter and luckily, I got admitted to the Academy of
Fine Arts in Ǻrhus in 1971.
Later, in the seventies, I traveled a lot in the
rest of Europe to experience all the famous art collections. Under a sojourn in Crete in 1978, I visited
the Heraklion Museum, which is where the Phaistos disc is stored, and soon
decided to devote myself to the deciphering of this inscription.
Back in Denmark, I took a year of high school, and
then afterwards, I finally started my research on the topic. Eventually, in 1984, I felt convinced that I
did possess the solution key for the inscription in the shape of the 22
stemforms. I then approached Roskilde
University Center (RUC) in 1985, who agreed in publishing my discovery, but on
account of the pressure of work, my pre-print “Phaistos-skiven, en strukturanalyse” was first issued in 1988
(included in the Scandanavian Selection on Harvard College Library, 1988).
It shall be no secret that I’ve tried to have my
deciphering published by the dozens of publishing houses worldwide since 1988,
but I first became successful now, thanks to 1stBooks.