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Te Kohinga Tangata

Collection Record

Cast

Phaistos Disk

Cast of original discovered in 1908 at the palace of Phaistos in Crete. At some point after 2000 BC writing reached Crete. Where it came from (Egypt or Mesopotamia), is not known. The writing on the Phaistos disk consists of hieroglyphs or picture writing, but these are unintelligible. Contemporary with the Phaistos disk is Linear A a script of simple abstract sounds which has also not been decoded. A third writing system, Linear B, has been deciphered and represents an early form of Greek. Approximately 1700 BC

D19.150

Details

Measurements
166mm
Media/Materials
plaster, processed material
Credit Line
Gift of Daniel Colquhoun, Tūhura Otago Museum Collection
Rights
CC BY-NC/Creative Commons, CC BY-NC/Creative Commons
Department
Antiquities, Archaeology
Accession Number
D19.150
On Display
Yes

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