Post originally by Decurio at 2004-07-03 11:11:29
Converted from Phorums BB System

Let me chime in here: when talking about "heroic Greece" we are dealing with a period that has a serious lack of literary sources. Although recent advances in nautical archaeology are shedding a tremendous light on the socially advanced world of the late Bronze Age, we are, based on the literary record, dealing with a society that was for the most part functionally illiterate. Yes, there was is evidence of a "scribe" class (this is common all over the eastern Mediterranean basin during this period), but our evidence-the Lin A and B tablets-is mostly accounting records. E.g., stocks of grain, olive oil, tribute, etc. We have NO evidence of "literature" from heroic Greece. (incidentally, most of the records-not all, ask any Egyptologist-from this period are accounting records). So, if you're attempting to present a picture of Mycenaean society, its going to be mostly functionally illiterate. The beginning of what we would consider "literature" aren't going to be around for another few centuries when "Homer" composes his epics.

Sorry about the rant: I study classics at the University of Texas at Austin and see Dr. Tom Palaima (the man spearheading the translation of the Linear A and B tablets) on a daily basis during the semester. If you ever see him, he digs Bob Dylan

Cheers,
Dec