Leaf-shaped Linear B tablet recording sheep, c.1350 BCE, Ashmolean Museum AN1938.850 . © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Sheep tablet

Dimensions l. 11.8 cm, h. 2.6 cm
Materials ceramic
Accession AN1938.850
Findspot Knossos
View in Collection

Leaf-shaped Linear B tablet. It is a typical ‘sheep-tablet’ recording the shepherd (Anthemos or Artemos), the owner or collector (wewesijojo, in genitive that indicates possession), the place were the flock is herded (kutato) and the number of male and female sheep; there is also an ‘opero’ (shortage) of 50 male sheep.

Drawing of leaf-shaped Linear B tablet recording sheep, c.1350 BCE, Ashmolean Museum AN1938.850 . © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

The transcription is given here. De 1648 is its unique reference number among all the tablets found at Knossos. 117 refers to the person who wrote it, identified by their handwriting. OVIS is latin for sheep (labelled as both male and female), which is a convention for transcribing tablets. The syllables refer to the sounds of the Linear B signs.

De 1648 ASHM (1938.850) (117)
.A we-we-si-jo-jo , OVISm 58 OVISf 2
.B a-te-mo , / ku-ta-to o OVISm 50

Further reading

Bendall, Lisa. ‘Two Linear B Tablets from Knossos’, in A. Shapland (ed.), Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum), p. 160-1.

Drawing of leaf-shaped Linear B tablet recording sheep, c.1350 BCE, Ashmolean Museum AN1938.850 . © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Leaf-shaped Linear B tablet recording sheep, c.1350 BCE, Ashmolean Museum AN1938.850 . © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
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