Linear B Ideograms Unicode Block

The Unicode block "Linear B Ideograms" encompasses a collection of characters used to represent ideograms found in the Linear B script, an ancient script primarily used for writing Mycenaean Greek, which dates back to the second millennium BCE. This script was used predominantly on the island of Crete and the Greek mainland, and it provides crucial insights into the administrative activities of Mycenaean civilization. Linear B was deciphered in the 1950s, revealing its significance in recording economic transactions, inventories, and other bureaucratic matters within palatial centers such as Pylos, Knossos, and Mycenae.

The ideograms within the Linear B Ideograms Unicode block serve as symbolic representations of various entities, primarily commodities, animals, and other valuable items. These symbols complement the syllabic script of Linear B, elucidating the types and quantities of goods managed by the Mycenaean economy. The ideograms present in this Unicode block are standardized, allowing for digital preservation and scholarly analysis of ancient texts. Through this encoding, researchers and enthusiasts of ancient scripts can access and utilize these characters, contributing to a broader understanding of the Mycenaean period and its cultural and economic practices. Understanding these symbols is essential for anyone studying protohistoric scripts, offering a glimpse into the complex systems of record-keeping that existed long before the advent of alphabetic writing.

View a range of fonts that support the Linear B Ideograms block.

Below you will find all the characters that are in the Linear B Ideograms unicode block. Currently there are 123 characters in this block.