Ancient World's Greatest Puzzle! - The Mystery of the Phaistos Disc

Summary

The script discusses the enigmatic Phaistos Disc, an ancient artifact discovered by Luigi Pernier in Crete, dating back 4,000 years. The disc, featuring 242 unique symbols, has sparked numerous theories about its purpose, from a language to a game board. Despite its fame and the intrigue it generates, the true meaning of the symbols remains a mystery, with some suggesting it's a hoax. The disc's unique features, such as its baked clay and stamped symbols, add to the allure of this unsolved archaeological puzzle.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The script discusses the enigmatic Phaistos Disc, an ancient artifact with undeciphered symbols.
• 📜 The disc dates back 4,000 years and is unique among similar scripts of its time, such as Linear A and Cretan hieroglyphs.
• 🔍 Luigi Pernier, an Italian archaeologist, discovered the disc in the early 20th century at the Phaistos site on Crete.
• 🤔 The disc's purpose remains a mystery, with speculation ranging from administrative text to a game or even a symbol of Greekness.
• 💭 The disc's symbols are a mix of various figures, including men, women, fish, flowers, jars, axes, bees, and doves.
• 🔥 The disc was baked at a high temperature, which is unusual considering the preservation of other clay records.
• 🔖 The symbols on the disc are stamped, not etched, and there is only one known Phaistos Disc.
• 📊 The disc contains 242 signs arranged in logical sequences, suggesting it could be a written language.
• 🚫 The script's uniqueness and the lack of historical context make it difficult to decipher or understand its meaning.
• 🧐 The Phaistos Disc represents the human fascination with mysteries and the desire to understand the unknown.

Q & A

What is the significance of the script found on the Phaistos Disc?

The script on the Phaistos Disc is significant because it is one of the most enigmatic scripts, possibly an isolate, and has remained undeciphered despite extensive study.

How old are the writings on the Phaistos Disc?

The writings on the Phaistos Disc date back approximately 4,000 years.

Who discovered the Phaistos Disc?

The Phaistos Disc was discovered by Luigi Pernier, an Italian archaeologist.

Where was the Phaistos Disc found?

The Phaistos Disc was found in the Phaistos Palace, one of the great Minoan palaces on the island of Crete.

What is the composition of the Phaistos Disc?

The Phaistos Disc is made of clay and is 16 inches in diameter.

What is the nature of the symbols on the Phaistos Disc?

The symbols on the Phaistos Disc are a series of unintelligible, unreadable signs arranged in a spiral pattern on both sides of the disc.

Why is the Phaistos Disc considered captivating?

The Phaistos Disc is captivating due to its mysterious nature, the allure of the unknown, and the challenge it presents to our desire to understand and decipher ancient scripts.

What is the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the Phaistos Disc?

Some skeptics have suggested that the Phaistos Disc might be a hoax, possibly created out of jealousy or to gain fame. However, the archaeological context of its discovery and its dating support its authenticity.

How many symbols are there on the Phaistos Disc?

There are a total of 242 symbols on the Phaistos Disc.

What is the significance of the baking process of the Phaistos Disc?

The Phaistos Disc was purposely baked at a high temperature, which contributed to its preservation and the survival of the symbols, despite the destruction of the Minoan and Mycenaean palaces.

What are some of the interpretations proposed for the symbols on the Phaistos Disc?

Various interpretations have been proposed, including that they could be part of a game, a remnant of Minoan entertainment, or a genuine written language, but none have been definitively proven.

Why is the Phaistos Disc considered a 'Black Swan' in the field of epigraphy?

The Phaistos Disc is considered a 'Black Swan' because it is an isolated instance of a unique and undecipherable script, which prevents the application of the scientific method to understand it.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Enigma of the Phaistos Disc

This paragraph delves into the mysterious Phaistos Disc, an ancient script found in Crete dating back 4,000 years. It discusses the disc's unique and enigmatic nature, its discovery by Luigi Pernier, and the skepticism surrounding its authenticity. The paragraph also touches on the disc's ubiquity in Greek culture and the human fascination with mysteries and the unknown.

05:01

🗓️ Historical Context and Theories

The second paragraph examines the archaeological context of the Phaistos Disc's discovery, its dating, and its relation to other scripts like Cretan hieroglyphic and Linear A. It explores various theories about the disc's purpose, such as a racing game or a remnant of Minoan entertainment, and the challenges in interpreting its symbols. The paragraph also highlights the disc's unique features, like its baked clay composition and the stamped symbols, which add to its enigmatic status.

10:02

🚫 The Curse of the Unique

The final paragraph addresses the difficulty in deciphering the Phaistos Disc due to its unique and isolated nature. It discusses the limitations of the scientific method in understanding the disc and the frustration of scholars like John Chadwick. The paragraph concludes with a metaphor of a dead-end track, emphasizing the current impasse in interpreting the disc's meaning.

Keywords

💡Antiquated writings

Refers to ancient texts or scripts that are very old and often difficult to understand or decipher. In the video, these writings are mentioned to set the stage for the discussion about the enigmatic Phaistos Disc, which is an example of such writings.

💡Phaistos Disc

A clay disc discovered in the archaeological site of Phaistos on the island of Crete. It is known for its unique, spiraling script that has not been deciphered, making it a significant enigma in the field of archaeology and linguistics.

💡Linear A and B

Two distinct scripts used by the ancient Minoans and Mycenaeans in Greece. Linear A is associated with the Minoan civilization, while Linear B is linked to the Mycenaean civilization. Both scripts are significant for understanding ancient Greek history.

💡Luigi Pernier

An Italian archaeologist who discovered the Phaistos Disc in the early 20th century. His discovery has been a subject of fascination and debate among scholars and the public.

💡Minoan civilization

An ancient civilization on the island of Crete, known for its advanced art, architecture, and writing systems. The Minoans are associated with the Phaistos Disc, which was found in one of their palaces.

💡Archaeological context

The circumstances and environment in which an artifact is found, which helps in understanding its age, purpose, and cultural significance. In the case of the Phaistos Disc, its archaeological context supports its authenticity and historical importance.

💡Skepticism

The attitude of doubt or disbelief towards a claim or phenomenon. In the video, skepticism is directed towards the authenticity of the Phaistos Disc and the intentions of its discoverer.

💡Mystery and enigma

Terms that describe something that is puzzling, obscure, or difficult to understand. The Phaistos Disc is a prime example of a mystery and enigma due to its undeciphered script and unknown purpose.

💡Script and symbols

Refers to the system of writing and the individual characters or marks that convey meaning. The Phaistos Disc is covered in symbols, which are part of a script that has not been fully understood.

💡Baking and preservation

The process of heating an object, such as clay, to harden and preserve it. The Phaistos Disc was purposely baked, which has contributed to its preservation over millennia.

💡Logographic and syllabic scripts

Two types of writing systems. A logographic script uses symbols to represent words or morphemes, while a syllabic script uses symbols for syllables. The nature of the script on the Phaistos Disc is unknown, and it could be either or something entirely different.

Highlights

The Antiquated writings on the Old Continental script are enigmatic and date back 4,000 years.

The script is possibly an isolate, known to non-experts and notorious among specialists.

The Phaistos Disc, discovered by Luigi Pernier, is a symbol of Greekness with no real connection to the Greek people.

The disc's image is ubiquitous in Greece, used in various forms of marketing and consumption.

Pernier's discovery of the Phaistos Disc was hailed as the year's greatest discovery.

The Phaistos Disc is captivating due to its mystery and the human desire to understand the unknown.

The disc is a 16-inch piece of clay with symbols that are unreadable and mysterious.

The Phaistos Disc was found in a Minoan palace with few inscriptions, raising questions about its purpose.

The disc's authenticity has been questioned, but the archaeological context of its discovery is reliable.

The disc was found next to a tablet with an early version of Linear A, suggesting a connection to known scripts.

The Phaistos Disc's symbols are unique and resemble those on another disc from a later era.

The disc might not be unique as Minoans were familiar with spirals, seen on rings and cups.

The inscription on the disc is an enigma, with no clear connection to Cretan hieroglyphs.

The disc was purposely baked at a high temperature, ensuring its preservation.

The symbols on the disc are stamped, predating Gutenberg's movable type by centuries.

The Phaistos Disc has 242 signs arranged in logical sequences, suggesting it might be a written language.

The script's nature remains unknown, with no evidence to support it being logographic or syllabic.

The Phaistos Disc is a black swan event, an uncommon and unique instance that cannot be understood.

The disc's mystery remains unsolved, with no scientific method to interpret its symbols.

Transcripts

amidst the Antiquated aan writings

dating back 4,000 years concealed on

cit's Old Continental is a different

script that may or may not be an isolate

but it is undoubtedly the most enigmatic

of them all and just like all the most

enigmatic and secretive Mysteries it's

right in front of us lying in weight in

addition to linear a and Creon

hieroglyphic there is another script

that is as well known to non-experts and

notorious among Specialists like the

Paris iel tower or the Venice Gondola it

is an overused and exaggerated symbol in

Greece its image is ubiquitous stamped

printed painted sketched reproduced and

subjected to gimmicky marketing and

consumption as a component of a concept

of greekness that has no real connection

to the Greek people the feos record

Luigi pernier an Italian archaeologist

discovered the dis in fos one of the

great minoan palaces is early in the

20th century nothing like the extensive

archives Unearthed at knosos in the

northern part of the island which were

filled to the brim with linear a and

Linear B tablets or The Archives of

linear a tablets discovered at the Hagia

triada site a settlement immediately

south of and adjacent to Fisto were

discovered within the palace there

didn't seem to be any writing at all at

vistos pernier wondered how that could

be possible though how could a palace so

large Majestic with its Regal and

opulent staircases have so few

inscriptions dispersed

throughout the last dig was scheduled

for 1908 at this point their money was

running low for more Palace exploration

a difficult time for pernier not least

because he was envious of his competitor

archaeologists and their spectacular

fines or so others around him said

pernier required a major break and he

received precisely that all even his

opponents hailed his discovery of the

fos disc as the year's greatest

discovery fos became well known very

quickly everyone was stunned by the disc

there had never been anything like it

how did this little 16in piece of plain

clay become the Island's symbol the cre

Gondola why is it so captivating the

response is straightforward it can be

found in mystery books Sunday morning

crossword puzzles TV shows that feature

True Crime

and the unrequited love that keeps you

glued to your phone hoping for a message

the solution is hidden in the shadows in

our blind spots in life in the

excitement of applying our analytical

skills and in all of our future

projections and expectations the answer

lies in the most seductive of all

Mysteries the need to understand the

unknown and arrive first to investigate

and to Inuit it to interpret we're easy

pickings for the mysterious it ties us

to what lies is ahead furthermore we

have a strong desire to shine our

flashlights on something the more

obscure it is and the darker the corner

it only requires the smallest of objects

such as the fos disc we can't get enough

a maze of unintelligible unreadable

symbols entices us into a state of

hypnosis furthermore the mystery

surrounds not just the calligraphy but

also its Provence its history and the

circumstances surrounding its Discovery

every everything that surrounds the

Fisto disc Talks Of Confusion trap doors

and unresolved riddles it has the vibe

of Scrabble mixed up with a hint of clue

when someone has a little bit of luck

like our Luigi pernier what occurs first

the slanderers naturally jump to it I

swear to you it's nothing more than a

scam a disc formed by The Bitter jealous

and Glory hungry resentment of an

archaeologist there's no way it's real

we are all being duped by per it's a

fake disc could the gossipers possibly

have a point is it a genuine fake

excellent query let's assess the

circumstances then we have a cash

strapped excavation campaign that is

nearing the end of its funding and

finally we have an Italian archaeologist

caught up in a competitive market one

great discovery could break the impass

in such a situation furthermore anybody

involved in the academic Community is

aware that cooperation and communication

are the best ways to maintain a positive

environment at universities it is far

simpler to contaminate them with evil

and jealousy but enough of the hearsay

now let us examine the facts what is the

true situation here the disc is smooth

well-shaped rim and flawlessly stamped

symbols make it extremely unique it

appears as though it may have been

produced yesterday even if it's not it

appears to be a fake even among

colleagues who are specialists in the

field some people could continue to hold

this belief nonetheless the

archaeological context in which it was

discovered is reliable and strong

similarly its dating can be attributed

to the same time frame that creeton

hieroglyphic and linear a coexisted on

the island albeit in separate areas the

dis was found next to a tablet bearing

an extremely primitive version of linear

a All Things Considered and with the

skeptic's approval we have to come to

the conclusion that pernier never

falsified anything and that the dis is

to use the colloquial term good it's

time to bury this incredible story of

lies and hoaxes this rumor beneath a

mountain of pointless intellectual

discour let the grand Tales end let us

ask some reasonable questions what you

see May a dis like that have had what is

inscribed on it too it is not an

administrative text the fos disc its

spiraling symbols are reminiscent of

those found on another disc from a later

ERA this one made of lead and written in

an at truscan language that is still all

but unintelligible today in his

excavation report pernier quotes the

Magano disc immediately as if to admit

full disclosure I didn't copy anything

though it is only an odd coincidence

there are many similarities between the

two artifacts the dates are just too far

off and there is no historical

connection between creit and ruria what

if it's actually a racing game similar

to Shoots and Ladders unbelievably among

the thousands of interpretations this

has also been proposed on round tablets

the Egyptians played a game called Meen

in which the track resembles a coiling

snake Meen actually means coiled one the

snake God and the track that denotes the

transition from life to death runs along

its body Shoots and Ladders is of course

less horrific and less gloomy in our

present day is the feos disc a remnant

of creton entertainment the creation of

a scribe disinterested in listing Sheep

and Wool I seriously doubt it

furthermore the disc might not be as

unique as we initially believed the

Minoans were familiar with spirals we

can see them on rings for instance where

linear a circles the setting or on your

standard conical cups where the inside

is painted with linear a spirals

painting messages all around the inside

of a goblet this deep is no easy feat

and they are also difficult to read but

this dis is the least readable of them

considering that this is ultimately an

inscription that we are discussing its

inscription is an enigma and an

impossibility once more we find

ourselves at the mercy of the unknown

and this time our only option is to

accept defeat we have to acknowledge

that there are some things we can't

won't or don't know shall we now hang up

the towel a practically unrecognized

able spiral of symbols with many

different types of men in different

attitudes a woman fish flowers jars axes

bees doves and numerous other figures

some of which are repeated can be seen

on both sides that's the minoan world

all right nevertheless there is very

little connection between these symbols

and creton hieroglyphs from where do

they originate what are they doing with

this disc anyway two further Mysteries

are nested within the Enigma of this

thing first to ensure its lifespan it

was purposely baked at a high

temperature a strange event considering

that the only reason the linear a

tablets and Clay records containing

creton hieroglyphs have survived are

because they were burned or cooked in

the Flames that initially destroyed the

minoan and later the Myan palaces the

clay is baked into tablets that are

nearly

unbreakable therefore the fact that

these items were saved and made it to us

in almost excellent shape is just a

wonderful coincidence we'll refer to it

as the aan epigraphers serendipitous

nature the fact that the signs are not

etched into the clay is the second

Enigma they bear stamps centuries before

Gutenberg and his movable type which

would not be invented until the European

Renaissance of the 15th century was the

first printing the characters on this

disc are arranged in a circle and are

all in a row a heat of the game since no

other object was stamped using the

Craton molds this predecessor lacks

historical continuity there is just one

phos dis there are a total of 242 signs

arranged in logical and purposeful word

sequences indicating that this is

probably a genuine written language if

that is the case however are we dealing

with a logographic script in which each

sign denotes a morphe or a syllabic

script such as kraton hieroglyphic and

linear a although the first possibility

has more Merit the hypothesis cannot be

supported by the overall number of

signals and that's the unicom's specific

curse it is impossible to establish or

refute anything not only is it an

isolated instance but it's also a Black

Swan uncommon unique unavoidable and

cursed cursed because it prevents us

from using the scientific method which

means that nobody will ever be able to

understand it the philologist John

Chadwick who assisted Michael Ventress

in deciphering Linear B wrote about the

fos disc with a hint of irony in his

writing if King MOS himself revealed to

someone in a dream the true

interpretation it would be quite

impossible for him to convince anyone

else that his was the one and only

possible

solution clearly story ends here in this

relaunch of Shoots and Ladders we have a

deadend track that prevents anyone from

winning the only light at the end of the

tunnel as they say in Rome is the light

of an approaching

truck