Earliest Greek language reference to divinities is in Linear B tablets from Mycenaean “Palace” sites, mostly from Pylos (Peloponnesus) and Knossos (Crete).
Linear B fromn Knossos: http://u.cs.biu.ac.il/~reznikov/Crete08/LinearB.jpg
Mycenae ivory figurines… goddesses? http://www.indiana.edu/~dmdhist/mycenaeivorygoddesses.jpg
Mycenae, “cult center” (reconstruction in Mycenae Archaeological Museum, goddess?: https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/157/flashcards/22157/jpg/detail_of_fresco_from_room_1335756738742.jpg
Mycenaean figurines… votives? http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/hb/hb_35.11.16-.18.jpg
Mycenae terra-cotta head… goddess? http://catherinemayoauthor.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/26.-Mycenaean-goddess-from-Mykenai.jpg
Mycenae fresco… goddess? priestess? holding grain: http://users.stlcc.edu/mfuller/Greece2009/669wallPaintingWomanWowSm.jpg
Mycenaean Signet Ring from Tiryns… worship? http://40.media.tumblr.com/6dc023f21db617a970619f9b7b03e1d7/tumblr_mumx2neYJM1rgfuxjo1_r1_1280.jpg
Mycenae Signet Ring… tree worship? http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qV6y5E7vIJc/TrFtSrDrMOI/AAAAAAAAABU/CDqatjIN9FU/s1600/BL781_H32_196.jpg
The following is from Professor of Classics Dr. John Paul Adams, California State University at Northridge:
MYCENAEAN DIVINITIES
| GOD | Alternative Name | Mycenaean Greek | Place Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZEUS | Jupiter | DI-U-JA (month-name DIWIOIOS) | KNossos |
| HERA | Juno | E-RA | PYlos |
| POSEIDON | Neptune | PO-SE-DO-O and also the cult-title E-NE-SI-DA-O-NE (‘Earth-shaker’) | KN |
| ARES | Mars | . | KN |
| APOLLO | . | PA-JA-WO [= Paian ] | KN |
| HERMES | Mercury | Hermes Araios (Ram) | PY, KN |
| ATHENA | Minerva | A-TA-NA PO-TI-NI-JA (Potnia) | KN |
| DIONYSOS ! | Bacchus | DI-WO-NI-SO-JO | PY |
| EILEITHYEIA | . | E-RE-U-TI-JA | KN |
| ERINYES | Furies | . | KN |
| ANEMOI | The Winds | A-NE-MOI | PY |
| IPHIMEDEIA | Iphigeneia ? | (Homeric person) | KN |
| DAEDALUS | . | (a place called “Daidaleion”) | KN |
Michael Ventris & John Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek second ed. (Cambridge 1973), Document #172 (from Pylos), page 463:
[front]
`In the month of PLOWISTOS. Pylos sacrifice sat PA-KI-JA-NA and brings gifts and leads victims:
-
- For the Mistress (Potnia): one gold cup, one woman
-
- For Mnasa: one gold bowl, one woman
-
- For Posidaeia [Poseidon’swife]: one gold bowl, one woman
-
- For the Thrice-Hero: one gold cup
-
- For the Lord of the House: one gold cup
[back]
Pylos brings sacrifices at the Shrine of Poseidon, and the City leads and brings gifts, and leads victims: For Gwoia (and) Komawenteia: one gold cup, two women
Pylos sacrifices at the shrines of PERSE and IPHIMEDEIA and DIWIA [Mrs.Zeus] and brings gifts and leads victims:
-
- For PERSE: one gold bowl, one woman
-
- For IPHIMEDEIA: one gold bowl
-
- For DIWIA: one gold bowl, one woman
-
- For HERMES AREIA: one gold cup, one man
Pylos sacrifices at the Shrine of Zeus and brings gifts and leads victims:
-
- For ZEUS: one gold bowl, one man
-
- For HERA: one gold bowl, one woman
-
- For DRIMIOS, son of Zeus: one gold bowl
Pylos […. (the tablet breaks off) …..]
TOTAL: 4 cups, 8 bowls, 2 men, 8 women
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