The Arkalochori Axe is a 2nd millennium BC Minoan bronze votive double axe (labrys) excavated by Spyridon Marinatos in 1934 in the Arkalochori cave on Crete, which is believed to have been used for religious rituals. It is inscribed with fifteen symbols.

It has been suggested that these symbols might be Linear A, although some scholars disagree.

Arkalochori Axe

The labrys and the Phaistos Disc are conserved in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. They share some symbols.

Arkalochori Axe

Inscription

Of the fifteen signs, two appear to be unique. The following suggestions for comparison with Linear A and Phaistos Disc glyphs are attributed to Torsten Timm (2004). Reading top to bottom, right to left, the symbols are:

Arkalochori Axe

Note that reading top to bottom, right to left after turning the inscription counterclockwise gives a different sequence and numbering of the glyphs. The alternative sequence is suggested to be translatable as a text with a dedicatory offering to Tammuz.

See also

Phaistos Disc

Dispilio tablet

References

Cretan hieroglyphs

Minoan archaeological artifacts

Axes

Archaeological discoveries in Greece

Ancient Greek metalwork

1934 archaeological discoveries

Minoan art

2nd-millennium BC works

Bronze objects

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Ancient art in metal