Iliad scene shows pre-literate Greeks using personal symbols as proto-writing evidence. Iliad Book VII lines 161-232 describes nine warriors each placing unique personal marks during lot-casting for combat Warriors did not coordinate their symbols beforehand, each independently knew their own mark Scholars argue this demonstrates symbolic language systems for personal identification existed among pre-literate Greeks
The Iliad describes a fascinating moment: 9 warriors casting lots, each using their own unique symbol without coordinating ahead. This scene from Book VII suggests pre-literate Greeks had personal symbolic "signatures" - a form of proto-writing! Scholars think such systems may stretch back around 40,000 years in Europe. Circles, crosses, lines - these simple marks carried real meaning for identification.
Key Facts
- Iliad Book VII lines 161-232 describes nine warriors each placing unique personal marks during lot-casting for combat
- Warriors did not coordinate their symbols beforehand, each independently knew their own mark
- Scholars argue this demonstrates symbolic language systems for personal identification existed among pre-literate Greeks
- The scene supports theories that proto-writing with symbols like circles, crosses, and lines was used for identity representation
- Critics of strict writing definitions argue Chinese logographic writing also does not map directly to pronunciation
- The video connects this to other proposed proto-writing systems including the Vinca script and possibly Göbekli Tepe stones
- Scholars suggest such symbolic systems may date back approximately 40,000 years in Europe
Source: this scene in the Iliad helps the case for "European Proto-Writing" by Timeless with Fred Snyder