Minoan
English
Etymology
Sir Arthur Evans, not knowing the Minoan term for 'Minoan' at the time, coined this name in the early 20th century, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek Μίνως (Mínōs), the mythical king of Crete. The actual name is probably reflected in Egyptian *Káftayu (spelled out in Egyptian only as kftiw) and Biblical Kaphtor.
Adjective
Minoan (not comparable)
- Of or relating to the civilization that developed in Crete from the neolithic period to the Bronze Age (about 3000-1050 B.C.E.).
- Of or relating to the writing systems (Linear A and Linear B) used in Crete and later in mainland Greece.
- Of or relating to the ancient language of the Minoans which died out by the beginning of the 1st millennium B.C.E..
Translations
Of or relating to the civilization that developed in Crete from the neolithic period to the Bronze Age
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Noun
Minoan (plural Minoans)
- A Cretan who belonged to the Minoan civilization.
Translations
Minoan
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Proper noun
Minoan
- the language written in Linear A