Reflections on Linear B (part 14) – Sign 76 (with two parallel wavy lines pronounced /ra/); possible derivation from the river traveled nightly by the sun god Ra.

Author

Gerald Leonard Cohen, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Editor(s)

Gerald Leonard Cohen

Abstract

This article suggests that the two parallel wavy lines in Linear B sign 76 depict the river traveled nightly by the Egyptian sun god Ra. Also:

1. The Egyptian influence was likely exerted already on the Linear A and Cretan hieroglyphic antecedents of Linear B sign 76.

2. Variants of Linear B sign 76 contain a horizontal line across the two wavy vertical lines. The present article suggests the horizontal line might indicate one of the river’s twelve gates that Ra had to navigate through in his nightly journey.

3. But the single line for that one gate was likely an abbreviated form intended to stand for all twelve gates.

Recommended Citation

Cohen, G. L. (2026). Reflections on Linear B (part 14): – Sign 76 (with two parallel wavy lines pronounced /ra/; possible derivation from the river traveled nightly by the sun god Ra. Comments on Etymology, vol. 55, no.5, pp. 1-11, Feb. 2026. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Department(s)

Arts, Languages, and Philosophy

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2026 Gerald Leonard Cohen, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

February 2026