2000-year-old Greek disc baffles scientists

CAIRO – 11 July 2022: Gareth Owens, a linguist and archaeologist at the Institute of Technology of Crete, claimed that he was able to decipher one of the ancient Greek archaeological mysteries, which has puzzled researchers for more than a century.

This is in reference to the words found on the Phaistos Disc, which is a clay tablet dating back to 2000 BC. The symbols covering the disc with a spiral ring on both sides have puzzled researchers since its discovery in 1908.

Gareth Owens said that the key to unlocking the secrets of the ancient masterpiece was the Mennonite goddess of love, Astarte. He added that there is no doubt that it is a religious text. According to Owens, this is evident from a comparison made with other religious words from other inscriptions from the Holy Mountains of Crete. The comparison showed completely identical words.

“I also think that the Phaistos Disc is a hymn to Astarte, the goddess of love, and words such as those mentioned on the disc are found in the offerings of Menon”, said Owens.

The Phaistos Disc was discovered by the Italian archaeologist Luigi Bernier in 1908.  It was found in Phaistos, a palace in Crete that was built by the Menon, an ancient and advanced civilization. The message engraved on the artifact has remained a controversial topic among archaeologists since its discovery, Russia Today reported.

This is because it is believed to be written in a language lost when the Mennonite civilization was wiped out in 1450 BC under mysterious circumstances.

Owens believed that one side of the 15 cm wide disk was dedicated to the pregnant mother goddess and the other to Astarte. The findings sparked controversy among fellow experts, but the mystery surrounding this artifact has not yet been fully resolved.

Over the years, researchers have interpreted the disc was a calendar, an astronomy tool, and even a miniature version of a board game. Some experts believe the piece is a hoax created in 1908 to sell to collectors.