Counting lunar eclipses using the Phaistos Disk (original) (raw)

The unique fired-clay disk, found by Luigi Pernier in 1908 within the "palace" of Phaistos (aka Faistos), now called the Phaistos Disk, has had its purpose or meaning has been interpreted many times, as linguistic or technical. We provide a calendric interpretation based on the lunar calendars known to apply in Minoan times, finding an elegant solution to predicting repeated eclipses within the Saros period and an observation that the Metonic is just one lunar year longer, true to the context of the Minoan culture before 1700 BC.