Some notes on Mycenaean prosopography: the Knossian ‘shepherds’, their names, and their roles in Mycenaean society

This paper presents a critical reassessment of the assumed direct correlation between the Greek or non-Greek character of the anthroponyms recorded in the Linear B documents from Knossos and the ethnic or social identity of the individuals to whom these names are attributed. The analysis centres on the D- series tablets from Knossos – a well-structured corpus relating to pastoral activities, in which individuals occupying distinct roles are clearly attested – thereby allowing for a robust prosopographic investigation. The study contends that the relationship between naming practices and ethnic identity is far from straightforward, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of naming as primarily a social practice. The conclusion reached is that Mycenaean onomastics may offer a useful framework for interpreting the broader organisation of Knossian society at the end of the Bronze Age, but without necessarily implying sociolinguistic significance.