The Linear A Inscription IO Za 2 - A Ritual Invocation from the Sanctuary of Tinu and Ida-Mate

This preprint presents a new edition, reconstruction, and linguistic analysis of the Linear A inscription IO Za 2, engraved on a miniature stone libation table from the summit sanctuary of Mount Juktas, Crete. The inscription belongs to the group of ritual texts commonly known as the Minoan Libation Formula and preserves one of the longest and most complete examples currently known. Through comparison with the closely related inscriptions TL Za 1, PK Za 11, PR Za 1, and KO Za 1, the study reconstructs a coherent ritual sequence comprising divine invocation, lamentation, libation, and cultic dedication. Particular attention is devoted to the expressions A-TA-I-JO-WA-JA, JA-DI-KI-TU, JA-SA-SA-RA-ŽA, U-NA-KA-NA-SI, I-PI-NA-MA, and SI-RU-TE, which together form a highly structured ritual formula. The damaged concluding section is reconstructed as TA-NA-RA-TE-U-TI-NU I-DA-MA-TE-QE. The analysis interprets TA-NA-RA as “sanctuary”, TE-U as “of the god”, TI-NU as a divine name comparable to Mycenaean Greek di-wo-nu-so, and I-DA-MA-TE as a pre-Mycenaean form of Demeter independently attested elsewhere in the Linear A corpus. The resulting interpretation identifies the sanctuary of the god Tinu and Ida-Mate as the recipients of the ritual invocation. The study further examines the archaeological context of the inscription within the summit sanctuary of Mount Juktas, including the relationship between the open-air altar complex and the adjacent ritual chasm. By integrating epigraphic evidence, archaeological context, internal textual parallels, and comparative linguistics, the paper argues that IO Za 2 constitutes one of the most important currently known witnesses to Minoan ritual language and religious thought. Together with the companion studies of TL Za 1 and KO Za 1, this publication contributes to the reconstruction of a coherent corpus of Linear A libation inscriptions and provides new evidence for religious terminology, sacred geography, and ritual practice in Bronze Age Crete.