The pictographs below are exact tracings by me of the pictographs
on the Phaistos Disk. Apparently, I am the only person to ever go to the trouble to do this. Before I began working on the
disk I traced each pictograph because the only other pictograph images I could find were Sir Arthur Evans'
freehand drawings of the pictographs, which obviously he did in a hurry. But Evans did not have the advantage
of a copy machine as I did, nor did the artist of the Disk who etched each one individually into the Disk before the clay dried.
I duplicated each pictograph tracing times the number of times it appears on the
Phaistos Disk and then I taped each one onto my tracing of the disk spirals, to pinpoint their exact locations.
Because each repeated pictograph on the Phaistos Disk was intended to appear exactly identical,
the only way to exactly duplicate the disk is by using a copy machine to duplicate each pictograph.
I include Evans' pictograph drawings to the left of each one that I traced.
These are pictographs, not hieroglyphs. Sir Arthur Evans makes the case for Cretan pictographs in his book Cretan Pictographs and Prae-Phoenician Script. I read it thoroughly; I highly recommend it.
I would add to it that I think many of the pictographs are abbreviations for the constellations (Arktypes, Ships/Arks of the Sky).
Phaistos Disk with Pictographs and Line Segments numbered
Exact Tracings With Suggested Definitions, Including Their Number of Occurrences and their Position on the Phaistos Disk
Position = location of the sign on the disk; Segment = the line segment in which the sign occurs. Both are relative to the center of the disk spiraling
out. A = Side 1, B = Side 2.
4  Flower, Sun, Life, Island of Crete, Heliacal rising of Sirius
Similar to this 8-petal flower is center the wave spirals on a Minoan ceiling, and the Queen's Bathroom, Palace at Knossos and (below) 8-petal Flower of Life guarded by god Horus (death) and goddess Mut (life) on Egyptian limestone relief (with Disk pictograph Falcon/Hawk on the perch)
Horus, Mut, three stars Sirius (Side 1, Disk)
3A--Position - 1, 13, 76; Segment - 1, 4, 19; 1B--Position - 72; Segment - 19, Geometric Point
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2
 Man with Shaved Head and figure 8 tattoo, Daedalus, Priest,
Astronomer-Priest, Sailor 2A--Position - 2, 14; Segment - 1, 4, Connect for Straight Line
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4
 Oar of the Argo, Thoth's Feather, 3 Stars in Argo that make the Oar,
Aspidiske and Markeb 4A--Position - 3, 15, 45, 70; Segment - 1, 4, 12, 18, Connect for Quadrilateral
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11

Evans gave his runner a little something extra, Constellation Herakles/Hercules
Runner Mural, Knossos 6A--Position - 4, 19, 41, 66, 84, 118; Segment - 2, 6, 11, 17, 20, 30; Connect for Polygons, 5B--Position - 51, 60, 71, 88, 94; Segment - 14, 16, 19, 23, 24
Constellation Taurus (see bottom of this page), drawn by connecting the 11 "Walker" pictographs, 6 side A and 5 side B. Where are these runners going?
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6
 Evans really modified this pictograph. Spindle, phallas of Osiris chewed by Sharpsnout Fish 3A--Position - 5, 20, 119; Segment - 2, 6, 30, Connect for Acute Triangle. 3B; Position - 44, 89, 95; Segment - 12, 23, 24, Connect for Isosceles Triangle
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2 
Minoan Pictograph
Maze, Tool, Ziggurat symbol meaning "Home of the God" 2A--Position - 6, 55; Segment - 3, 15, Connect for Straight Line
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4
 Evans must have thought this
pictograph was a papyrus.Thistle or Thyrsi carried in the Festival of Dionysus 2A--Position - 7, 56; Segment - 3, 15; Straight Line, 2B--Position - 85, 109; Segment - 22, 28, Connect for Diameter
Diameter
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11 
Five-Branched Tree, a part of Isis-Osiris myth 5A--Position - 8, 16, 57, 85, 90; Segment - 3, 5, 15, 21, 22; Connect for Irregular Pentagon, 6B--Position - 9, 29, 58, 66, 79, 111; Segment - 3, 8, 15, 18, 21, 29, Connect for Polygon
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15
 Fleece, Goat skin, Golden Fleece 10A--Position - 9, 10, 30, 34, 47, 58, 59, 72, 99, 103; Segment - 3, 3, 9, 9, 12, 15, 15, 18, 24, 25; Connect for Great Pyramid Interior, 5B--Position - 35, 52, 74, 104, 114; Segment - 9, 14, 19, 27, 29; Connect for Polygon
Great Pyramid Interior
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16
 Evans did not copy the shield to
the hexagonal pattern. Shield with Hexagon 15A--Position - 11, 21, 23, 35, 39, 51, 60, 64, 79, 88, 95, 100, 114, 120; Segment - 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 29, 30; Connect for Star Sirius and the 7 Planets, Heliacal Rising of Sirius, Pentagram, Heptagram, Heptagon, 2B--Position - 100, 118; Segment - 26, 30; Connect for Straight Line
Star Sirius and 7 Planets, Heliacal Rising of Sirius |
19
 Minyae, Warrior, Crested Dancer, Cave of Zeus, Warriors Patrolling the Perimeter 14A--Position - 12, 22, 36, 40, 48, 52, 61, 65, 73, 80, 89, 96, 107, 121; Segment - 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 26, 30; Connect for Nested Geometry, 5B--Position - 11, 54, 78, 110, 119; Segment - 3, 14, 20, 28, 30; Connect for Polygon
Warriors at the Perimeter
Disk is spinning clockwise but center triangle appears to spin counterclockwise, a wagon wheel illusion
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3
 Evans may have seen this as the intersection of a road. Adjacent Angle, Carpenter's Tool 3A--Position - 17, 26, 86; Segment - 5, 8, 21; Connect for Obtuse Triangle
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9
 Pillar, Tool, Awl, Telescope 5A--Position - 18, 44, 53, 69, 77; Segment - 5, 12, 14, 18, 19; Connect for Quadrilateral, 4B--Position - 4, 24, 98, 108; Segment - 2, 6, 25, 28; Connect for Obtuse Triangle
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6
 Constellation Capricorn, Horn, Serpent's Tail
5A--Position - 24, 37, 49, 62, 91; Segment - 7, 10, 13, 16, 22; Connect for Quadrilateral, 1B--Position - 77; Segment - 20; Geometric Point
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5
 Constellation Aquila, Winged Disk, Vulture, Hawk Flying with the Bone of Horus in its Claws
5A--Position - 25, 38, 50, 63, 92; Segment - 7, 10, 13, 16, 22; Connect for Quadrilateral
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1

Did Evans think this is a UFO? Hill, Hat 1A--Position - 27; Segment - 8; Geometric Point
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12
 Evans may have used a straight edge to
draw this pictograph. Pyramid, Carpenter's Square 6A--Position - 28, 31, 43, 68, 93, 117; Segment - 8, 9, 12, 18, 23, 30; Connect for Great Pyramid Exterior, 6B--Position - 13, 23, 30, 63, 87, 97; Segment - 4, 6, 8, 17, 23, 25; Connect for Irregular Pentagon
Great Pyramid Exterior
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4
 Nurse, Goddess Rhea, Isis Nursing Diktys 2A--Position - 29, 94; Segment - 8, 23; Connect for Straight Line 2B--Position - 10, 59; Segment - 3, 15; Connect for Straight Line; Together Rhea's Veil
Rhea's Veil
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3
 Constellation Corvus, Falcon on the Perch, Horus 2A--Position - 32, 78; Segment - 9, 19; Connect for Straight Line, 1B--Position - 57; Segment - 15; Geometric Point
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2
 A yoke at the least, but it seems
Evans saw breasts. Astronomy Glasses, Binoculars 1A--Position - 33; Segment - 9; Geometric Point, 1B--Position - 64; Segment - 17: Connect for Geometric Point
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2

Evans perhaps recognized it as a bull's foot but drew it facing the wrong way. Constellation Taurus, Bull's Foot, Minotaur, the God with the Bull's Foot, Osiris
Bull's Foot 2A--Position - 42, 67; Segment - 11, 17; Connect for Straight Line
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7
 Constellation Argo, Skiff, Skiff of Isis
2A--Position - 46, 71; Segment - 12, 18; Connect for Straight Line, 5B--Position - 3, 32, 73, 83, 105; Segment - 2, 9, 19, 22, 27; Connect for Quadrilateral
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6
 Evans drew this as a Sawfish.
Constellation Pisces, Sharp-Snout Fish, ate the phallus of Osiris 2A--Position - 54, 104; Segment - 14, 26; Connect for Straight Line, 4B--Position - 55, 61, 92, 103; Segment - 15, 16, 24, 26; Connect for Quadrilateral
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1
 Evans apparently
identified this pictograph as a bow. Constellation Cancer, Nile Crab that ate the phallus of Osiris 1A--Position - 74; Segment - 18B (Side A overlap); Geometric Point
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4
Evans modified this pictograph to a type of trident.
Grass 1A--Position - 75; Segment - 18B (Side A overlap); Geometric Point, 3B--Position - 14, 56, 93; Segment - 4, 15, 24; Connect for Scalene Triangle
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18
 Evans perhaps saw this pictograph as a woman's breast. Pomegranate/Star, Honey Pot 3A--Position - 81, 101, 111; Segment - 20, 25, 28; Connect for Triangle, 15B--Position--1,7,12,18,25,26,28,31,37,41,48,82,90,112,115; Segment - 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 21, 23, 29, 30; Connect for Constellation Argo
Constellation Argo
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6
 Egyptian Coffin Chest, Daedalus, Wings of Icarus 3A--Position - 82,105,115, Segment - 20,26,29; Connect for Right Triangle, 3B--Position - 75, 80, 116; Segment - 20, 21, 30; Connect for Obtuse Triangle
Right Triangle
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2
 Roll-Up, Amphora 2A--Position - 83, 85,
Segment - 20, 21, Connect for Straight Line
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5
 Hand Wrap, Glove, Dactyloi (Five Fingers - Cretan) 1A--Position - 97; Segment - 24; Connect for Geometric Point, 4B--Position - 17, 36, 45, 47; Segment - 5, 10, 12, 13; Connect for Cone
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1
 Stylized Pig 1A--Position - 98; Segment - 24; Geometric Point
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6
 Water Wave, Nile River, Aegean 2A--Position - 102, 112; Segment - 25, 28; Connect for Straight Line, 4B--Position - 2, 27, 42, 113; Segment - 1, 7, 11, 29, Connect for Quadrilateral
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1

Evans removed the shield this warrior is holding and portrayed him as a captive instead. Very early concept of Zeus
, Constellation Orion, Could be the signature of the artist of the disk, whose name might mean "Hand Shield," like King Pacal
of the Maya 1A--Position - 106; Segment - 26; Geometric Point
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1 Evans omitted this pictograph.Constellation Canis Major, Dog Scratching 1A--Position - 108; Segment - 27; Geometric Point
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10
 Constellation Leo, Dog, Lion, Goddess
2A--Position - 109, 113; Segment - 27, 28; Connect for Straight Line, 8B--Position - 6, 20, 39, 43, 46, 50, 62, 70, Segment - 2, 5, 10, 11,12,13, 16, 18; Polygon
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1 Evans did not notice the difference between these dogs, all of them with mouth closed except the second one with mouth open as though barking, Dog Barking anmation
2A--Position - 110; Segment - 27; Geometric Point
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6 
Minoan palanquin, Knossos Fresco Evans gave the second level four sections instead of three. Palanquin, Pasiphae's Bed?
1A--Position - 116; Segment - 29; Geometric Point,
5B--Position - 22, 68, 69, 81, 102; Segment - 6, 18, 18, 21, 26; Connect for Polygon
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2 
Evans seemed to think this pictograph is a bug. Ant, Bug
2B--Position - 5, 34; Segment - 2, 9; Connect for Straight Line
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2 Evans omitted this pictograph.
Hoe, Tool, Sweep of Osiris 2B--Position - 8, 33; Segment - 3, 9; Connect for Straight Line
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1
 Evans gave the ram an ear and
omitted the nose. Constellation Aries, Ram 1B--Position - 15; Segment - 4; Geometric Point
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2  Sacred Cave Entrance, Hoodwink of a Priest's Robe, Initiate
2B--Position - 16, 53; Segment - 4, 14; Connect for Straight Line
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4  Evans saw this pictograph as an olive branch. Plant, Grass 4B--Position - 19, 38, 49, 76; Segment - 5, 10, 13, 20; Connect for Rectangle
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5  Tool, Gauge 5B--Position - 21, 40, 86, 106, 117; Segment - 5, 10, 22, 27, 30; Connect for Great Pyramid Apex, Base, Two Sides
Great Pyramid Apex, Base and Two Sides
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2
 Shell, Trumpet, Festival of Dionysus 2B--Position - 65, 99; Segment - 17, 25; Connect for Straight Line
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2 
Constellation Aquarius, Vase 2B--Position - 67, 101; Segment - 18, 26; Connect for Straight Line
Connect for Straight Line
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1
 Evans did not count the 20
inside dots. Milky Way, Half Moon 1B--Position - 84; Segment - 22; Geometric Point
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1
 Axe, Tool, Typhon's Hatchet, Labrys or Labyrinth (Maze) also meant "Axe"
1B--Position - 91; Segment - 22, Geometric Point
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1

Triangle, People inside the Great Pyramid, Volcano 1B--Position - 96; Segment - 23; Geometric Point
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1
 Constellation Gemini, Child, Daedalus, Person
1B--Position - 107; Segment - 28; Geometric Point
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This is Constellation Taurus as it is drawn today and as it seems to be on the Phaistos Disk, revealed by connecting the eleven Walker pictographs.
Copyright Notice - Disk of the World - Text and images copyrighted March 21, 1993-2025, Claire Grace Watson, B.A., M.S.T., U.S. Copyright and under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, All rights reserved. No part of this web page may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.