Arthur J. Beattie

Arthur James Beattie, MA, FRSE (28 June 1914 – 20 February 1996) was a British classical philologist who was Professor of Greek at Edinburgh University from 1951 to 1981 and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, where he was notable for the advancement of the study of Classics, Greek and languages. In addition to his academic work, he also served as a cryptographer in World War II.

Early life and education He was born in Belize, British Honduras, where his father was an accountant and active in the mahogany trade. After graduating he put his scientific inclination to use by briefly being a demonstrator in zoology. His consequent life-long interest in Natural Science resulted in his being an expert in his favorite hobby of ornithology. His scientific flair emerged once again in his analysis of the German concrete Atlantic Wall, revealing its steel reinforcement, and allowing its neutralization in Normandy.

Selected publications Linear B. Cambridge Review, 11 May 1957, Vol. 78, n°1907, p. 568–571 A plain guide to the decipherment of the Mycenean Linear B script. Berlin Akademie-Verlag, 1958 The 'Spice' tablets of Cnossos, Pylos and Mycenae. [An article, attempting to disprove the decipherment of Michael Ventris and John Chadwick] (Sonderdruck aus: Minoica – Festschrift zum 80. Geburtstag von Johannes Sundwall ... 1958). Berlin, 1958 A Cyprian exhortation to sobriety. Offprint from: Rheinisches Museum für Philologie. N.F. 101. 1958. . Athēnai: I.N. Siderēs, 1934. Book review: Marathon by W.K. Pritchett. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 83, 1963, pp. 193–193.

Awards In 1957 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.