The Greek alphabet is the writing system for the Greek language and it has been in use since the 9th century BC. It consists of 24 letters, ordered from alpha to omega.
Tinycards – Duolingo
They are used to render the language in writing, as they are used to form the words, the sentences and, of course, the various meanings. The distinction between lower and upper case letters developed in modern times alongside the Latin alphabet. The term "modern times" refers to the history of mankind after the Middle Ages.
Origin of the Greek alphabet
The standard of the Greek alphabet was an early Semitic script. The Semites invented letters to declare pacts. They gave them names that have survived to the present day. Others trace the origin of the Greek alphabet to Phoenician, which the Greeks probably knew in the 9th century as they traveled in the eastern Mediterranean. The Phoenicians adopted some letters from the Egyptians and with their development, managed to create the first alphabet. Originally it contained 22 letters, among which there were no vowels. After the Greeks adopted it, they enriched it with vowels, adapting it to the Greek language. This is the prevailing theory. The historian Ignace Gelb argued that there is the presence of Phoenician letters in the Greek alphabet. However, in Phoenician, each letter represents a particular consonant-vowel combination, that is, a syllable.
Development of the alphabet
The Greek alphabet has undergone several developments over time. The latest and most notable, however, is the introduction of lower-case writing. This important change took place during the Byzantine period, specifically in the 9th century. Lower-case writing has its roots in an older form of writing, the capital letters writing. Lower-case writing probably developed from the need for faster and easier communication through handwritten letters, which forced the shape of the letters to adapt to the movement of writing.
Dissemination of the Greek alphabet
East:
The Greek alphabet spread rapidly among the peoples of Asia Minor: Phrygians, Carians, Lydians and Lycians.
West:
Surprisingly, there is more interest in its spread in the West. It was spread in the colonies of New Italy.
In the years of Christianity, there is a more intense spread of the Greek alphabet, along with Christian teaching. Later, the Cyrillic script prevails in the Slavic church language, with Greek capital letters.
The history of the Greek alphabet is undoubtedly a great achievement for Greek culture. It is clearly one of the best examples of historical osmosis. It clearly shows us that culture has no boundaries and is constantly evolving.
