Although we have no direct need for the letter X, for Z can be
substituted for it when it is used as an initial letter, and “ks” when
used elsewhere, it has remained in the alphabet since its frequent use
by the Greeks. It came from the Roman X (eex) which may have been
derived from the Greek “ksi.” The latter resembles the Phoenician
character “samech,” meaning a post or support.
The dagger “zayin” from which we obtain our Z must have been important
in the daily lives of the Greeks, Hebrews and Phoenicians for it
occupies the sixth place (Zeta) and the seventh in the latter alphabets.
The Romans did not change its name or shape, but although there has been
little change in 2,000 years we see little resemblance to the short
sword in the letter the Romans gave to us.
* * * * *
Many slight changes that have occurred in the formation of the letters
of the alphabet may be accounted for. At first the Greeks wrote from
left to right in one line and from right to left on the next line—a mode
of writing which has been termed “bous-trophedon” because it runs as an
ox plow does in a field, up one furrow and down another. It is due to
this fact that many letters were reversed from their original
prototypes. It is interesting to note that recently books for the blind
have been embossed in this manner.
The small letters of the alphabet, sometimes called “lower case” letters
because printers keep them in a case below the capitals, or “minuscule
letters” in contrast with “majuscule,” or capital letters, illustrate
further changes due to rapid writing of capitals in a cursive or running
hand.
The few characters selected by the Phoenicians, the great traders,
artificers and farmers of the ancient world, not only influenced Greek
literature and life, Roman and modern nations in Europe, but also spread
eastward to the very walls of China. The Hebrews copied them as a whole
and retained the original names with only slight variations. They did
change the shapes because a different writing instrument was employed.
According to a legend, Jehovah gave the letters to Moses, hence all the
left curves in Hebrew letter form turn upward—as symbols of a finger
pointing heavenward.
The Phoenician alphabet is also the parent of the Arabic, Indian,
Javanese, Corean, Tibetan, Coptic syllabaries and alphabets. No small
country ever gave such a great gift to humanity; no large country could
have given a greater gift.
Genealogy of Our Letters from the Phoenician Alphabet 1300 B. C.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Phoenician Greek Roman Evolution of
1300-1000 B.C. 700-500 B.C. 50 B.C. small letters
form, meaning, name form, name form, sound 300-1600 A.D.
——————————————————————— ———————————————— ————————————— —————————————
𐤀 = ox Aleph Α Alpha A Ah A a
𐤁 = house Beth Β Beta B Bay B b
𐤂 = camel Gimel Γ Gamma C Kay C c
𐤃 = door Daleth Δ Delta D Day D d
𐤄 = window He Ε Epsilon E Eh E e
𐤅 = hook Vau F Digamma F Ef F f
G g
𐤇 = fence Cheth Η Eta H Hah H h
ꟻ = hand Yod Ι Iota I Ee I i
j
ʞ = palm Kaph Κ Kappa K Kah K k
𐤋 = whip Lamed Λ Lamda L El L l
𐤌 = water Mem Μ Mu M Em M m
𐤍 = fish Nun Ν Nu N En N n
𐤏 = eye Ayin Ο Omicron O Oh O o
𐤐 = mouth Pe Π Pi P Pay P p
𐤒 = knot? head? Koph Ϙ Koppa Q Koo Q q
𐤓 = head Resh Ρ Rho R Air R r
𐤔 = teeth Shin Σ Sigma S Ess S s
𐤕 = mark Tahv Τ Tau T Tay T t
Υ Upsilon V Oo V U u
Y V V V v
W w
𐤎 = post Samech Χ Xi X Eex X x
Υ Upsilon Y ϋ Y y
‡ = weapon Zayin Ζ Zeta Z Zayta Z z
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Transcriber’s Notes for this table:
1. "W" is from "wen," 11th century Anglo-Saxon
2. "j" first appears in Gothic 1200 A.D. column
3. fourth column is simplified in text version by combining
these four nearly-duplicated columns:
Evolution of small letters 300 to 800 A.D.
Gothic 1200 A.D.
Italic 1500 A.D.
Script 1600 A.D.
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