Greek alphabet
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IZOBEL
Can anyone please tell me how and when the modern form of Greek PI like trilithon developed from the Phoenician which is a bit like a walking stick? There doesnt seem to b any resemblance and I cant bring up any intermediate forms on the net? thanks IZOBEL
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replied to:  IZOBEL
tacapollo
Replied to:  Can anyone please tell me how and when the modern...
I'll try to help you out.

First, check out this web page:

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/alphabet.html

On the right are the original Egyptian heiroglyphs and on the left are the Semetic versions.

"The original alphabet was developed by a Semitic people living in or near Egypt.* They based it on the idea developed by the Egyptians, but used their own specific symbols.....

Pe, the mouth, may have originally been a symbol for a corner. The Greeks used it for pi (Π). The Romans closed up one side and turned it into P."

I think this may be the clue to answer to your question:

"It was quickly adopted by their neighbors and relatives to the east and north, the Canaanites, the Hebrews, and the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians spread their alphabet to other people of the Near East and Asia Minor, as well as to the Arabs, the Greeks, and the Etruscans....

If you don't recognize the letters, keep in mind that they have since been reversed (since the Phoenicians wrote from right to left) and often turned on their sides!"

Look at the Semetic "Pe". Now, imagine it written sideways to the left....

The curved walking stick letter now looks similar to our small letter "n" (which is easy to see could be easily altered into the Greek "Pi".)

Now consider that the Romans borrowed from both the Greeks and the native Etruscians. Looking at the Semitic "Pe" and considering they wrote "backwards" compared to our script, you can also imagine how the upright curved walking stick figure (especially the Phoenetic version), becomes the Latin (and our present letter) "P".

I hope this helps.


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