Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer

Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer

A Linguistic Interpretation of the Origin of the Greek Alphabet and the Continuity of Ancient Greek Literacy

by Roger D. Woodard

304 pages· 1997· ISBN 9780195355666
Join Readfeed freeFind clubs reading this bookBrowse readable books
About
Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer examines the origin of the Greek alphabet. Departing from previous accounts, Roger Woodard places the advent of the alphabet within an unbroken continuum of Greek literacy beginning in the Mycenean era. He argues that the creators of the Greek alphabet, who adapted the Phoenician consonantal script, were scribes accustomed to writing Greek with the syllabic script of Cyprus. Certain characteristic features of the Cypriot script--for example, its strategy for representing consonant sequences and elements of Cypriot Greek phonology--were transferred to the new alphabetic script. Proposing a Cypriot origin of the alphabet at the hands of previously literate adapters brings clarity to various problems of the alphabet, such as the Greek use of the Phoenician sibilant letters. The alphabet, rejected by the post- Bronze Age "Mycenaean" culture of Cyprus, was exported west to the Aegean, where it gained a foothold among a then illiterate Greek people emerging from the Dark Age.

Discuss Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer with other readers

Join or start a book club for Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer on Readfeed. Live chat, shared reading progress, and AI discussion questions — free to get started.

Sign up freeBrowse book clubs

Frequently asked questions

How do I join a book club for Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer?

Sign up free on Readfeed, then browse public clubs or start your own club with Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer as the current read. Invite friends with a share link and discuss together with live chat and AI discussion questions.

Can I discuss Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer with other readers online?

Yes. Readfeed book clubs let you chat live, share progress, and join discussions about Greek Writing from Knossos to Homer with readers worldwide — whether your club is virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

Is Readfeed free?

Yes. Creating an account and joining book clubs is free. Sign up to find readers who love the same books and start discussing today.