The Aryan origin of the alphabet : disclosing the Sumero-Phœnician parentage of our letters ancient & modern

8 ARYAN ORIGIN OF THE ALPHABET

cians of the Syrian province of Phoenicia. ‘‘ Phcenician alphabet ” is restricted to the late retrograde Phcenician of twenty-two reversed letters, and excludes the earlier Cadmean Phoenician of which type the Early Egyptian alphabetic signs and letters almost exclusively consist. While denying the Phcenician origin of the alphabet, he, nevertheless, concludes that it rose “in North Syria,’’ that is an area including, as shown in the detailed accompanying map, a considerable portion of the Province of Phcenicia and old Phoenician cities. And the statement that a child draws signs before it draws pictures is not in keeping with the general opinion, which credits the child with trying to draw pictures, however imperfectly it may succeed.

Commenting on Professor Petrie’s theory Mr Clodd, in his excellent booklet on the Alphabet, considers ‘“ the question cannot be regarded as definitely settled ; mayhap settlement may never be reached.” 1

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