The scholion on Dionysios of Thrace (183.1 Hilgard) and the origins of the Greek alphabet
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The article deals with a scholion on Dionysios of Thrace (Scholia in Dionysii Thracis artem grammaticam 183.15–19, 183.27–29, 184.1–15, Grammatici Graeci 3 Hilgard) which summarises the various traditions on the inventor of the alphabet. The passage is a noteworthy case-study which highlights the value of the analysis of texts which ancient historians might deem too recent. This paper shows that the scholion is helpful for understanding the importance which the discussion on the origins of the alphabet had for the Greeks of the fifth century BC. Finally, it will explain why the debate about the inventor of the letters orbited around two characters – Cadmus and Danaos – and, consequently, around two different regions, Phoenicia and Egypt. It will conclude that the choice of one version rather than another was strongly influenced by political and cultural motivations.
Source: Figshare
Author: Giustina Monti (17163715)
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7061930145
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