The Phoenician Alphabet

Another important alphabet is the Phoenician Alphabet that was developed in the city-states that grew on the eastern shore of Mediterranen Sea, Phonecia. These city-states were at the center of trade. "The Phoenicians were peaceful, seafaring people, expert in navigation and trade, and beginning aroun 3200 B.C., were the first to explore the Mediterranean Sea in boats made of cedar." (http://maryourmother.net) To communicate with other cultures -that Phoenicians were making trade with- they developed the Phoenician Alphabet, around 1400 B.C. This alphabet is acyually a continuation of the proto-Canaanite Alphabet, because the Phoenicians were the descendants of the Bronze Age Canaanites. Their trade used to reach even Atlantic coast of Africa and the Black Sea.

The Mediterranean world and Greece has received the alphabet, which had 22 letters, based on sound, different from many symbols şn cuneiform and hieroglyphics. As a conclusion, "The Phoenician Alphabet was based on the principle that one sign represents one spoken sound. Thanks to the Phoenician Alphabet Greek and Berber alphabets have risen.


Now, the we can see the Phoenician alphabet functioning as an ornamental use. For example you can find a mouse padd or mobile phone cases that has Phoenician letters on it.