Cadmus The First Teacher

Cadmus: The First Teacher

Phoenician Alphabet Taught to the Greeks

The classical Greek alphabet, its order of letters, and their form, were borrowed from the Phoenician alphabet; alpha, beta, gamma, delta, are but Grecized sounds of the Phoenician language.
Cadmus is credited with the introduction of the Phoenician alphabet to the Greek language. Herodotus, a Greek historian, provides the best-known version of the event:

"The Phoenicians who came to Greece with Cadmus ended up living in this land and introducing the Greeks to a number of accomplishments, most notably the alphabet which, as far as I can tell, the Greeks did not have before then. At first the letters they used were the same as those of all Phoenicians everywhere, but as time went by, along with the sound, they changed the way they wrote the letters as well. At this time, most of their Greek neighbors were Ionians. So it was the Ionians who learnt the alphabet from the Phoenicians; they changed the shapes of a few letters, but they still called the alphabet they used the "Phoenician alphabet", which was only right, since it was the Phoenicians who had introduced it into Greece."

Phoenician Alphabet

The Spread of the Phoenician Alphabet in the West

The Phoenician expansion in the West and their establishment of settlements around the Mediterranean was accompanied by the widespread of their alphabet. Furthermore, after the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, this helped it to spread throughout Western Europe.

The founding of Carthage around 814 B.C., by Queen Elissa, the daughter of Mattan, King of Tyre, helped accelerate the spreading of the Phoenician alphabet in the West; especially that this Phoenician settlement had developed into an economic empire that controlled the western basin of the Mediterranean for more than 500 years.

Three people inhabited the Italian peninsula. They were the Latins, the Greeks, and the Etruscans. The Western Greeks settled on the coasts of southern Italy and Sicily. By the mid-eighth century B.C., Latin people had founded the city of Pome around the Tiber River in the region they called Latium.

Early Greek Writing on a Jar

In the first millennium B.C., the Etruscans established themselves in northwest Italy. The Etruscans and the Greeks had strongly influenced the development of Roman civilization. The Etruscans had derived and modified the Greek alphabet which was adapted from the Phoenicians. The first Latin writing system appeared by the end of the VIth century B.C., when the Latins overthrew the Etruscans and adopted their writing system.

Latin writing, like the Phoenician and Greek, was written in Boustrophedon; every other line of writing is flipped or reversed, with reversed letters. Later on, it adopted the modern method of writing from left to right. Although the Latins used the same letter sequence as the Phoenician alphabet, however, they largely abandoned the Greek names of those letters.

Map of the Phoenician Expansion

With the Roman expansion, the Latin alphabet spread everywhere as their authority extended: around the Mediterranean basin, deep into western, northern and central Europe. The Barbaric Germanic tribes, who inherited the Roman rule over Europe between IVth and VIth centuries, adapted the Latin writing system. Among them were: the Franks, who settled in the Gaul region and gave their name the present France, the Visigoths (Western Goths) who controlled the Iberian Peninsula and the Vandals in North Africa, the Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths) who occupied Italy, and conquered Rome, the capital of the Empire itself, the Saxons and the Angels who expanded in England (Land of Angels), in addition to the Burgundians, the Lombards, and the peoples of Hungary, Poland, Scandinavia and others… In later times, the expansion of Christianity, and the discovery of the New World and the New Colonial policies helped Latin Alphabet, the descendant of the Phoenician Alphabet, to lead the entire writing activities in the Western World.

Hence, because there was a great need to express new vocal sounds exclusive of the new languages of those people who adopted the Latin alphabet, linguists developed new special terminology. They elaborated new signs used above or underneath the letters, in addition to commas and dots, in order for Latin text to be adapted by the new languages.

Because of the open-minded policy of the Phoenicians towards the peoples of ancient world, and because of the multi-faceted relationship, the commercial in particular, the Phoenician Alphabet was able to spread throughout the East and West.

The Spread of the Phoenician Alphabet in the East

In the East, the Arameans were the first to adapt the Byblian Phoenician alphabet without any alteration since their language was closely related to the Semitic family as the Phoenician. During the Persian period (539-334 B.C.) and later, Aramaic became the lingua franca of the ancient East. With its script, which evolved from the Phoenician, it gradually displaces cuneiform as the dominant script used in administration and diplomacy in the East.

After all the fall of the Persian Empire, The Aramaic script split off into a number of related alphabets: Hebrew, Nabatean, Palmyrene, Indian, Pahlavi, Syriac, and the most recent Semitic script, North Arabic.

As for the Arabs of the South (Yemenis), they used an Aramaic script prior to the Arabs of the North; it later split off into two branches; Northern, which became an ancestor of Lihyanic, Thamudic, and Safaitic; and a Southern, which became an ancestor of Ethiopian and Abyssinian scripts.

Early examples of North Arabian writing inscriptions date to the IIIrd and IVth centuries A.D., and are respectively represented by to inscriptions, “umm el-Jimal” (250 A.D.) in Jordan, and the “Nemara” inscription (328 A.D.) in southern Syria which is the epitaph of the Lakhmid king, Imru’ al-Qays. Arab sources consider Arabic calligraphy, specifically the “Kufic” to be derived from the Syriac script. However, others tend to believe that the North Arabic script is the offshoot of Nabatean script. Both Syriac and Nabatean are derived from Aramaic, which in turn is descended from Phoenician.

Aramaic Writing on a Tablet

Nevertheless, the Byblian Phoenician alphabet developed with the Eastern Semitic peoples more than with the people of the West. Its letters became more abbreviated and cursive; and some of the letters became the same shape as other letters and could only be distinguished by dots. It is evident with the Arabic calligraphy.

Arabic calligraphy is considered the most diverse and widespread among the Semitic writing systems. The expansion was strongly tied to the codification of the Noble Qur’an. With the expansion of Islam, the Arabic alphabet spread with it. The Arabic script has been adopted for use in a wide area extending from North and West Africa, Middle Asia, and Indonesian. It was adopted by many people such as Persians, Turks, Indians, Malays, and various peoples of African continent.

In the East, the order of the letters of the Phoenician alphabet was adopted. The Phoenician alphabet was used for the first time in the alphabetic order (“abjd’) on tablets discovered in the library of Ugarit; with only thirty distinct characters and written in cuneiform script. However, after the destruction of Ugarit, the 22-letter Byblian alphabet became the source from which all other alphabets derived.

The Evolution of Letters from the Phoenician Alphabet

Cadmus of Mexico City

On the occasion of the first International Conference of Teachers in Mexico (August 1975), the Mexican President, Luis Alvarez inaugurated a big monument representing “Cadmus the Teacher” introducing the Alphabet, erected in one of the biggest and most beautiful squares of the Mexican capital (Chapultepec) near the Presidential palace. The monument was a gift presented to the Mexican people by the Lebanese Community in Mexico, at the initiative of the Lebanese Ambassador to Mexico and President of “Cadmus Foundation”, Dr. Joseph Naffah, as a symbol of friendship between both people of Mexico and Lebanon. The monument was sculpted b the famous Italian sculptor, Augusto Bozzano. Teachers, students, and government officials attended the inauguration ceremony accompanied by a delegation of teachers representing 120 countries.

The monument consists of six bronze figures, each is three meters high, representing “Cadmus” and “Europa”, and four other persons representing the four continents, Asia, Africa, America, Oceania. Cadmus us standing, introducing the Alphabet, engraved on a five meters high stone obelisk. Facing Cadmus is a seated Europa as if assisting her brother in presenting the alphabet. At the back of the monument is a relief depicting the Little Bear Constellation, which includes the North Star that was discovered by the Phoenicians and named by the Greeks “Phoenician Star”. The artist included another symbol in the monument, the spiral upward path, emanating from the bottom of the base to the top, which represents a continuing effort of human beings, that led to the discovery of the Alphabet through education.

Al Maestro Monument in Mexico City

At the stone base of the monument was an engraving that says: “Al Maestro” referring to Cadmus and the message he carried to Greece and unto the rest of the world. It is a message of learning and a message of peace as well. Thus says the writing engraved in three lines, quoted from the book “Cadmus” by the Lebanese nationalist Poet, Said Akl.

“This monument shall be the first in the world to honor rhe teaching profession, which is the basis for the development of civilization”, said the General Director of the UNESCO, James T. Bodet (1948-1952) at the inauguration of the monument. The Mexican Government (1975) issued one million mail stamps showing the statue and on every stamp was written in Spanish: “Primer Monumento Al Maestro” (Phoenician Gave the Alphabet to the World). Frederico M. Zaragoza, Driector-General of the UNESCO (1987-1999), proclaimed the 5th of October “World Teachers Day” during the 44th session attended by 185 Ministers of Education in member states which was help In Geneva between the 4th-14th of October, 1994, i.e. 20 years after the first teachers’ conference in Mexico “Cadmus Foundation” to attend this conference. A replica of the monument presented by the Mexican Ministry of Education was placed on the main podium throughout the sessions of the conference.

Right after proclaiming the World Teachers’ Day, the Director-General requested from the Member States to follow Mexico and build statues similar to the “Teacher” in their capitals. Teachers’ Syndicate of Mexico, which is the largest syndicate in Latin America, with members exceeding two million, took the initiative and called for democratic elections to be help in every school to choose the “Teacher of the YEAR”, WHEREBY, THE Ministry of Education together with Teachers’ Syndicate will present a golden certificate, and a silver medal with the image of the monument “Al Maestro).

On the occasion of the First International Conference of Teachers in Mexico (August 1975), the Mexican President, Luis Alvarez, inaugurated a big monument representing “Cadmus the Teacher” introducing the Alphabet.

The monument consists of six bronze figures; each is three meters high: “Cadmus” and “Europa” and four other persons representing the four continents, Asia, Africa, America, Oceania.

Cadmus, the Truth and the Symbol

Many trusted historical texts found in most classical sources and ancient written literature covered the story of Europa and Cadmus. Additionally, archeological evidence confirms what is mentioned in the biography regarding adventures and places visited by Cadmus in search for his sister Europa. When you add to those sources the founding of the Cadmean dynasty which ruled the city of Thebes, we can deduce that Cadmus is not a mere mythological figure as many tend to believe, rather he was a historical, real figure with a Lebanese-Phoenician, geographical, environmental, and racial background.

Now, it is the solemn responsibility of contemporary researchers to continue their investigation to discover the stature of Cadmus in humanity’s cultural heritage and to promote him in literature, prose, theatre, performing arts, in songs, and concrete manifestation through painting and sculpture. It shall be a faithful witness and endorsement of recognition to a man who enriched humanity with one of the most significant contributions of his people – the spreading of the Phoenician Alphabet and teaching it to the peoples and nations of the world. The most sincere expression of the individual is the virtue of being loyal to such generous contributors and great achievers and of continuing to remind people of Semitic culture values that distinguished humans from animals, and to work on crystallizing and materializing those values. This expression is exhibited by the awareness and understanding of the causes of the individual’s moral existence and a manifestation of loyalty to his identity.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that the physical, historical existence of Cadmus does not eliminate the mythological, legendary portrayals that are attributed to him. It is said that he was a husband to Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and the father of famous mythological children and grandchildren, such as Doinysus or Adonis. Various poets, artists, and painters have competed in trying to describe Adonis divine beauty, and famous Dionysian rituals and rites were help in his honor.

Cadmus Teaching the Phoenician Alphabet in Thebes

To indicate the importance of Cadmus within world heritage, once can reckon upon prominent institutions that continue to preserve humanity’s cultural heritage. We shall consider two of these institutions. The first is the Vatican Library, the Sistine Hall, where Cadmus is given prominent status as he is depicted on the side of one of the six pillars that carry the roof of the library. The second is the Library of Congress where a bronze bas-relief representing Cadmus is portrayed on the bronze door pf the Annex building. It is one of twelve has relief sculptures of “figures representing those who, since ancient times, have been credited with giving the art of writing to their people.” Perhaps the Cadmus of these two Institutions of world heritage paved Cadmus’s way to Mexico. Mexico City, which is one of the most important centers of Lebanese presence, has the first monument to “Cadmus the Teacher” (Prime Monumento al Maestro).

Standing before the Vatican Library, the Library of Congress, or Mexico Square, should no longer be only to observe a painting, a bas-relief, or sculpture; rather, it has become a cultural duty. This means that the cultural institutions around the world, specifically the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has to proclaim the reality of the role of Cadmus in the history of civilization, and in Europe in particular, which owes its name to his sister, Europa of Tyre

The Lebanese Emigrant Plaza in Centennial Park

Acknowledging Lebanon’s paternity to Europa and Cadmus, the nations of the world must preserve its historical cultural heritage. Moreover, they are to endeavor to protect it as the birthplace of the Alphabet, the primary tool for communication among the various peoples of the world.