Homer and the Greek Alphabet

What happened

In the 8th century BCE the Greeks adapted the Phoenician alphabet to their own language, and the great oral epics attributed to Homer — the Iliad and the Odyssey — were composed and eventually written down.

Why it matters

The alphabet made possible the written record of Greek literature, law, and thought, and Homer's epics became the shared cultural foundation of the Greek world.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Homer · Reputable source
• World History Encyclopedia. Greek Alphabet · Reputable source