Some 3500 years ago A, the first letter of our alphabet, has started its long journey. The letter A was created by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians invented the system in which each sound has a letter that corresponds to it, the system that is for this reason called phonetic. Phoenician alphabet is actually considered to be the first alphabet ever created or at least the first one whose existence is supported with the concrete historical evidence.
             Since those early days then A has experienced many changes, both in its form and visual appearance. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is A's position - it has remained the first letter of every alphabet of the Western Hemisphere. Also it has continued to represent the same sound.
             There are many historical changes that influenced the style of the alphabets and we shall be able to identify the most of them through the example of the letter A.
             As we have already mentioned, the letter A originated in Phoenicia. Allan Haley suggests that the first design for letter A was inspired by an ox head. This becomes obvious if look at the first letter of the alphabet as designed by the Phoenicians (#@$). The reason for such decision, according to Haley, lies in the fact that ox was the most important animal in the Phoenician society. It is logical that the first letter of the alphabet symbolically represented the leading provider of transport and nourishment, indeed the first animal of the time.
             By the time the letter A had reached Old Greeks it lost its original symbolism. This probably was the reason why they changed it into the form that resembled our modern uppercase letter A. As an abstract visual form letter A, or alpha as the Greeks called it, acquired new symbolic function.
             In his writing, Of Lead, Ink and Light, Rene Ponot offers explanation that can help us understand not only what was the design of the Greek alphabet inspired by, but also how it influenced ...