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CHAPTER X
THE LATIN ALPHABET
EARLY LATIN INSCRIPTIONS
It is a somewhat curious fact that the Latin or Roman alphabet, which has such a great importance in the history of civilization, had a very poor beginning and a very poor history during the first five or six centuries of its existence.
The oldest record of it extant is to be found in the Præneste fibula, a gold brooch (Fig. 239.1), dating probably from the seventh century B.C., rather than
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Fig. 239-Early Latin inscriptions (1) 1. The Prieneste fibula, seventh century B.C. 2, The cippur from the Roman Forum, attributed to the end of the seventh or to the sixth century BC 3. Dedication to Juno from Pisaurum (fourth century B.C.). + Funerary inscription of Consul L. Cornelius
Scipio, 259 s.c.
from the sixth or even the fifth century, as some scholars were inclined to think. The inscription runs from right to left and reads clearly manios: med: fhefhaked: mumasioi (that is Manis me fecit Numerio, "Manius made me for Numerius"), the most interesting feature being the use of the device of combining the letters
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