Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The History of the Art of Writing, Vol. 2: Classical Series
There are several reasons why a peculiar interest attaches to this earliest spe cimen of Greek writing. But perhaps the one of greatest popular importance is that it throws a new light on the long-mooted question as to the time when the art of writing was introduced into Greece. The current legend, as recited in the oft quoted passage of Herodotus, tells us that Cadmus introduced the Phoenician alphabet into Greece; but, needless to say, the Father of History, in reciting this tradition, gives no clew to the exact date when the mythical Cadmus conferred this great blessing upon the Greek race. Since the revival of interest in classi cal writings, the question has often been raised as to just when the first Greek writings were made, and in particular as to whether the Homeric poems existed in written form from an early date, or were, on the other hand, merely passed on orally from one generation to another until a comparatively late period. Mr. F. A. Paley, among others representing a large school of conservative scholars, long contended that the art of writing was of late introduction. He even went so far a to say that he doubted very much indeed if such a thing as a written copy of Homer (whatever the name then included) existed in all Hellas at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War.
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