Alpha (letter)
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| - | Alpha (uppercase Α, lowercase α; Greek: Αλφα) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Aleph. Letters that arose from Alpha include the Latin A and the Cyrillic letter А. | + | Alpha (uppercase '''Α''', lowercase '''α'''; Greek: Αλφα) is the first letter of the [[Greek alphabet]]. In the system of [[Greek numerals]] it has a value of 1. It was derived from the [[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician letter]] [[Aleph (letter)|Aleph]] [[Image:phoenician aleph.png|20px|Aleph]]. Letters that arose from Alpha include the Latin [[A]] and the Cyrillic letter [[A (Cyrillic)|А]]. |
| - | In both Classical Greek and Modern Greek, alpha represents the Open front unrounded vowel, /a/. | + | In both [[Ancient Greek|Classical Greek]] and [[Modern Greek]], alpha represents the [[Open front unrounded vowel]], /a/. |
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| + | The lower case today represents an [[open back unrounded vowel]] in [[phonetics]]. | ||
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| + | [[Plutarch]] in ''[[Moralia]]'',<sup>[1]</sup> presents a discussion on why the letter alpha stands first in the alphabet. Ammonius asks Plutarch what he, being a [[Boeotia]]n, thinks of [[Cadmus]], the [[Phoenicia]]n who reputedly settled in [[Thebes (Greece)|Thebes]] and introduced the alphabet to Greece, placing ''alpha'' first because it is the Phoenician name for [[ox]] -- which, unlike [[Hesiod]]<sup>[2]</sup>, the Phoenicians considered not the second or third, but the first of all necessities. | ||
| + | "''Nothing at all''" Plutarch replied. He then added that he would rather be assisted by Lamprias, his own grandfather, than by [[Dionysus]]' grandfather, i.e. Cadmus. For Lamprias had said that the first articulate sound made is "alpha", because it is very plain and simple — the air coming off the mouth does not require any motion of the tongue — and therefore this is the first sound that children make. | ||
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| + | The [[Homer]]ic word ''"alphesiboios"''<sup>[3]</sup> (''ἀλφεσίβοιος''<sup>[4]</sup>) is associated with both the root "alph-" and "ox". It is derived from "alphanō" (ἀλφάνω<sup>[5]</sup>) meaning ''to yield, earn'' and "bous" (βοῦς) meaning ''ox'', hence ''alphesiboios'' means ''bringing in'' or ''acquiring oxen''. | ||
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| + | According to Plutarch's natural order of attribution of the [[vowel]]s to the [[planet]]s, alpha was connected with the [[Moon]]. Oxen were also associated with the Moon in both early [[Mesopotamian mythology|Sumerian]] and [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] religious symbolism, possibly due to the crescent shape of their horns. | ||
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| + | Alpha, both as a symbol and term, is used to refer to or describe a variety of things, including the first or most significant occurrence of something. The New Testament has God declaring himself to be the "[[Alpha and Omega (Christianity)|Alpha and Omega]], the beginning and the end, the first and the last." ([[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] 22:13, KJV, and see also 1:8). | ||
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| + | The uppercase letter alpha is not generally used as a symbol because it tends to be rendered identically to the uppercase [[A|Latin A]]. | ||
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| + | ==Common uses== | ||
| + | See Also [[Alpha]] | ||
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| + | The letter alpha represents various concepts in [[physics]] and [[chemistry]], including [[alpha radiation]], [[alpha particle]]s and [[alpha carbon]]. Alpha also stands for [[thermal expansion coefficient]] of a [[Chemical compound|compound]] in [[physical chemistry]]. It is also commonly used in [[mathematics]] in [[algebra|algebraic solutions]] representing quantities such as angles. | ||
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| + | ==Linguistic correlates== | ||
| + | In the [[Runic alphabet]] of the [[Elder Futhark]] in received [[shamanic]] oral lore traditions from Scandinavia, the alphabet is a cycle rather than a linear progression and [[Ur (rune)|Ur]] commences the cycle that [[Fe (rune)|Fe]] closes, both are [[cattle]], which is a correlate to the Christian [[Alpha and Omega (Christianity)|Alpha and Omega]].<sup>[6]</sup> | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | * 1. Symposiacs, Book IX, questions II & IIIOn-line text at Adelaide library | ||
| + | * 2. In his Works and Days Hesiod advised the early Greek farmers, "First of all, get a house, then a woman and third, an ox for the plough" | ||
| + | Hesiod, Works and Days at the Perseus Project. | ||
| + | * 3. Iliad, XVIII, 593, | ||
| + | * 4. Entry ἀλφεσίβοιος at [[A Greek-English Lexicon|Liddell & Scott]] | ||
| + | * 5. Entry ἀλφάνω at [[A Greek-English Lexicon|Liddell & Scott]] | ||
| + | * 6. Meadows, Kenneth (1995). Rune Power: The Secret Knowledge of the Wise Ones. Element Books Ltd. ISBN 1852307064; ISBN 978-1852307066 | ||
[[Category:Greek letters]] | [[Category:Greek letters]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Vowel letters]] | ||
Revision as of 23:28, 15 January 2010
Alpha (uppercase Α, lowercase α; Greek: Αλφα) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 1. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Aleph 
. Letters that arose from Alpha include the Latin A and the Cyrillic letter А.
In both Classical Greek and Modern Greek, alpha represents the Open front unrounded vowel, /a/.
The lower case today represents an open back unrounded vowel in phonetics.
Plutarch in Moralia,[1] presents a discussion on why the letter alpha stands first in the alphabet. Ammonius asks Plutarch what he, being a Boeotian, thinks of Cadmus, the Phoenician who reputedly settled in Thebes and introduced the alphabet to Greece, placing alpha first because it is the Phoenician name for ox -- which, unlike Hesiod[2], the Phoenicians considered not the second or third, but the first of all necessities. "Nothing at all" Plutarch replied. He then added that he would rather be assisted by Lamprias, his own grandfather, than by Dionysus' grandfather, i.e. Cadmus. For Lamprias had said that the first articulate sound made is "alpha", because it is very plain and simple — the air coming off the mouth does not require any motion of the tongue — and therefore this is the first sound that children make.
The Homeric word "alphesiboios"[3] (ἀλφεσίβοιος[4]) is associated with both the root "alph-" and "ox". It is derived from "alphanō" (ἀλφάνω[5]) meaning to yield, earn and "bous" (βοῦς) meaning ox, hence alphesiboios means bringing in or acquiring oxen.
According to Plutarch's natural order of attribution of the vowels to the planets, alpha was connected with the Moon. Oxen were also associated with the Moon in both early Sumerian and Egyptian religious symbolism, possibly due to the crescent shape of their horns.
Alpha, both as a symbol and term, is used to refer to or describe a variety of things, including the first or most significant occurrence of something. The New Testament has God declaring himself to be the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13, KJV, and see also 1:8).
The uppercase letter alpha is not generally used as a symbol because it tends to be rendered identically to the uppercase Latin A.
Common uses
See Also Alpha
The letter alpha represents various concepts in physics and chemistry, including alpha radiation, alpha particles and alpha carbon. Alpha also stands for thermal expansion coefficient of a compound in physical chemistry. It is also commonly used in mathematics in algebraic solutions representing quantities such as angles.
Linguistic correlates
In the Runic alphabet of the Elder Futhark in received shamanic oral lore traditions from Scandinavia, the alphabet is a cycle rather than a linear progression and Ur commences the cycle that Fe closes, both are cattle, which is a correlate to the Christian Alpha and Omega.[6]
References
- 1. Symposiacs, Book IX, questions II & IIIOn-line text at Adelaide library
- 2. In his Works and Days Hesiod advised the early Greek farmers, "First of all, get a house, then a woman and third, an ox for the plough"
Hesiod, Works and Days at the Perseus Project.
- 3. Iliad, XVIII, 593,
- 4. Entry ἀλφεσίβοιος at Liddell & Scott
- 5. Entry ἀλφάνω at Liddell & Scott
- 6. Meadows, Kenneth (1995). Rune Power: The Secret Knowledge of the Wise Ones. Element Books Ltd. ISBN 1852307064; ISBN 978-1852307066
