The scholion on Dionysios of Thrace (183.1 Hilgard) and the origins of the Greek alphabet

<p> The article deals with a <em>scholion </em>on Dionysios of Thrace (<em>Scholia in Dionysii Thracis artem grammaticam</em> 183.15–19, 183.27–29, 184.1–15, <em>Grammatici Graeci</em> 3 Hilgard) which summarises the various traditions on the inventor of the alphabet. The passage is a noteworthy case-study which highlights the value of the analysis of texts which ancient historians might deem too recent. This paper shows that the <em>scholion</em> is helpful for understanding the importance which the discussion on the origins of the alphabet had for the Greeks of the fifth century BC. Finally, it will explain why the debate about the inventor of the letters orbited around two characters – Cadmus and Danaos – and, consequently, around two different regions, Phoenicia and Egypt. It will conclude that the choice of one version rather than another was strongly influenced by political and cultural motivations. </p>