something completely different

This blog is of course dedicated to the entirety of Cyril and Methodius' lives and careers, not just their 868-869 stay in Rome.  One topic that seems to be debated a lot is the origin of certain Glagolitic letters.  I am not claiming to break any new ground or use any scientific method, but here is some visual material for consideration.  

The Samaritan "Mem".  In the Greek of Cyril's time "Beta" represented the sound "V", (although the Glagolitic v is derived from the Latin one, or the Greek Ypsilon).  The sound in greek that most resembles a B is "μπ" ("mp"), so it seems reasonable that Constantine would use a letter for M to represent this sound.  Samaritan (like other forms of Hebrew) is written right to left, but it is conventional to reverse the direction of letters when writing the opposite direction (see early Greek and Latin conventions).  So this letter would be exactly the same as Glagolitic "B".

Again Samaritan.  This letter looks a good deal like the Glagolitic letter 

for the sound "дж", or in Serbian "ћ" ("G" as in George).  That is this letter:or sometimes looking more like 

The Coptic alphabet, the Proto-Bulgarian letters, and even earlier pagan "Tagmas" have been suggested as influences.  I've heard suggestions that the letters have a connection to alchemy signs as well.  In addition to knowing Hebrew and Arabic and being an expert on the monotheistic religions, Constantine the Philosopher seems to have had an eye for the truly esoteric.  My next entry will examine this more closely.