Boustrophedon: The Ancient Way Words Moved Like a Plowing Ox
🐂✍️ Boustrophedon: The Ancient Way Words Moved Like a Plowing Ox Have you ever heard of boustrophedon ? It’s a quirky, tongue-twisting term that hides a fascinating secret about how people used to write and read thousands of years ago. 🧠 What is Boustrophedon? Boustrophedon (from Greek: βοῦς "ox" + στροφή "turn") literally means “as the ox turns.” It refers to a writing style where each line alternates direction —one is written left to right, the next right to left, and so on. Imagine an ox plowing a field, turning at the end of each row and heading back. That’s exactly how boustrophedon text flows—like a zigzag across the page. 🏛️ Where Was It Used? This method was common in Ancient Greece around the 6th century BCE. You can find it carved into stone tablets and early inscriptions. Even the Etruscans used a similar pattern. 💡 Why Use It? Efficiency: The eye flows naturally from one line to the next, like reading in a wave. Innovat...