The Tower of David Museum presents "Letters and More: The Story of the Alphabet."
The use of the written alphabet is so central in our lives that it is taken for granted. But the story of the invention and development of alphabetic writing is the story of a revolution that changed the face of the world in terms of communication options. The exhibition "Letters and More" addresses one of the most important revolutions in communications in history: the invention of the alphabet.
As a city that is a mosaic of peoples and cultures, Jerusalem is also a patchwork of alphabets and languages. At times it seems as though Jerusalem is the Tower of Babel. Throughout history, various conquerors have overtaken and ruled the city, bringing a large collection of languages and scripts with them - Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Aramaic, Geez to name but a few. A large proportion of the languages brought over the many centuries of the city's long and colorful history are still used on a daily basis today in the Old City. The differences often seem greater than what they have in common. Even though these alphabets developed in different places, they all share a single source: the system of signs that was born here, in Canaan, the land of the meeting of cultures, 3,700 years ago.
The development of the alphabet brought writing out of the hands of experts. Alphabetic writing allowed the expression of opinions, feelings and ideas, and the dissemination of knowledge and documentation.
The exhibition shows that the contemporary world of symbols, images, shapes and images actually also existed in the past and asks if the world might be going back to the days when the media was based on symbols.
"Letters and More" presents the alphabet through interactive games, creative arts, videos and unique installations.
The exhibition "Letters and More" will be open during regular opening hours of the Museum at no additional fee.
Sunday - Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:00
Thursday: 10:00 - 18:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 14:00
On Fridays the Museum is closed. Entry to the exhibit is included in the museum's entrance fee (15-30 NIS)
Exhibition Curators: Liat Margalit and Sara Rozenfeld
Photo of Letters and More courtesy of the Tower of David Museum.
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