WritingAlphabetCanaaniteInscriptions

When Did the Canaanites Invent Their Script?

Uncover how the Canaanite alphabet emerged just before Moses—see early inscriptions and their biblical connections.

Timeline Focus: 1500 BCE

The Surprising Reality

In the hills of Serabit el-Khadim around 1500 BC, miners carved strange linear letters into Egyptian turquoise mines.

🤔The Context Question

But here's what most people don't realize: this proto-alphabet is the ancestor of nearly every modern script—including biblical Hebrew.

📚What We Know

The inscriptions from Serabit and Wadi el-Hol reveal a Semitic adaptation of Egyptian hieroglyphs. They appear centuries before the Ten Commandments were given. But understanding the full impact of this script requires comparing ancient inscriptions on the app's timeline.

Explore the Full Context

Jump to 1500 BC and see exactly how early Semitic writing took shape—discover how it shaped biblical language.

Explore Interactive Timeline & Map

See the complete historical context with our interactive map and timeline

🔗Related Topics

artifact

Serabit el-Khadim Inscriptions

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definition

Proto-Sinaitic Alphabet

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📖Biblical References

📜Exodus 24:12

Scripture references supporting this historical context