3 ms·

Weren't center dots common as word separators instead of spaces? For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome#/media/File:20190406-DSC5193_Panteon.

• dodobirdlord 6y ago
  Romans initially used center dots in early Roman history, but transitioned to continuous script for several centuries following exposure to Greek writing that used continuous script, before eventually transitioning to separating words with empty space. Use of the center dot seems to have persisted on monuments after it ceased to be used in ordinary writing. The lack of spacing also led to an interesting phenomenon where most (perhaps nearly all) Romans could not read silently, and had to process written text by reading it aloud to themselves. There are some recorded instances of figures from Greek and Roman antiquity reading silently, but it’s generally remarked on as being surprising to those around them, and attributed to individuals that are otherwise attested to have been exceptionally intelligent (Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Saint Ambrose).
  • tom_mellior 6y ago
    Fascinating, thanks!