Boustrophedon

One of the differences in writing method that stood out to me the most was the Boustrophedon which was a method of writing from right to left and from left to right in alternate lines. During the lecture, this particular phrase “Imagine an ox plowing a field” that is the way that Boustrophedon works.

Every time when I am doing a quick briefly reading of a finished assignment or a reading, I found my eyes often skipping a few lines when I shifted from the 1st sentence extreme right jumping to the 2nd sentence extreme left and thought what if writing was invented this way, it seems to be creating a smoother flow for our visual and made sense like how if an ox was plowing the field.

Once popular with stone engravers in the 5th to 10th century

However, I realized it meant that we have to write backward. I tried it myself and it was very confusing when one has to spell backward.

Following closing, there is another older similar writing method named – Rongorongo script from Easter Island uses a reverse boustrophedon. Not only they wrote the letters backward they also have it up-side-down. Apparently it has been mastered by quite a few people back in the days. This was a shocking discovery of how they managed to learn and master this reversed method way of writing.

I guess I have my question answered as to why we end at the extreme right & starts at the extreme left.

As I end of this last sentence, I will once again attempt to try the Boustrophedon writing method. (It’s hard~)