Why Biblos: The History and Symbol Behind My Word Processor
Giuseppe Di Grande Updated the 12/23/2024 08:00
Biblos, a term deeply connected to Ancient Egypt, originates from the connection with papyrus, a plant native to the Nile regions. This material played a fundamental role in Egyptian civilization as a writing medium and a means of transmitting knowledge.
Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) was an aquatic plant abundant along the Nile. The Egyptians developed a technique to transform the plant's pith into sheets used as a writing surface. This material became essential for administrative, religious, and literary documentation in Ancient Egypt.
The Egyptians were accustomed to distinguishing between the edible papyrus and papyrus used as a writing medium with different terms. For Herodotus, papyrus, as a writing material, was called “biblion”. On the other hand, Theophrastus referred to the plant itself as “papyros”, while for its fibers, which, when woven, could be used to make baskets, ropes, and writing supports, he used the term “Biblos”.
Biblos comes from a term with roots in the trade and culture of Ancient Egypt. It is believed to derive from the Phoenician city of Gùbla, called “Byblos” by the Greeks, which was the main port from which Egyptian papyrus was shipped to the Aegean region. The city's name itself became synonymous with papyrus and, later, with books. Papyrus was widely exported and played a central role in the development of writing and documentation in antiquity. Indeed, Byblos was an important commercial center and one of the main ports through which Egypt exported papyrus to the Greek world and other Mediterranean civilizations. For this reason, the term began to refer to papyrus as a writing medium and, later, to the books made from it.
The Greeks, coming into contact with Byblos and papyrus, adopted the word βιβλος (Biblos), which in Ancient Greek referred to both papyrus and books. This is where terms such as “biblía”, meaning “books”, and “Biblioteca”, literally “place of books”, come from.
Biblos represents the connection between Egypt, the cradle of writing, and the Mediterranean world. It symbolizes the transfer of culture and knowledge, from the production of papyrus to the dissemination of written texts. Therefore, it is not just a term related to writing and books, but also a symbol of the transmission of knowledge, culture, and memory. This meaning has been preserved over time, influencing many modern languages and the very concept of literature and written knowledge.
In 2004, I chose the name Biblos for my Word processor precisely because of the profound symbolic and historical significance this word carries. Biblos embodies the continuity between the past and the present, representing not only the physical medium of writing but also the means through which knowledge is passed down and shared.
When I chose the name, I conceived Biblos with the intention of making writing and reading accessible to everyone, especially blind and visually impaired individuals, combining the Ancient role of papyrus as a tool of knowledge with the modernity of technology. Just as papyrus allowed Ancient civilizations to preserve and spread culture, Biblos aims to be a bridge between physical barriers and the universal right to communication and information.
Moreover, the term Biblos evokes the idea of an open and versatile system, capable of accommodating and transforming texts into various formats, including tactile and Braille ones. Just as papyrus was transformed into a writing medium and adapted to the needs of different civilizations, my Software adapts to the needs of its users, allowing everyone to express themselves and access knowledge.
This choice is also a tribute to the history of writing, its universal value, and its ability to transcend geographical, temporal, and cultural boundaries. Biblos, like papyrus and Ancient books, is designed to be a tool that transmits knowledge, facilitates communication, and breaks down barriers in an era where technology can become the new vehicle for a truly inclusive culture.
To reinforce this vision and emphasize the deep connection between the past and the future, I decided to represent Biblos with an evocative symbol full of meaning: the Eye of Ra. This Ancient Egyptian emblem is not only a reference to the origins of writing but also a powerful symbol of enlightenment and protection, perfectly embodying the mission of my Software.
The Biblos logo depicts the Eye of Ra, an Ancient symbol rich in meanings that intertwine with the word Biblos and the concept of knowledge transmission. In Egyptian culture, the Eye of Ra represents protection, knowledge, and the creative power of the god Ra, the sun. This symbol was revered not only for its protective function but also as an emblem of enlightenment, clear vision, and connection between the earthly and divine worlds.
The choice to associate the Eye of Ra with the name Biblos is not incidental. Just as papyrus represented the means to preserve and spread knowledge, the Eye of Ra symbolizes the ability to see beyond, to reveal what is hidden, and to illuminate the human mind. In this sense, Biblos and the Eye of Ra share a common mission: to safeguard and transmit knowledge, making it accessible to all.
Moreover, the symbol of the eye carries a dual meaning: it observes and protects, while at the same time inviting reflection and inner discovery. Therefore, in Biblos, the Eye of Ra becomes a call to the potential of writing and reading as tools for personal and collective growth, a bridge between Ancient knowledge and new technologies.
The connection between the symbol and the name also reveals a deeper bond. The Eye of Ra is associated with cosmic order and the light that allows one to distinguish the visible from the invisible. Biblos, as Software, represents this technological light that enables writers to imprint words that will remain alive, accessible, and inclusive, overcoming the limits imposed by the darkness of physical or cultural barriers.
Through the logo, Biblos not only honors Ancient Egypt but also expresses the very essence of the project: to be a tool capable of looking beyond the present, protecting the past, and opening new communication paths for the future.
Biblos stands as a bridge between the past and the future, a fine thread that intertwines the memory of Ancient writing with the possibilities offered by modern technology. In this journey, each of us is both a guardian and creator of knowledge, part of an uninterrupted cycle that unites tradition and innovation. Just as papyrus allowed the preservation and transmission of knowledge for millennia, Biblos encourages the imagination of new horizons, where every written word can continue to live, breaking down barriers and lighting paths still unexplored.
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