Turn next to the Maya sign for q (ku): it is ### . Now what is the
peculiarity of this hieroglyph? The circle below is not significant, for
there are many circular figures in the Maya alphabet. Clearly, if one
was called upon to simplify this, he would retain the two small circles
joined side by side at the top, and would indicate the lower circle with
a line or dash. And when we turn to the Egyptian q we find it in this
shape, ### ; we turn to the Ethiopian q (khua), and we find it ### , as
qua, ### ; while the Phoenician comes still nearer the supposed Maya
form in ### ; the Moab stone was ### ; the Himyaritic Arabian form
became ### ; the Greek form was ### , which graduated into the Roman Q.
But a still more striking proof of the descent of the Phoenician
alphabet from the Maya is found in the other form of the q, the Maya cu,
which is ### . Now, if we apply the Maya rule to this, and discard the
outside circle, we have this left, ### . In time the curved line would
be made straight, and the figure would assume this form, ### ; the next
step would be to make the cross on the straight line, thus, ### . One of
the ancient Phoenician forms is ### .
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