Cyrus Herzl Gordon American linguist Date of Birth: 29.06.1908 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Academic Pursuits
3. Middle East Explorations
4. World War II and Cryptography
5. Post-War Career
6. Minoan and Transatlantic Travel Hypotheses

Early Life and Education

Cyrus Herzl Gordon, born to Lithuanian immigrant Benjamin Gordon, grew up in an affluent Jewish American household. From a young age, Gordon displayed a keen interest in languages, studying Hebrew at five and later Latin and Greek.

Academic Pursuits

Gordon earned degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Gratz College, and Dropsie College. He specialized in Bible, Classics, and the Ancient Near East, mastering languages such as Old Persian and Sanskrit.

Middle East Explorations

In the 1930s, Gordon traveled extensively in the Middle East, participating in archaeological expeditions and studying ancient Egyptian inscriptions. He joined digs led by renowned archaeologists, including Leonard Woolley and Nelson Glueck.

World War II and Cryptography

During World War II, Gordon volunteered for the US Army. His linguistic skills proved invaluable in deciphering German and Japanese codes. Later, he claimed this experience aided him in his unsuccessful attempt to decipher Minoan inscriptions.

Post-War Career

After the war, Gordon secured a permanent teaching position at Dropsie College, where he remained until 1956. He then moved to Brandeis University for 18 years. In 1973, he joined New York University, directing its Center for Ancient Semitic Studies.

Minoan and Transatlantic Travel Hypotheses

Gordon proposed that Minoan, the language of Crete, was of Semitic origin, an idea that was widely disputed. He also theorized that ancient Hebrews or Phoenicians had crossed the Atlantic Ocean, based on inscriptions from Tennessee and Brazil that were later proven to be hoaxes.