Question

how does the alphabet relate to mathematics in ancient cultures?

Answer 1

A very general question, but it can relate to the use of "Roman Numerals" where I is 1 and V is 5, and X is 10.

Answer 2

L=

Answer 3

The greeks used letters of their alphabets for represent their numbers.
Also you can see the attic symbols (but they are really strange)

Answer 4

αʹ 1 ιʹ 10 ρʹ 100
βʹ 2 κʹ 20 σʹ 200
γʹ 3 λʹ 30 τʹ 300
δʹ 4 μʹ 40 υʹ 400
εʹ 5 νʹ 50 φʹ 500
ϝʹ or ϛʹ or στʹ 6 ξʹ 60 χʹ 600
ζʹ 7 οʹ 70 ψʹ 700
ηʹ 8 πʹ 80 ωʹ 800
θʹ 9 ϟʹ 90 ϡʹ 900