Manichaean
The Manichaean script evolved from Syriac Estrangelo
with influences from the Sogdian script. It is believed
by some to have been devised in the 3rd century AD by Mani, the founder of the
Manichaean religion, and was used until the 10th century.
During the 19th century German expeditions discovered a number of Manichaean
manuscripts at Bulayiq on the Silk Road, near Turfan in north-west China.
Notable features
- Written from right to left in horizontal lines.
- Some of the letters have separate final forms which are used at the ends of words.
Used to write
Middle Persian, Sogdian, Parthian, Bactrian, Uyhur, Old Turkish and Tokharian.
Manichaean script
Links
Information about the Manichaean script
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaean_script
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/silkroad/themelanguages.html
Digital archieve of Manichaean manuscripts found in Turfan
http://www.bbaw.de/forschung/turfanforschung/dta/index.html
Information about the Manichaean religion
http://www.farvardyn.com/mani.php
Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies at the School of Oriental and Asian
Studies (SOAS), University of London: http://www.cais-soas.co.uk