Manichaean

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

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

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