Aramaic Alphabet
The Aramaic alphabet consists of 22 letters and is one of the oldest alphabets, ancestor to Hebrew, Arabic, and Syriac scripts.
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About the Aramaic Alphabet
The Aramaic alphabet is one of the most historically significant writing systems, serving as the ancestor to Hebrew, Arabic, and Syriac scripts. It consists of 22 consonant letters written from right to left. Aramaic was the lingua franca of the ancient Near East and parts of the Bible were written in Aramaic.
History
The Aramaic alphabet evolved from the Phoenician alphabet around 800 BCE. It became the official script of the Persian Empire and spread throughout the Middle East. The alphabet gave rise to numerous descendant scripts including Hebrew square script, Arabic, and various Central Asian alphabets. It is still used in some Christian and Jewish communities.
Key Features
- Written from right to left
- 22 consonant letters
- Ancestor to Hebrew and Arabic
- Over 2,800 years old
- Used in parts of the Bible
- Still used in some communities