The Palmyra alphabet is a consonant alphabet of the Semitic type, a branch of the Aramaic and the ancestor of the Syriac scripts . The direction of the alphabet is left-handed. The alphabet is in many ways similar to the stylized italics of “square” Jewish writing . The distribution center is a city in the Syrian desert of Palmyra , or Tadmor , or Tamar. Palmyra inscriptions were found in Palmyra , Dura Europos , Palestine , Egypt and other areas of North Africa , as well as in the ruins of the ancient Tom ( Constanta ) on the Black Sea , in Hungary , Italy and even in England [1] .
Content
Letter
In Palmyra writing, there are two forms:
- monumental
- cursive.
According to some statements, both forms arose and were used simultaneously. And according to other opinions, the prototype of Palmyra cursive writing arose as a branch of Aramaic writing between 250 and 100 years. BC e ., and Palmyra monumental writing developed from cursive writing during the 1st century. BC er [2]
In the monumental writing in the 1st century , a round knuckle was used. Later, it was replaced by a decorative broken base, which appeared at the end of the II century . The earliest inscription dates back to 44 BC , and the latest is written by Palmyra cursive and dated 274.
In subsequent times, Palmyra writing contributed to the development of calligraphic and ligature graphics of the Extrangel, the closest business suit of Palmyra . Palmyra's writing was distinguished by floridity, a break in straight lines and an abundance of ligatures. In Aramaic writing, no tendency toward ligature italics appeared until the turn of the epochs.
Gallery
Funeral tiles with Palmyra inscription ( Louvre )
Relief with a Palmyro-Greek bilingual inscription ( Louvre )
Column in Palmyra with a Palmyro-Greek bilingual inscription in honor of Julia Aurelius Zenobia
Notes
- ↑ Palmyra alphabet . maxbooks.ru. The appeal date is December 14, 2017.
- ↑ Palmyra alphabet . rbardalzo.narod.ru. The appeal date is December 14, 2017.