Video: Armenian Letter Art and Its Cultural Expressions
Armenia's alphabet is not just a way to record text; it can also be an art medium.
Armenia is home to its own language and alphabet, both of which played an important role in the spread of knowledge and Christianity in the early medieval era. While the Armenian language has been around for thousands of years, its script is thought to have been created in 405 CE by Mesrop Mashtots. Mashtots, a nobleman, scholar, and briefly a monk, developed the Armenian alphabet at a time of national turmoil to unify its people and spread the Christian Gospel. He devised a writing system with 36 (later 39) characters, read left-to-right and horizontally, likely inspired by both Greek and Persian alphabets.
Since that time, Armenian has remained in active use, including a prominent place on many documents of the Ottoman Empire. The script’s natural flow and beauty has also made it a favorite medium of art in Armenia. Calligraphy, exemplified in Armenia’s illuminated manuscripts, is just the beginning. The alphabet has also been incorporated into carvings, textile work, and even performance art.
This video, courtesy of UNESCO, highlights how the Armenian alphabet is still a source of creativity and admiration among Armenian students and artists today.
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