maˈtʼuww

Writing Scripts Descended from Egyptian Hieroglyphs

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Mandaic

ࡀࡁࡀࡂࡀࡃࡀ

Alphabet1
2 c. CE - Present2


Right-to-left1

Mandaic

Languages3

Mandaic

Places1

Ahvaz, Khūzestān (modern day Iran), and Mandean diaspora

Abagada (Abecedary)1,3

Man01
Mandaic letter A
Man02
Mandaic letter Ba
Man03
Mandaic letter Ga
Man04
Mandaic letter Da
Man05
Mandaic letter Ha
Man06
Mandaic letter Wa
Man07
Mandaic letter Za
Man08
Mandaic letter Eh
Man09
Mandaic letter Ṭa
Man10
Mandaic letter Ya
Man11
Mandaic letter Ka
Man12
Mandaic letter La
Man13
Mandaic letter Ma
Man14
Mandaic letter Na
Man15
Mandaic letter Sa
Man16
Mandaic letter E
Man18
Mandaic letter Pa
Man19
Mandaic letter Ṣa
Man20
Mandaic letter Qa
Man21
Mandaic letter Ra
Man22
Mandaic letter Ša
Man24
Mandaic letter Ta
Man25
Mandaic letter Ḏ
Man01
Mandaic letter A

The alphabet is formally closed by repeating the first letter, ࡀ (a), so that it has a symbolic count of 24 letters.1

Contextual forms1,3

Isolated

Man01_0
Mandaic letter A (isolated)
Man02_0
Mandaic letter Ba (isolated)
Man03_0
Mandaic letter Ga (isolated)
Man04_0
Mandaic letter Da (isolated)
Man05_0
Mandaic letter Ha (isolated)
Man06_0
Mandaic letter Wa (isolated)
Man07_0
Mandaic letter Za (isolated)
Man08_0
Mandaic letter Eh (isolated)
Man09_0
Mandaic letter Ṭa (isolated)
Man10_0
Mandaic letter Ya (isolated)
Man11_0
Mandaic letter Ka (isolated)
Man12_0
Mandaic letter La (isolated)
Man13_0
Mandaic letter Ma (isolated)
Man14_0
Mandaic letter Na (isolated)
Man15_0
Mandaic letter Sa (isolated)
Man16_0
Mandaic letter E (isolated)
Man18_0
Mandaic letter Pa (isolated)
Man19_0
Mandaic letter Ṣa (isolated)
Man20_0
Mandaic letter Qa (isolated)
Man21_0
Mandaic letter Ra (isolated)
Man22_0
Mandaic letter Ša (isolated)
Man24_0
Mandaic letter Ta (isolated)
Man25_0
Mandaic letter Ḏ (isolated)

Initial

Man02_1
Mandaic letter Ba (initial)
Man03_1
Mandaic letter Ga (initial)
Man04_1
Mandaic letter Da (initial)
Man05_1
Mandaic letter Ha (initial)
Man06_1
Mandaic letter Wa (initial)
Man09_1
Mandaic letter Ṭa (initial)
Man11_1
Mandaic letter Ka (initial)
Man12_1
Mandaic letter La (initial)
Man13_1
Mandaic letter Ma (initial)
Man14_1
Mandaic letter Na (initial)
Man15_1
Mandaic letter Sa (initial)
Man16_1
Mandaic letter E (initial)
Man18_1
Mandaic letter Pa (initial)
Man19_1
Mandaic letter Ṣa (initial)
Man20_1
Mandaic letter Qa (initial)
Man21_1
Mandaic letter Ra (initial)
Man24_1
Mandaic letter Ta (initial)

Medial

Man02_2
Mandaic letter Ba (medial)
Man03_2
Mandaic letter Ga (medial)
Man04_2
Mandaic letter Da (medial)
Man05_2
Mandaic letter Ha (medial)
Man06_2
Mandaic letter Wa (medial)
Man09_2
Mandaic letter Ṭa (medial)
Man11_2
Mandaic letter Ka (medial)
Man12_2
Mandaic letter La (medial)
Man13_2
Mandaic letter Ma (medial)
Man14_2
Mandaic letter Na (medial)
Man15_2
Mandaic letter Sa (medial)
Man16_2
Mandaic letter E (medial)
Man18_2
Mandaic letter Pa (medial)
Man19_2
Mandaic letter Ṣa (medial)
Man20_2
Mandaic letter Qa (medial)
Man21_2
Mandaic letter Ra (medial)
Man24_2
Mandaic letter Ta (medial)

Final

Man01_3
Mandaic letter A (final)
Man02_3
Mandaic letter Ba (final)
Man03_3
Mandaic letter Ga (final)
Man04_3
Mandaic letter Da (final)
Man05_3
Mandaic letter Ha (final)
Man06_3
Mandaic letter Wa (final)
Man07_3
Mandaic letter Za (final)
Man08_3
Mandaic letter Eh (final)
Man09_3
Mandaic letter Ṭa (final)
Man10_3
Mandaic letter Ya (final)
Man11_3
Mandaic letter Ka (final)
Man12_3
Mandaic letter La (final)
Man13_3
Mandaic letter Ma (final)
Man14_3
Mandaic letter Na (final)
Man15_3
Mandaic letter Sa (final)
Man16_3
Mandaic letter E (final)
Man18_3
Mandaic letter Pa (final)
Man19_3
Mandaic letter Ṣa (final)
Man20_3
Mandaic letter Qa (final)
Man21_3
Mandaic letter Ra (final)
Man22_3
Mandaic letter Ša (final)
Man24_3
Mandaic letter Ta (final)
Man25_3
Mandaic letter Ḏ (final)

Epigraphy4

91724

Pottery incantation bowl (6 - 8 c. CE) inscribed with a Mandaic incantation to protect Shrula son of Duktanuba and Qaqay daughter of Kaspasta against evil spirits (description, transliteration, and English transliteration - here)

Script comparison1-3,5-15

Writing Script Head of ox House plan Throw stick Nile tilapia Man with arms raised Pear shaped mace Two diagonal strokes Plan of rectangular enclosure Heart and trachea Arm with downward facing palm Hand Crook Water ripple Cobra Reed column Eye Mouth Rush with shoots Cord on stick Head Bow Crossed sticks
Logography
            
32 c. BCE - 4 c. CE
EH01
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. F1
EH02
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. O1
EH03
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. T14
EH04
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. K1
EH05
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. A28
EH06
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. T3
EH07
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. Z4
EH08
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. 06
EH09
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. F35
EH10
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. D42
EH11
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. D46
EH12
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. S39
EH13
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. N35
EH14
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. I10
EH15
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. R11
EH16
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. D4
EH18
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. D21
EH19
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. M22
EH20
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. V24
EH21
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. D1
EH22
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. T9a
EH24
Egyptian Hieroglyph Gardiner's Sign No. Z9
Aramaic (Parent)
Abjad
            
8 c. BCE - 6 c. CE
IA01
Aramaic letter Ālaph
IA02
Aramaic letter Bēth
IA03
Aramaic letter Gāmal
IA04
Aramaic letter Dālath
IA05
Aramaic letter Hē
IA06
Aramaic letter Waw
IA07
Aramaic letter Zain
IA08
Aramaic letter Khēth
IA09
Aramaic letter Ṭēth
IA10
Aramaic letter Iodh
IA11
Aramaic letter Kāph
IA12
Aramaic letter Lāmadh
IA13
Aramaic letter Mem
IA14
Aramaic letter Nun
IA15
Aramaic letter Semkath
IA16
Aramaic letter Ayin
IA18
Aramaic letter Pē
IA19
Aramaic letter Ṩādhē
IA20
Aramaic letter Qoph
IA21
Aramaic letter Rēš
IA22
Aramaic letter Šīn
IA24
Aramaic letter Taw
Kharoṣṭhī (Sibling)
Abugida
            
4 c. BCE - 3 c. CE
Kh01
Kharoṣṭhī letter A
Kh02
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ba
Kh03
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ga
Kh04
Kharoṣṭhī letter Dha
Kh05
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ha
Kh06
Kharoṣṭhī letter Va
Kh07
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ja
Kh08
Kharoṣṭhī letter Gha
Kh09
Kharoṣṭhī letter Tha
Kh10
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ya
Kh11
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ka
Kh12
Kharoṣṭhī letter La
Kh13
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ma
Kh14
Kharoṣṭhī letter Na
Kh15
Kharoṣṭhī letter Śa
Kh18
Kharoṣṭhī letter P
Kh19
Kharoṣṭhī letter Sa
Kh20
Kharoṣṭhī letter Kha
Kh21
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ra
Kh22
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ṣa
Kh24
Kharoṣṭhī letter Ta
Early/Ashokan Brahmi (Sibling)
Abugida
            
3 c. BCE - 1 c. CE
AB01
Early Brahmi letter A
AB02
Early Brahmi letter Ba
AB03
Early Brahmi letter Ga
AB04
Early Brahmi letter Dha
AB05
Early Brahmi letter Ha
AB06
Early Brahmi letter Va
AB07
Early Brahmi letter Ja
AB08
Early Brahmi letter Gha
AB09
Early Brahmi letter Tha
AB10
Early Brahmi letter Ya
AB11
Early Brahmi letter Ka
AB12
Early Brahmi letter La
AB13
Early Brahmi letter Ma
AB14
Early Brahmi letter Na
AB15
Early Brahmi letter Ṣa
AB16
Early Brahmi letter E
AB18
Early Brahmi letter Pa
AB19
Early Brahmi letter Ca
AB20
Early Brahmi letter Kha
AB21
Early Brahmi letter Ra
AB22
Early Brahmi letter Śa
AB24
Early Brahmi letter Ta
Hebrew (Sibling)
Abjad
            
c. 2/1 BCE - Present
H01
Hebrew letter Alef
H02
Hebrew letter Bet
H03
Hebrew letter Gimel
H04
Hebrew letter Dalet
H05
Hebrew letter He
H06
Hebrew letter Vav
H07
Hebrew letter Zayin
H08
Hebrew letter Chet
H09
Hebrew letter Tet
H10
Hebrew letter Yod
H11a
Hebrew letter Kaf
H11
Hebrew letter Kaf (final)
H12
Hebrew letter Lamed
H13
Hebrew letter Mem
H13a
Hebrew letter Mem (final)
H14a
Hebrew letter Nun
H14
Hebrew letter Nun (final)
H15
Hebrew letter Samekh
H16
Hebrew letter Ayin
H18a
Hebrew letter Pe
H18
Hebrew letter Pe (final)
H19a
Hebrew letter Tsadi
H19
Hebrew letter Tsadi (final)
H20
Hebrew letter Qof
H21
Hebrew letter Resh
H22
Hebrew letter Shin
H24
Hebrew letter Tav
Inscriptional Parthian (Sibling)
Abjad
            
c. 250 BCE - ???
Pa_IPa01
Inscriptional Parthian letter Aleph
Pa_IPa02
Inscriptional Parthian letter Beth
Pa_IPa03
Inscriptional Parthian letter Gimel
Pa_IPa04
Inscriptional Parthian letter Daleth
Pa_IPa05
Inscriptional Parthian letter He
Pa_IPa06
Inscriptional Parthian letter Waw
Pa_IPa07
Inscriptional Parthian letter Zayin
Pa_IPa08
Inscriptional Parthian letter Heth
Pa_IPa09
Inscriptional Parthian letter Teth
Pa_IPa10
Inscriptional Parthian letter Yodh
Pa_IPa11
Inscriptional Parthian letter Kaph
Pa_IPa12
Inscriptional Parthian letter Lamadh
Pa_IPa13
Inscriptional Parthian letter Mem
Pa_IPa14
Inscriptional Parthian letter Nun
Pa_IPa15
Inscriptional Parthian letter Samekh
Pa_IPa16
Inscriptional Parthian letter Ayin
Pa_IPa18
Inscriptional Parthian letter Pe
Pa_IPa19
Inscriptional Parthian letter Sadhe
Pa_IPa20
Inscriptional Parthian letter Qoph
Pa_IPa21
Inscriptional Parthian letter Resh
Pa_IPa22
Inscriptional Parthian letter Shin
Pa_IPa24
Inscriptional Parthian letter Taw
Elymaic (Sibling)
Abjad
            
2 c. BCE - 3 c. CE
E01
Elymaic letter Aleph
E02
Elymaic letter Beth
E03
Elymaic letter Gimel
E04
Elymaic letter Daleth
E05
Elymaic letter He
E06
Elymaic letter Waw
E07
Elymaic letter Zayin
E08
Elymaic letter Heth
E09
Elymaic letter Teth
E10
Elymaic letter Yodh
E11
Elymaic letter Kaph
E12
Elymaic letter Lamedh
E13
Elymaic letter Mem
E14
Elymaic letter Nun
E15
Elymaic letter Samekh
E16
Elymaic letter Ayin
E18
Elymaic letter Pe
E19
Elymaic letter Sadhe
E20
Elymaic letter Qoph
E21
Elymaic letter Res
E22
Elymaic letter Shin
E24
Elymaic letter Taw
Classical Nabataean (Sibling)
Abjad
            
2 c. BCE - 4 c. CE
N01
Classical Nabataean letter Ālaph
N01a
Classical Nabataean letter Ālaph (final)
N02
Classical Nabataean letter Bēth
N02a
Classical Nabataean letter Bēth (final)
N03
Classical Nabataean letter Gāmal
N04
Classical Nabataean letter Dālath
N05
Classical Nabataean letter Hē
N05a
Classical Nabataean letter Hē (final)
N06
Classical Nabataean letter Waw
N07
Classical Nabataean letter Zain
N08
Classical Nabataean letter Khēth
N09
Classical Nabataean letter Ṭēth
N10
Classical Nabataean letter Iodh
N10a
Classical Nabataean letter Iodh (final)
N11
Classical Nabataean letter Kāph
N11a
Classical Nabataean letter Kāph (final)
N12
Classical Nabataean letter Lāmadh
N12a
Classical Nabataean letter Lāmadh (final)
N13
Classical Nabataean letter Mem
N13a
Classical Nabataean letter Mem (final)
N14
Classical Nabataean letter Nun
N14a
Classical Nabataean letter Nun (final)
N15
Classical Nabataean letter Semkath
N16
Classical Nabataean letter Ayin
N18
Classical Nabataean letter Pē
N19
Classical Nabataean letter Ṩādhē
N20
Classical Nabataean letter Qoph
N21
Classical Nabataean letter Rēš
N22
Classical Nabataean letter Šīn
N22a
Classical Nabataean letter Šīn (final)
N24
Classical Nabataean letter Taw
Palmyrene (Sibling)
Abjad
            
1 c. BCE - 3 c. CE
Pal01
Palmyrene letter Aleph
Pal02
Palmyrene letter Beth
Pal03
Palmyrene letter Gimel
Pal04
Palmyrene letter Daleth
Pal05
Palmyrene letter He
Pal06
Palmyrene letter Waw
Pal07
Palmyrene letter Zayin
Pal08
Palmyrene letter Heth
Pal09
Palmyrene letter Teth
Pal10
Palmyrene letter Yodh
Pal11
Palmyrene letter Kaph
Pal12
Palmyrene letter Lamedh
Pal13
Palmyrene letter Mem
Pal14
Palmyrene letter Nun
Pal14a
Palmyrene letter Nun (final)
Pal15
Palmyrene letter Samekh
Pal16
Palmyrene letter Ayin
Pal18
Palmyrene letter Pe
Pal19
Palmyrene letter Sadhe
Pal20
Palmyrene letter Qoph
Pal21
Palmyrene letter Res
Pal22
Palmyrene letter Shin
Pal24
Palmyrene letter Taw
Hatran (Sibling)
Abjad
            
c. 98 BCE - 240 CE
Ha01
Hatran letter Aleph
Ha02
Hatran letter Beth
Ha03
Hatran letter Gimel
Ha04
Hatran letter Daleth
Ha05
Hatran letter He
Ha06
Hatran letter Waw
Ha07
Hatran letter Zayin
Ha08
Hatran letter Heth
Ha09
Hatran letter Teth
Ha10
Hatran letter Yodh
Ha11
Hatran letter Kaph
Ha12
Hatran letter Lamedh
Ha13
Hatran letter Mem
Ha14
Hatran letter Nun
Ha15
Hatran letter Samekh
Ha16
Hatran letter Ayin
Ha18
Hatran letter Pe
Ha19
Hatran letter Sadhe
Ha20
Hatran letter Qoph
Ha21
Hatran letter Res
Ha22
Hatran letter Shin
Ha24
Hatran letter Taw
Syriac (Sibling)
Abjad
            
1 c. CE - Present
Sy_E01
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter ʾĀlep̄
Sy_M01
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter ʾĀlap̄
Sy_S01
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter ʾĀlap̄/Olaf
Sy_E02
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Bēṯ
Sy_M02
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Bēṯ
Sy_S02
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Bēṯ
Sy_E03
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Gāmal
Sy_M03
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Gāmal
Sy_S03
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Gāmal
Sy_E04
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Dālaṯ
Sy_M04
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Dālaṯ
Sy_S04
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Dālaṯ
Sy_E05
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Hē
Sy_M05
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Hē
Sy_S05
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Hē
Sy_E06
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Waw
Sy_M06
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Waw
Sy_S06
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Waw
Sy_E07
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Zayn
Sy_M07
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Zayn
Sy_S07
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Zayn
Sy_E08
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Ḥēṯ
Sy_M08
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Ḥēṯ
Sy_S08
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Ḥēṯ
Sy_E09
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Ṭēṯ
Sy_M09
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Ṭēṯ
Sy_S09
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Ṭēṯ
Sy_E10
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Yōḏ
Sy_M10
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Yōḏ
Sy_S10
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Yōḏ
Sy_E11
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Kāp̄
Sy_M11
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Kāp̄
Sy_S11
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Kāp̄
Sy_E12
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Lāmaḏ
Sy_M12
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Lāmaḏ
Sy_S12
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Lāmaḏ
Sy_E13
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Mīm
Sy_M13
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Mīm
Sy_S13
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Mīm
Sy_E14
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Nūn
Sy_M14
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Nūn
Sy_S14
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Nūn
Sy_E15
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Semkaṯ
Sy_M15
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Semkaṯ
Sy_S15
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Semkaṯ
Sy_E16
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter ʿĒ
Sy_M16
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter ʿĒ
Sy_S16
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter ʿĒ
Sy_E18
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Pē
Sy_M18
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Pē
Sy_S18
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Pē
Sy_E19
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Ṣāḏē
Sy_M19
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Ṣāḏē
Sy_S19
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Ṣāḏē
Sy_E20
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Qōp̄
Sy_M20
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Qōp̄
Sy_S20
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Qōp̄
Sy_E21
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Rēš
Sy_M21
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Rēš
Sy_S21
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Rēš
Sy_E22
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Šīn
Sy_M22
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Šīn
Sy_S22
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Šīn
Sy_E24
ʾEsṭrangēlā/Classical Syriac letter Taw
Sy_M24
Maḏnḥāyā/Eastern Syriac letter Taw
Sy_S24
Serṭā/Western Syriac letter Taw
Mandaic
Alphabet
            
2 c. CE - Present
Man01
Mandaic letter A
Man02
Mandaic letter Ba
Man03
Mandaic letter Ga
Man04
Mandaic letter Da
Man05
Mandaic letter Ha
Man06
Mandaic letter Wa
Man07
Mandaic letter Za
Man08
Mandaic letter Eh
Man09
Mandaic letter Ṭa
Man10
Mandaic letter Ya
Man11
Mandaic letter Ka
Man12
Mandaic letter La
Man13
Mandaic letter Ma
Man14
Mandaic letter Na
Man15
Mandaic letter Sa
Man16
Mandaic letter E
Man18
Mandaic letter Pa
Man19
Mandaic letter Ṣa
Man20
Mandaic letter Qa
Man21
Mandaic letter Ra
Man22
Mandaic letter Ša
Man24
Mandaic letter Ta

Lineage1-3,10-23


Egyptian Hieroglyphs
 ↳Hieratic Egyptian
  ↳Proto-Sinaitic
   ↳Phoenician
    ↳Aramaic
     ↳Kharoṣṭhī
     ↳*Early/Ashokan Brahmi
     ↳Hebrew
     ↳Inscriptional Parthian
     ↳Elymaic
     ↳Classical Nabataean
     ↳Palmyrene
     ↳Hatran
     ↳Syriac
     ↳Mandaic

*The origin of Brahmi is heavily disputed.3,24-27