Did you know that the Georgian language boasts not one, not two, but three distinctive writing scripts? Let’s take a fascinating journey into the world of Georgian scripts – Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri, and Mkhedruli – and uncover the stories behind these beautiful symbols.
1. Asomtavruli – ႠႱႭႫႧႠႥႰႳႪႨ
Asomtavruli is a monumental script, and represents the oldest form of the Georgian alphabet. It is also known as Mrgvlovani (‘rounded’). The geometry of the Asomtavruli script is simple and plain. The first examples date back to the 5th century and it consists of 38 letters. Asomtavruli is not in common use for everyday writing nowadays, however it can be found inscribed on church walls, religious manuscripts, and other historical artifacts associated with the Georgian Orthodox Church
2.Nuskhuri
Nuskhuri emerged around the 9th century as a cursive script to accompany Asomtavruli. Featuring graceful curves and 27 letters, it was commonly used alongside Asomtavruli in religious manuscripts (the combination was called Nuskha-Khutsuri). While it may not be used in everyday civil life, its presence in religious manuscripts and sacred texts underscores its enduring importance in preserving Georgia’s cultural and religious heritage.
3.Mkhedruli – მხედრული
Mkhedruli is the standard script for modern Georgia. It has 33 letters and is one of the oldest living scripts in the world.
It first appeared in the 10th century. The name Mkhedruli comes from the word mkhedari(knight) which means ‘knightly’. Mkhedruli can be seen as the product of the complex development of previous writing systems. It maintained the rounded design of Asomtavruli and, like Nuskhuri, facilitated faster writing. Letters, as in Nuskhuri script, can also be joined up.
