| Spread to | Aramaic-speaking regions • Hebrew-speaking regions • Semitic language areas |
| Derived from | Aramaic alphabet |
| Influenced by | Linear B • Phoenician scripts |
| Vowel markers | Absent in original form |
| Present day use | Still in use |
| Emergence region | Levant |
| Number of graphemes | 22 consonantal |
| Impact on other scripts | Influenced development of various Semitic scripts |
| Alternate timeline script | Yes |
| Regions where recent inscriptions found | Turkey • Syria • Iran |
Mandaean is a script that originated from the interactions between Linear B and Phoenician scripts in the 12th century BCE, resulting in the creation of the Aramaic alphabet. This alternate alphabet developed in the Levant and spread throughout various regions, eventually evolving into distinct variations such as Imperial Aramaic, Syriac, and Mandaean. Mandaean is a widely used script for writing languages such as Aramaic and Hebrew, as well as other Semitic languages.
The development of Mandaean began with the creation of the Aramaic alphabet, which initially facilitated the writing of the Mycenaean language. Mycenaean migrants who settled on the island of Cyprus brought with them the Linear B script adapted from Linear A. Interactions between these Mycenaean migrants and Phoenician traders resulted in the genesis of the Aramaic alphabet. This Aramaic script evolved into various scripts, including the Mandaean script, which became widely used for writing Semitic languages.
The Mandaean script consists of 22 consonantal graphemes, each representing a consonant sound. Unlike Linear B, which includes vowel markers, Mandaean does not include vowel markers in its original form. The script can be written in either cursive or lapidary, with the latter commonly reserved for monumental inscriptions.
Mandaean, like other Semitic scripts, has played a significant role in the development and spread of various writing systems. Adopted by multiple languages, Mandaean script has been used for documentation, religious, and literary purposes. Mandaean has been an essential script for the administrative language of the Neo-Assyrian, neo-Babylonian, and Achaemenid empires, facilitating its spread throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Recent inscriptions (20th-21st centuries) found in Mandaean have been discovered in regions like Turkey, Syria, and Iran.
As a testament to the importance of Mandaean, it has influenced the development of other Semitic scripts, including the ancient Greek alphabet and various Semitic alphabets. The Jewish Bible, known as the Tanakh, features passages written in Mandaean, signifying the influence and widespread use of this script throughout history.
