Inscriptional Pahlavi

Inscriptional Pahlavi
Coin of Ardashir I (r. 224–42) with Inscriptional Pahlavi writings
Type	Abjad
Languages	Middle Iranian languages
Time period	171–38 BC
Parent systems	Aramaic alphabet Pahlavi scripts Inscriptional Pahlavi
Direction	Right-to-left
ISO 15924	Phli, 131
Unicode alias	Inscriptional Pahlavi
Unicode range	U+10B60–U+10B7F

Inscriptional Pahlavi is the earliest attested form of Pahlavi scripts, and is evident in clay fragments that have been dated to the reign of Mithridates I (r. 171–38 BC). Other early evidence includes the Pahlavi inscriptions of Arsacid era coins and rock inscriptions of Sassanid kings and other notables such as Kartir. This script contains 19 characters which are not joined.^[1]

Gallery

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  Inscriptional Pahlavi text from Shapur III at Taq-e Bostan, 4th century

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  Kartir's inscription at Naqsh-e Rajab

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  Sasanian relief with Inscriptional Pahlavi monogram.

References

1. Livinsky, BA; Guang‐Da, Zhang; Samghabadi, R Shabani; Masson, Vadim Mikhaĭlovich (March 1999), Dani, Ahmad Hasan, ed., History of civilizations of Central Asia, Multiple history, 3. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p. 89, ISBN 978-81-208-1540-7.