An ancient Islamic bronze seal using Garshuni writing derived from the syriac language. Lot includes an impression, bronze seal with bird finial,suspension loop at head. 1-3/8" L x 1-1/4" W x 1-1/2" H. Display stand is included. Provenance: Ex. Collection Brooklyn, NY Garshuni is a term used to refer to Arabic script used to write languages other than Arabic, primarily Syriac and other Semitic languages. It emerged in the Middle Ages when Arabic script became widespread and was adopted for writing various languages across the Middle East and North Africa. The term "Garshuni" itself is derived from the Arabic word for "foreign," reflecting the adaptation of Arabic script to non-Arabic languages.Initially, Garshuni was primarily used for writing Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic spoken by various Christian communities in the Middle East. Over time, it was also employed for other languages like Kurdish, Persian, and Turkish, among others.The adoption of Arabic script for these languages facilitated their written expression and dissemination, particularly in regions where Arabic was the dominant written language due to the influence of Islam or the Arab conquests. Despite the predominance of Garshuni in certain contexts, many of these languages also developed their own scripts or adapted other scripts to suit their linguistic needs.

Very good