Our homeland Georgia is a veritable treasure trove of history, culture, and language. One of the most fascinating aspects of Georgian culture is its unique alphabet. Unlike most European languages that use the Latin alphabet, Georgia has its writing system, which has evolved over the centuries and has several distinctive forms. The Georgian alphabet is not only beautiful in its silhouettes but also old.
According to The Georgian Chronicles ( "Kartlis Tskhovreba"), the first king of Kartli, Pharnavaz, "spread the Georgian language" and "created Georgian writing" in the IV - III centuries of BC. The earliest examples of the Georgian writing currently discovered date back to the 5th century, making it one of the oldest living writing systems in the world. The Georgian alphabet is an essential part of the country's identity, and its distinctive forms have been woven into the fabric of Georgian culture, from poetry to music and art.
The Georgian alphabet has written in three different scripts: Mkhedruli ("Military"), Asomtavruli ("Capital"), and Nuskhuri ("Scholarly"), with the latter two being often combined and known as "Khutsuri" ("Clerical"), each with its unique style and history. In this blog, we'll dive deeper into the meanings, poetry, and history of the Georgian alphabet characters, exploring its unique features and uncovering its hidden gems.