The Samaritan Script in the Context of Aramaic Palaeography and Type Design
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61993/2786-7285.2025.02.02Keywords:
paleo-Hebrew script, Samaritan script, Samaritan calligraphy, multicultural relations, Aramaic paleography, epigraphy, Middle Eastern type design, multiscript typographyAbstract
The article is devoted to highlighting the genesis of Samaritan script, focusing on its graphic and aesthetic distinctions from the Hebrew script (k’tav ashurí). The study also aims to clarify the evolutionary framework of letterform transformations, analyze the retrospective development of Samaritan script in manuscripts, assess the current state of Samaritan type design, and to outline prospects for its further application in cultural and academic projects. The research methodology involves the collection and analysis of Samaritan manuscript corpora, a comparative study of diverse handwriting styles through an inductive approach, the systematization of scholarly sources, and the application of art-historical methods. The study further employs comparative analysis techniques, the creation of a specialized database of Samaritan paleography, and the organization of empirical materials derived from it. For the first time in Ukrainian scholarship, a comprehensive study of Samaritan script and type design has been undertaken. Drawing on bibliographic sources, manuscript imagery, and printed editions from various historical periods, the research presents a holistic perspective on the genesis and transformation of Samaritan letterforms. The study reveals the distinctive interaction between the Samaritan calligraphic tradition and European typographic practices, particularly in shaping the visual identity of Samaritan publications and their broader visual culture. In addition, new calligraphic models and training guidelines were developed, forming the foundation for the Samaritan Gerizim typeface – designed in the style of twelfth–thirteenth century manuscripts and intended for use in scholarly publications.References
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