However, the general consensus is that Armenian is modeled after the Greek alphabet, supplemented with letters from a different source or sources for Armenian sounds not found in Greek.
Armenian shows some similarities to both. Pahlavi was the priestly script in Armenia before the introduction of Christianity, and Syriac, along with Greek, was one of the alphabets of Christian scripture. Various scripts have been credited with being the prototype for the Armenian alphabet. Armenian sources also claim that Mashtots invented the Georgian and Caucasian Albanian (Old Udi) alphabets, but this is not confirmed by Georgian or other non-Armenian sources and is considered doubtful. The Armenian alphabet was created by Saint Mesrop Mashtots in AD 405 primarily for a Bible translation in the Armenian language. The Armenian word for "alphabet" is այբուբեն (CA, EA: IPA|, or WA: IPA| ), named after the first two letters of the Armenian alphabet. Up to the 19th century, Classical Armenian had been the literary language since then, the Armenian alphabet is used to write the two modern, literary and spoken dialects – Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian – which were developed during the same period. Iso15924=ArmnThe Armenian alphabet is an alphabet that has been used to write the Armenian language since the year 405 or 406. Fam2=possible Pahlavi and Syriac influencesĬreator= Saint Mesrob, "Vramshapuh" the king of Armenia at that time (405 or 406), "Sahak Partev" the Patriarch of Armenia