Byzantine Minuscule Script: The Mother of the Modern Greek Alphabet
The Byzantine alphabet in minuscule script – the foundation of the modern Greek one.
The Byzantine minuscule script is not just a way of writing – it is the bridge between ancient Greece and our modern alphabet. From the 9th century AD, this fast, calligraphic script replaced the older uncial and became the standard for centuries.
Until the 9th century, the uncial (majuscule) script dominated official manuscripts. It was slow, square-shaped, and required a lot of ink.
The minuscule evolved from the handwritten notes of monks – fast, with ligatures, and economical.
First known example: Uspenski Gospel (835 AD, Monastery of Stoudios, Constantinople).
The script is based on letter combinations (ligatures) and abbreviations for speed.
Ligatures
Combinations like ει, ου, και were written in a single stroke.
Abbreviations
ΜΡ ΘΥ = Mother of God
ΙΣ ΧΣ = Jesus Christ
Decoration
Majuscules in titles, initial capitals.
In the 15th century, Western printing houses (Venice) created typefaces based on minuscule.
Aldus Manutius and Nikolaos Vlastos brought the first Greek printing (1486).
Capitals were retained from ancient epigraphic script.
Transcription: Gospel of Luke (excerpt)
Original (10th century)
Ε͞ΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ
ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ
Ἐπειδὴπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν...
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative...
Ligature: περ → περ
The Byzantine minuscule is not the past – it is alive in every letter we write today.
Want to learn to read Byzantine manuscripts? Comment below!
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