The South Arabian alphabet refers to a writing system used in ancient South Arabia, primarily during the 1st millennium BCE. It encompasses a group of related scripts that were predominantly used in the southern Arabian Peninsula, in regions comprising present-day Yemen and parts of Oman. The South Arabian alphabet is recognized for its unique characteristics and historical significance.
This alphabet is primarily an abjad, meaning it only represents consonants and omits vowel sounds. It consists of around 29 to 33 letters, depending on the specific variant. The shapes of these letters are typically angular and derived from a Phoenician script ancestor, as well as influenced by other regional alphabets.
South Arabian inscriptions, carved into stone, rock, or metal surfaces, provide important historical and linguistic insights about the ancient Arabian civilizations. These inscriptions were found on various objects such as monuments, gravestones, and official seals. They often contain information relating to the political, social, and economic aspects of the regions they originated from.
Over time, as the South Arabian civilization declined, the South Arabian alphabet fell into disuse, particularly after the introduction of Islam in the region. However, some derivative scripts and sign forms from the South Arabian alphabet still persist today, particularly in epigraphic usage and artistic calligraphy.
The study of the South Arabian alphabet and its inscriptions has greatly contributed to the understanding of ancient Arabian cultures and languages, shedding light on their historical development and interconnections with other civilizations in the ancient Near East.
