Syriac Calligraphy: Introducing a Neglected Field of Study

Unlike Arabic, Syriac script has never been studied for its beauty, with scholars focussing on script as a vehicle of content rather than artistry. The term ‘calligraphy’ has scarcely been used, let alone standardized, in relation to this tradition. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Syriac art of the pen. While beauty is subjective, the lecture will provide an overview of the different types of Syriac writing based on a new classification method. Based on a selection of images, we will also provide a comprehensive description of techniques and features that can serve as a basis for their assessment.

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