Symposium Research #1

This website is a useful starting point for my research, providing good background knowledge of Persian calligraphy leading up to my focus point: Nas'taliq.

–Ancient–

• Ancient Persian calligraphy is believed to have been invented around 500 - 600 BC.

• Original had use for monument inscriptions (Achaemenid kings)

• Scripts contained horizontal, vertical, and diagonal characters, which were nail shaped. This calligraphy is called “Khat-e-Mikhi” in Farsi, or "script of nails."

–3rd Century CE–

• “Avestaaee” and “Pahlavits" scripts were created.

• Avestaaee was used for religious script and was written with a feather pen on sheets made from animal skins.

• Letters were not connected but rather written separately from right to left.

–7th Century CE–

• Persian initiation of Islam.

• Persia adapts Arabic alphabet to Farsi language, creating contemporary Farsi.

• Includes 32 Farsi letters.

–10th Century CE–

• Research study conducted by Ebn-e-Moqlah Beyzavi Shirazi, categorizing six major calligraphy styles. 

• Hassan Farsi Kateb invented "Ta'liq."

–14th Century CE–

• Nas'taliq: "Bride of Calligraphy scripts."

• Most popular contemporary style.

• Unlike other styles with strict rules for geographical shape, Nas’taliq follows "natural curves."

Hamed, P. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://persiancalligraphy.org/History-of-Calligraphy.html