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Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet

Marta Carvalho nº158006

History of Translation 2022/2023

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Who was Mesrop Mashtots?

  • Born in around 360;
  • Linguist, composer, theologian, statesman and hymnologist;
  • Venerated as a saint in some churches;
  • Created the Armenian alphabet;
  • Helped to increase the level of literacy in Armenia.

The statue of Mesrop Mashtots and Koryun (kneeling) in front of Matenadaran, Yerevan.

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Early life

  • Education focused on Greek Literature;
  • Served at the Armenian royal court;
  • Worked as a missionary for the Christian church;

It was at this stage of his life that he realized how beneficial it would be to have a written form of the Armenian language. Until its creation, it only existed orally.

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Historical background

  • 387 – partition of Armenia into the Byzantine Empire and Persia;
  • Christianity was at stake because of Persia;
  • Creating the Armenian alphabet meant more people could read the Bible and conform to the Christian ideas.

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The creation of the alphabet in 405

  • Linking the Greek and the Armenian language to create a coherent script;
  • 36 sounds that capture the phonetic sounds of Armenian;
  • Easily picked up across Armenia;
  • Increased literacy and unified the Armenian people.

A memorial of the Armenian alphabet near the entrance to the grave of Mashtots.

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Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church where he’s buried.

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Sources