--- title: Mesrop Mashtots author: Mark Cartwright source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 1970-01-01 --- # Mesrop Mashtots _Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_ Mesrop Mashtots (360/370 - c. 440 CE) invented the Armenian [alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/alphabet/) in 405 CE. Besides greatly increasing levels of literacy in the country, the language permitted ordinary people to read the [Bible](https://www.worldhistory.org/bible/) for the first time, thus helping to further spread and entrench [Christianity](https://www.worldhistory.org/christianity/) in [Armenia](https://www.worldhistory.org/armenia/), which was the original intention behind the [script](https://www.worldhistory.org/script/)'s invention. For these achievements Mashtots (Mastoc) was made a saint of the Armenian Church. ### Early Life Mashtots came from a family of modest status living in Hatsekats, a provincial town in the Taron province of ancient Armenia. After an education focussed on [Greek literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Literature/) and an early career in the military, Mashtots served at the Armenian royal court before joining the Christian church and working as a missionary in the southeast of Armenia. It was then that the young evangelist realised how important it could be for his conversion rates if the people could read about the Gospel message in their own language, spoken Armenian not having, at that time, a written form. Christian texts were useless to common people as they were written in either [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) or Syriac, both of which only highly educated people could read. To do anything useful, though, Mashtots needed a powerful sponsor and state backing. ### Creating a New Alphabet Fortunately for Mashtots, the founder of the ruling Arsacid dynasty, Tiridates the Great (r. c. 298 - c. 330 CE), had converted to Christianity in 301 CE thanks to the efforts of [Saint Gregory the Illuminator](https://www.worldhistory.org/Saint_Gregory_the_Illuminator/) (c. 239 - c. 330 CE). Tiridates' successors were equally keen on spreading Christianity, especially as it reinforced the role of the monarch in the state as [God](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/)'s representative, and allowed the Arsacids to persecute and confiscate the property of any lingering adherents to the old pagan traditions. The reigning Arsacid monarch, then, Vrampshapuh (r. 392-415 CE), was willing to patronise Mashtots' project. Another supporter was the head bishop of the Armenian church, the Catholicos Sahak the Great (387-428 CE). Both men saw the value of enlightening the people and at the same time unifying them and creating a greater spirit of nationhood. Finally, the Christian faith in Armenia was far from secure and was continuously threatened by the [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) of the neighbouring [Persia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/). Mashtots began his task by researching possible existing languages which might most easily be adapted for his purpose. For this, he visited [Edessa](https://www.worldhistory.org/edessa/) in northern [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/), a great centre of [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) and learning, especially Christian scholarship. Disappointed in his quest, Mashtots decided that nothing short of a whole new alphabetic script was required. Relocating to Samosata, a Hellenized [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) in western Armenia, Mashtots discovered that the link between the Greek and Armenian languages could be exploited to create a coherent and practical script. Assisted by Rufinus, a Greek calligrapher, Mashtots compiled his alphabet of 36 symbols (28 consonants and 8 vowels) to capture the phonetic sounds of Armenian. The traditional date for the finished product is 405 CE, and it remains in use today with only two symbols added in later centuries to express sounds imported from foreign languages. [ ![Monument to Armenian Alphabet at Oshakan](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/7442.jpg?v=1629737104) Monument to Armenian Alphabet at Oshakan James Blake Wiener (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7442/monument-to-armenian-alphabet-at-oshakan/ "Monument to Armenian Alphabet at Oshakan")Mashtots' new alphabet mixed 21 Greek letters with 15 new phonemes. The *Historical Dictionary of Armenia* gives the following technical description of the complexity of the language: > Classical Armenian was a highly inflected language, with an elaborate system of declensions that retained all seven [Indo-European](https://www.worldhistory.org/Indo-European_Languages/) noun cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, locative, ablative, and instrumental. In this and other respects, the grammar of classical Armenian bears similarities with that of Classical Greek. (393) To help people get to grips with the new system Mashtots ordered the letters of the alphabet, when possible, according to the [Greek alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Alphabet/) and put them into harmonious clusters of three. The linguist then set about testing the system on friends and pupils to see which symbols proved more troublesome in mastering. His efforts were clearly worthwhile given the speed with which the new alphabet was picked up across Armenia. Not only helping to increase literacy and usher in a golden period of Armenian [literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/literature/), it was another important factor in unifying the Armenian people, cementing their identity and sense of nationhood in what was still a young state. ### Translating the Bible Mashtots' work was not finished there, though. Now he had to put his creation to the purpose for which it was really invented: to spread the Christian message. Realising that he could not do this alone, the scholar set about assembling a trained team of linguists who were sent off to various [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) to learn Greek or Syriac and who were then given the task of translating canons of the early church councils, liturgies, patristic texts and any other sources of value. Mashtots and the bishop Sahak assumed personal responsibility for the really big project: translating the Bible. Getting themselves an official copy from [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/), they cross-referenced it with other versions in Greek and Syriac to produce their definitive version in Armenian. The opening line of the Armenian Bible chosen by Mashtots was from the Proverbs of [Solomon](https://www.worldhistory.org/solomon/): “That men may know wisdom and instruction”. ### Later Life & Legacy Mashtots did not limit himself to translation work but also produced brand new literature in his brand new script. The scholar composed many hymns and homilies, amongst other works. In the first biography of Mashtots (and the first Armenian biography to be written), titled *The Life of Mashtots* (*Vark Mashtotsi*) and written by his pupil Koriun, the scholar is credited with inventing the Georgian and Albanian alphabets. [ ![Mesrop Mashtots' Tomb](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/7438.jpg?v=1599487203) Mesrop Mashtots' Tomb James Blake Wiener (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7438/mesrop-mashtots-tomb/ "Mesrop Mashtots' Tomb")Mesrop Mashtots died in the Armenian capital of [Vagharshapat](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vagharshapat/) on 17 February 439 (or 440 CE). He was buried in Oshakan which became a site of pilgrimage thereafter, especially following his raised status as a saint of the Armenian Church. Mesrop Mashtots continues to be revered today, too, by modern Armenians as here explained by the political historian R. Panossian: > The celebration of the alphabet and the literary work of the fifth century is sanctioned by the Armenian church as an official holiday (in October) called Surb Tarkmanchats (Holy Translators). It is noted both by the church and the laity in Armenia and in the diaspora as a celebration of Armenian literature and books. (46) Saint Mashtots' work continues to live on today as, while the lower case of modern Armenian is based on the medieval script, the upper case of the alphabet he invented 16 centuries ago is still in use today. This article was made possible with generous support from the [National Association for Armenian Studies and Research](https://naasr.org/?utm_source=ancient.eu&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ancient.eu) and the Knights of Vartan Fund for Armenian Studies. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Adalian, R.P. *Historical Dictionary of Armenia.* Scarecrow Press, 2010.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0810860961/) - Bagnall, R.S. *The Encyclopedia of Ancient History.* Wiley-Blackwell, 2012 - [Chahin, M. *The Kingdom of Armenia.* Routledge, 2018.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01FIZNMY2/) - [Hovannisian, R.G. *The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times.* Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1403964211/) - [Kurkjian, V.M. *A History of Armenia.* IndoEuropeanPublishing.com, 2014.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1604447710/) - [Panossian, R. *The Armenians.* Columbia University Press, 2006.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0231139268/) ## About the Author Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. ## Timeline - **c. 360 CE - c. 440 CE**: Life of [Mesrop Mashtots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/), the scholar-clergyman who invented the Armenian [alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/alphabet/). - **405 CE**: The Armenian [alphabet](https://www.worldhistory.org/alphabet/) is invented by [Mesrop Mashtots](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/). ## Cite This Work ### APA Cartwright, M. (2018, March 20). Mesrop Mashtots. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop\_Mashtots/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/) ### Chicago Cartwright, Mark. "Mesrop Mashtots." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 20, 2018. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop\_Mashtots/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/). ### MLA Cartwright, Mark. "Mesrop Mashtots." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Mar 2018, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop\_Mashtots/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesrop_Mashtots/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 20 March 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.