Turkish runes

ancient script

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July 14, 2026

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The Orhon inscriptions are the oldest known Turkish writings, discovered in Mongolia and deciphered in 1893. These inscriptions, dating to 732 and 735 CE, are carved in a script that Vilhelm Thomsen called "Turkish runes." This script, also found in Siberia and Eastern Turkistan, resembles Germanic runes but represents different sounds and is likely related to Persian scripts derived from Aramaic. The inscriptions narrate the legendary origins of the Turks, their history, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation. The polished style suggests an advanced stage of the Turkish language. The Kök Turki alphabet, used from the 6th to 8th centuries CE, had 38 letters and occurred in both monumental and cursive forms.123

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Central Asian arts
Turkish literature
…and called by Thomsen “Turkish runes.” They relate in epic and forceful language the origins of the Turks, their golden age, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation by Bilge Kagan. The polished style suggests considerable earlier development of the language. Excavations in Chinese Turkistan have brought to…
Read More
…and called by Thomsen “Turkish runes.” They relate in epic and forceful language the origins of the Turks, their golden age, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation by Bilge Kagan. The polished style suggests considerable earlier development of the language. Excavations in Chinese Turkistan have brought to…
Read More

Orhon inscriptions
…Turkistan and called by Thomsen “Turkish runes.” They relate in epic language the legendary origins of the Turks, the golden age of their history, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation by Bilge. The polished style of the writings suggests considerable earlier development of the Turkish language.
Read More
…Turkistan and called by Thomsen “Turkish runes.” They relate in epic language the legendary origins of the Turks, the golden age of their history, their subjugation by the Chinese, and their liberation by Bilge. The polished style of the writings suggests considerable earlier development of the Turkish language.
Read More