Avestan alphabet

Avestan
Script type
Period
400–1000 AD
DirectionRight-to-left script 
LanguagesAvestan language, Middle Persian
Related scripts
Parent systems
ISO 15924
ISO 15924Avst (134), ​Avestan
Unicode
Unicode alias
Avestan
U+10B00–U+10B3F

The Avestan alphabet (Avestan: 𐬛𐬍𐬥 𐬛𐬀𐬠𐬌𐬭𐬫𐬵 transliteration: dīn dabiryªh, Middle Persian: transliteration: dyn' dpywryh, transcription: dēn dibīrīh, Persian: دین دبیره, romanizeddin dabire) is a writing system developed during Iran's Sasanian era (226–651 CE) to render the Avestan language.

As a side effect of its development, the script was also used for Pazend, a method of writing Middle Persian that was used primarily for Zend commentaries on the texts of the Avesta. In the texts of Zoroastrian tradition, the alphabet is referred to as "the religion's script" (dēn dibīrīh in Middle Persian and din dabireh in New Persian).