Editing Georgian scripts (section)

== Ligatures, abbreviations and calligraphy ==
{{Calligraphy}}
Asomtavruli is often highly stylized and writers readily formed [[Typographic ligature|ligatures]], intertwined letters, and placed letters within letters or other such [[monograms]].<ref>[[Pavle Ingorokva|Ingorokva, Pavle]] [http://www.amsi.ge/istoria/pi/damcerlobis_Zegli.pdf ქართული დამწერლობის ძეგლები ანტიკური ხანისა (The monuments of ancient Georgian script)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309022903/http://www.amsi.ge/istoria/pi/damcerlobis_Zegli.pdf |date=2012-03-09 }}</ref>

<div class="center">[[File:Ani-Doni Asomtavruli.svg|50px]]<br/>
<small>A ligature of the Asomtavruli letters Ⴃ Ⴀ (და, da) "and"</small></div>

Nuskhuri, like Asomtavruli, is also often highly stylized. Writers readily formed [[Typographic ligature|ligature]]s and abbreviations for ''[[nomina sacra]]'', including diacritics called ''karagma'', which resemble ''[[titlo|titla]]''. Because writing materials such as [[vellum]] were scarce and therefore precious, abbreviating was a practical measure widespread in [[manuscript]]s and [[hagiography]] by the 11th century.{{sfn|Shanidze |2003|p=}}

<div class="center">[[File:Romeli Nuskhuri.svg|60px]]<br/>
<small>A Nuskhuri abbreviation of რომელი (romeli) "which"</small></div>

<div class="center">[[File:Iesou Krist'e Nuskhuri.svg|90px]]<br/>
<small>A Nuskhuri abbreviation of იესუ ქრისტე (iesu kriste) "Jesus Christ"</small></div>

Mkhedruli, in the 11th to 17th centuries also came to employ digraphs to the point that they were obligatory, requiring adherence to a complex system.<ref>შანიძე, 2003</ref>
<div class="center">[[File:Ani Mkhedruli.svg|40px]]<br/>
<small>A Mkhedruli ligature of და (da) "and"</small></div>

<div class="center">[[File:Garsevan Chavchavadze signature.svg|300px]] [[File:Archil of Imereti signature.svg|400px]]<br/>
<small>Mkhedruli calligraphy of Prince [[Garsevan Chavchavadze]] and King [[Archil of Imereti]]</small></div>