Writing systems: alphabetic | syllabic | logographic | alternative | A-Z index Avestan alphabet Origin The Avestan alphabet was created in the 3rd century AD for writing the hymns of Zarathustra (a.k.a Zoroaster). Many of the letters are derived from the old Pahlavi alphabet of Persia, which itself was derived from the Aramaic alphabet. Greek influence, in the form of the full representation of ...