Introducing the art of Arabic, Ottoman, & Persian calligraphy

Thuluth

(Pronounced “thoo-looth”; Turkish–Sulus)

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Meaning

  • “Thuluth” means “one-third.” This possibly refers to its pen size (one-third the size of the pen used for a larger script called tumar)

Uses

  • Script par excellence for writing many different kinds of texts
  • Used particulary for titles and architectural inscriptions

Companion script

  • Thuluth is most often written in conjunction with naskh. Naskh, however, is not based on the Thuluth script, it is merely a smaller companion script

Timeline

  • Developed in the 10th century
  • Refined by Seyh Hamdullah in the 15th century
  • Still in use today

Distinctive characteristics

  • Vertical strokes have a leftward slant, horizontals have a deep curve
  • The ends of most descending letters come up in a hook
  • Often written so the letters interlace
  • Many alternate letter forms exist in this script

Notes

  • Thuluth is often considered the most powerful and versatile script. Some experts say you are not a calligrapher until you can write thuluth.
Calligraphic Panel
Jali thuluth script. Courtesy of the Nasser D Khalili Collection of Islamic Art. CAL 334.
Alphabet exercises
Thuluth, naskh and riqa’ scripts. Courtesy of the Nasser D Khalili Collection of Islamic Art.
Calligraphy panel
Thuluth script. Courtesy of the Nasser D Khalili Collection of Islamic Art.
Album of calligraphy
Thuluth and naskh scripts. Courtesy of the Nasser D Khalili Collection of Islamic Art.

Image gallery

View the full thuluth image gallery