Serbian literature, emerged from the popular wisdom of the Middle Ages, is specific for the use of the Cyrillic script and the rule that one letter stand for one sound.
The roots of Serbian literature lie in the very foundations of medieval culture. UNESCO library treasures one of the most beautiful Serbian medieval written monuments from the 12th century – the Miroslav Gospel – a book written in Cyrillic script on white parchment and decorated with miniatures in color and gold. The book was ordered by duke Miroslav of Hum.
Serbia is also known for its epic literature, especially its unique poetry of extraordinary value and beauty. The Nobel prize laureate Carl Spitteler wrote that “such magnificent epic poems like Serbian, haven’t been written by any other nation since the time of Homer”.
The origins of literacy in Serbia, however, reach further in the past. Much further. An ancient script dating back to the year 5,500 BC was discovered at the Vinča archaeological site near Belgrade. Similarity between 22 letters from the Vinča script and the Serbian Cyrillic script was established, leading the scientists to conclude that other nations came into contact with the Vinča script and adopted some signs.
Modern Serbian Cyrillic script, originating from the old Glagolitic alphabet, is characterized by the fact that one letter represents one sound. This unique rule was introduced by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić in his 19th century grand reform of Serbian language and script. The rule is nowadays used in several languages of South Slavic nations.
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