Ginza d Hiia
Typographic Reconstruction
This project focuses on the design and typographic development of an authorised edition of the Ginza d Hiia (The Treasure of Life), the central sacred text of the Mandaean tradition.
The publication is based on a comparative study of 22 manuscripts and required the translation of a traditionally handwritten text into a consistent digital framework. The typographic system is built using Ardwan Reed (RRC), a typeface developed according to the structural rules of Mandaic script grammar.
The page architecture was designed to support complex textual elements, including side notes, chapter markers, catchwords, and line numbering. Layout, hierarchy, and spacing were structured to ensure readability while preserving the visual rhythm associated with manuscript tradition.
In addition to typography, the project includes the integration of Mandaic miniature forms, derived from historical iconography and adapted for print. The production process involved advanced printing techniques to maintain precision and material quality.
The result is a controlled typographic system that bridges manuscript tradition and contemporary publication, preserving the structural and visual integrity of the text.
“Ardwan Al-Sabti contributed extensively to the typographic and visual development of this edition, combining research in Mandaic script grammar with layout and miniature design.”
— Rabi Rafid Al-Sabti
BOOK DETAILS

title    The Treasure of Life
subtitle    The holy book of the Mandaeans
MANDAIC title    ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡖ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
MANDAIC subtitle    ࡊࡕࡀࡁࡀ ࡒࡀࡃࡉࡔࡀ ࡖ ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ

edited by    Rabi Rafid Al-Sabti
language    Mandaic, with an English preface

Designed by.   Ardwan Al-Sabti

Edition    First Edition, 2022
Limited to.   250 numbered copies

ISBN    978-9090360058
RRC Archive    RRC 6R
DATE OF PUBLICATION    24 July 2022

Cover Type    Hardcover
Book DECORATION    Gilded edges

Paper    130 Gram
ENDPaper    170 Gram
Printed in    Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Print technology    UV Printing

TYPOGRAPHY by    Ardwan Al-Sabti
MANDAIC Font    Ardwan Reed [RRC]

Pages    608
Dimensions    360mm x 255mm x42mm
Weight.   4132 Gram
GinzaDHiia // Ginza // GinzaDHayyi // GinzaRabba // GinzaRba // LiberAdami // SidraRabba // CodexNasaraeus // TheHolyBook // Mandaean // Nasoraean // Mandaic // Mandaean // Mandaeism // MandaicFonts // MandaicIconography // MandaicMiniatures // MandaicArt // RabiRafidAlSabti // RRC // MandaeanManuscripts // Ardwans // ArdwanAlsabti الربي رافد السبتي // أردوان السبتي // مخطوطات مندائية // الكتاب المقدس // كنزا اد هيي // كنزا ربا// سيدرا ربا // سيدرا اد ادم // كتاب ادم// كتاب المندائيين // ناصورائيين // مندائيين // ࡁࡉࡕ ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡀࡉ ࡓࡀࡐࡃ ࡊࡉࡍࡉࡀࡍࡀ ࡘࡀࡆࡉࡆ // ࡀࡓࡃࡁࡀࡍ ࡀࡋࡎࡀࡁࡕࡉࡀ // ࡀࡋࡎࡐࡕࡉࡀ // ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ // ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ // ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡖ ࡀࡃࡀࡌ