The Aramaic script is an ancient writing system that originated in the 10th century BCE. It was used primarily for writing the Aramaic language, which was widely spoken in the Near East. The script evolved from the Phoenician alphabet and became the basis for several other scripts, including the Hebrew and Arabic scripts. Aramaic was the lingua franca of various empires, including the Achaemenid Empire, and played a significant role in the cultural and religious texts of the time. Today, the Aramaic script is still used in some communities, particularly among Assyrian and Chaldean groups, to preserve their heritage and language.