U+10C16 "𐰖" Old Turkic Letter Orkhon Ay Unicode Character

U+10C16 "𐰖" Old Turkic Letter Orkhon Ay is a historical script symbol from the Old Turkic Orkhon alphabet, used primarily to write inscriptions in the Turkic languages of the 8th and 9th centuries in Central Asia and Mongolia. This specific character represents the sound /aj/ or /aɪ/ and is named "Ay," which means "moon" in some Turkic languages, reflecting its phonetic value. It is part of the Old Turkic block in Unicode, added to support the digital representation of ancient texts such as the Orkhon inscriptions, which are crucial for studying early Turkic history and culture. The letter is typically inscribed in a runic style, carved on stone monuments, and stands as a key element in preserving the linguistic heritage of the Göktürk and other early Turkic peoples.