The word hieroglyph stems from two Greek words; hiero meaning holy and glyphs meaning writing. In 1799, the French Captain Pierre Bouchard discovered the Rosetta Stone, which had two languages on it.1 The stone was carved with the same text in two different languages, Greek and Egyptian, and in three different writing systems, which included hieroglyphic. With the finding of the Rosetta Stone, scholars were able to unlock the hieroglyphic code. Hieroglyphs were the earliest form of Egyptian formal writing that combined logographic and alphabetic elements. The writing was used from around 3200 BCE until about 395 CE. The writing incorporated between 700 and 800 symbols in it, and not every Egyptian was able to read or write it.2
The supplies used to write hieroglyphics were quite similar to the supplies that we use to write today. The Egyptians wrote hieroglyphs on papyrus reed. Papyrus reeds were water or marsh plants with tall straight hollow stems that were flatten, dried, and stuck together to make pages. They utilized a pen and ink to write on the fine papyrus paper. The pens that they used were thin sharp reeds that they dipped in ink. The ink that they used came from crushed plants that they mixed with water. The hieroglyphic system was written in long lines, usually from right to left or top to bottom. The direction in which it was read relied on which way the human or animal figures were facing. The direction in which they were facing indicated the beginning of the line.3 No spacing or punctuation were used. It was divided into two main groupings of writing; phonograms, and ideograms with incorporated determinatives into it. The phonograms were the glyphs that represented sound in the writings and represented single constants and combinations of constants. The ideograms represented objects and ideas that they were trying to convey. They either represented the actual object written or something that was closely related, such as legs for movement. The writing also utilized determinatives. Determinatives were hieroglyphs that were not spoken or translated but helped make the meaning of the word clearer. Determinatives were also used at the end of words to indicate the end of a word, as the Egyptians did not place spaces between words or sentences. Some symbols utilized within the writing could represent an entire sentence or saying. The Egyptian writing did not utilize the use of vowels, so it is impossible to understand exactly how they pronounced hieroglyphic texts.
The Egyptians would use their hieroglyphic writing on a variety of locations and documents. They would use the writing in schools, on tombs, and on temple walls. As most Egyptians could not read or write, only the privileged class, such as royals, nobles, and priests, along with scribes could read or write hieroglyphs. Scribes were Egyptians that went to a special school and were trained to write and read the writings. Egyptian priests also used hieroglyphics to pen prayers, prepare tomb stone surfaces, and for guides of the afterlife placed on the inside of their deceased coffins. Many Egyptians believed that writing hieroglyphics on their tombs and in their coffins would help lead the dead to the afterlife.4
Civil officials would utilize the writing to write royal documents of long-term importance, record historical events, and document important calculations. An example of an important calculation that the Egyptians would record using the writing would be the depth of the Nile River on specific days of the year. Lastly, they carved hieroglyphic symbols on their jewelry to decorate it and other luxury items that they posed.
In conclusion, deciphering the Egyptians hieroglyphics has provided much important information about the way of life in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians felt it was important to document and communicate important facts about their religion, government, and daily lives. By utilizing hieroglyphic writing, the Egyptians were able to preserve their history, ideas, and beliefs, and help us see how they lived.
- Ancient History Encyclopedia, July 2015, s.v. “Egyptian Hieroglyphs,” by Priscilla Scoville. ↵
- Ancient History Encyclopedia, July 2015, s.v. “Egyptian Hieroglyphs,” by Priscilla Scoville. ↵
- Encyclopedia Britannica, November 2015, s.v. “Hieroglyphic Writing,” by Peter F. Dorman and Hellmut Brunner. ↵
- Encyclopedia Britannica, November 2015, s.v. “Hieroglyphic Writing,” by Peter F. Dorman and Hellmut Brunner. ↵
33 comments
Johnanthony Hernandez
Great article, I do not know much on hieroglyphics or about ancient Egyptian culture, but this article helped me understand a little more. As for the fact that the direction that the hieroglyph faced indicated which way it was meant to be read, I had no idea that’s how they determined how to read it. As for how they wrote them down, I had a rough idea on what papyrus paper was but not how it was made or for what they used it to write down.
Alejandro Garza
It’s amazing how much was learned about the way of life and culture of the ancient Egyptian people from just looking at the form of writing they use and what meanings they convey with it. It’s interesting how their hieroglyphic writing was something that seeped its way into every facet of their everyday lives no matter their social standing from important documents to writing on temple walls to being engraved on their personal belongings such as jewelry.
Natalia Zuniga
It is great to learn how a system of writing worked and how it helps us learn about their culture, especially the Egyptians. Also fascinating to find out how they kept their records about their everyday lives and customs. I found the part about who knew how to write and ready interesting. The people who knew how to write used the skill for specific reasons and that was most interesting.
Bailey Rider
It was interesting to learn about the Rosetta Stone and how it let the hieroglyphs finally be translated. I think it’s cool that they used hieroglyphs in their tombs, school and even jewelry. I only wish we could hear and know how these were pronounced. Still, it’s cool how they made their own paper and how they made their ink. Thank you for the very informative article!
Aimee Trevino
Great article! I found it really interesting how you show their writing is similar to us with the writing from top to bottom. I also found it interesting that the direction the symbols were facing was the direction it was written in. I never knew! It is incredible how advanced the Egyptians were, to have created such a complex writing system. Overall, very informative.
Erik Rodriguez
Great article! I did not much about hieroglyphics ! It’s interesting that it literally translates into holy language. It is incredible how complex hieroglyphs are and even more amazing how our language has evolved.
Great work! Very well written.
Salvador Rodriguez Gomez
I liked the comparisons done with writing today and hieroglyphics back then. It’s interesting to see how similar they are considering the two ways of writing are thousands of years apart. Greta article overall, I found it to be very informative.
Mariana Sandoval
I never knew the literal meaning of hieroglyphics meaning holy language. That being said, it would make sense that it was limited to royalty or to priests. It’s amazing that something like the Rosetta Stone led to the understanding of hieroglyphics (thankfully so we can gain more knowledge about such an important culture and society).
Tina Valdez
It is most interesting to see the similarities between hieroglyphics and the writing we use today; for instance, writing in lines and from top to bottom. I found it interesting that they did not use spacing or punctuation. The use of determinatives must have meant it took more time to write out a phrase, however I imagine it would have conserved space on the papyrus given that determinatives were used rather than spaces. It makes me wonder what determinates would look like nowadays. Great article, very informative, you covered a great deal of information!
Rachel White
I find it extremely interesting that although so much time has passed since the Ancient Egyptians would write these hieroglyphics, we still use very similar tools to write our language today. Needless to say, the Ancient Egyptians should really be acknowledged for how advanced they were. I was not aware that the root hiero means holy and that the Egyptians would put hieroglyphics on their tombs because they believed it would help them to get into the afterlife. Very interesting topic and you did a great job of explaining it thoroughly and in an engaging manner.