Hieroglyphics were a source of wonder and inspiration to many over the centuries. This colorful picture language was as beautiful aesthetically as it was a legitimate writing style for the ancient Egyptians. Hieroglyphics were made mainly of consonants and had no vowels. Instead, mysterious symbols were used to prompt the reader to invoke or speak the word a certain way. This written language was lost for many centuries and was admired only for its beautiful pictures.
Picture Writing
Hieroglyphics are a form of pictorial writing. The ancient Egyptians were masters of this writing style, using pictograms, or symbols representing ideas or objects. Sometimes the pictograms were true representations of the object being named. Hieroglyphics found on monuments were mainly written vertically from top to bottom or bottom to top. Other examples read from right to left rather than from left to right as you see in Western culture.
Different Types
Three forms of hieroglyphics have been identified: epigraphic, hieratic and demotic. Epigraphic writings were carved into different mediums such as limestone, marble and wood. Sometimes the writing was merely painted on in bright colors. Epigraphic writing would be similar to our printed handwriting, while hieratic is the Egyptian version of the Western cursive writing. Epigraphic hieroglyphics were used to memorialize the pharaohs on monuments and public buildings. Hieratic was used for private writings such as record keeping kept on papyrus. Later in Egyptian history, the demotic type of hieroglyphics was used as a more conventional development of hieratic. It expressed simpler ideas with few pictures and hardly any vowels.
History and Hieroglyphics
The Egyptian language has characteristics of Semitic and African languages. This ancient language was used for more than 5,000 years beginning sometime around 3000 B.C. Understanding of the written language was lost for hundreds of years. Athanasius Kircher, a 17th century German Jesuit, spent his life attempting to decipher hieroglyphics. His efforts failed as did the attempts of other Egyptologists of the era. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 finally broke the lost Egyptian code.
Historical Significance
The hieroglyphics of the Old Kingdom were comparable to other written languages of the day, such as Greek and Latin. Egyptian writing brings to the world one of the most complete written historical records of an ancient culture. Pharaoh Ramses and other notable leaders of the time recorded their triumphs and law systems using hieroglyphics. The hieroglyphic writing of Imhotep is an invaluable example of the significance of the language such as “The Book of the Dead,” “The Doomed Prince” and other writings of the time. All of these are preserved today in the original hieroglyphic language.
Kingdoms
The beginnings of ancient Egypt have been lost in the sands of time. However, because of detailed record keeping, we have an accurate listing of the kingdoms of Egypt. Egyptian history is divided into three kingdoms: the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. These kingdoms were ruled by dynastic families over centuries. Epigraphic, or monumental hieroglyphics were used during the Old Kingdom. Middle Kingdom writings were recorded by both epigraphic and hieratic. The New Kingdom recorded its history using mainly the conservative type of hieroglyphic known as the Demotic style.
Reference:
- Funk & Wagnalls Desktop Encyclopedia
