Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics Student Name Date Course http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/hieroglyphics/images/hieroglyphics-2.jpg

Introduction Writing or a form of record keeping is an essential characteristic that humans must possess in order to be considered a civilization Writing provides a civilization with structure, order, and organization and way method for people to cooperate with each other All ancient civilizations have developed some form of a written language, including the ancient Egyptians http://www.crystalinks.com/hieroglyphs3.jpg

Introduction Writing emerged in Egypt during the first two dynasties (around 3000 BC-2650 BC) The Greeks labeled Egyptian writing hieroglyphics, meaning “priest-carvings” or “sacred writings” Egyptians believe that hieroglyphs were literally “the words of god” http://www.westga.edu/~llipoma/hieroglyphics.jpg

Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphics is a system of writing where symbols represent objects (such as tools, animals or boats) and ideas (such as motion, time and joy) Used sacred characters as picture signs that depicted objects and had sacred value at the same time http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/planechic/hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics-Characteristics and forms The Egyptian system of hieroglyphics had between 700 and 800 basic symbols- called glyphs They wrote hieroglyphs in long lines from right to left, and from top to bottom. They did not use any spacing or punctuation like we do in our writing http://encarta.msn.com/media_461543263_761573079_-1_1/Tomb_of_Queen_Amonherkhepsef.html

Hieroglyphics-Characteristics and forms Egyptian glyphs are divided into two groups: Phonograms: glyphs that represent sounds Ideograms: glyphs that represent objects or ideas They constructed words by combining the two types of glyphs

Hieroglyphics-Characteristics and forms Egyptians usually constructed hieroglyphs by putting phonograms at the beginning of a word, followed by an ideogram http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573079/hieroglyphs.html

Hieroglyphics- Who was using them? The ancient Egyptian word for hieroglyphics literally translated as “language of the gods” This explains how significant there writing was to them http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/images/heiroglyphicsimages/egypt150.gif

Hieroglyphics- Who was using them? Priests used hieroglyphs to write down prayers, magical texts, and texts related to life after death and worshiping the gods Many people had hieroglyphics written on their tomb walls and inside coffins Believed that texts helped guide them to the afterlife http://www.templestudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/djedankhwas.jpg

Hieroglyphics- Who was using them? The Egyptians also used hieroglyphics to decorate jewelry and other luxury items They were sometimes very elaborate and beautiful http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=91359&rendTypeId=4

How can we read Hieroglyphs? After the fall of ancient Egypt in around 30 BC, the meaning of hieroglyphs remained a mystery for over 1,800 years It was with the discovery of the Rosetta Stone that we were finally able to understand the glyphs This stone contained the decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs same text written in Egyptian hieroglyphics and in Greek. This stone allowed scholars to decipher the hieroglyphs http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16352/16352-h/images/p1.jpg

Conclusion Hieroglyphics are a unique and beautiful part of Egyptian civilization. Egyptian hieroglyphics played an integral role and organizing and influencing the lives of Egyptians and gave their lives meaning and purpose. Through these glyphs Egyptians were able to express themselves in ways humans have never done before, which makes them significant to the ancient Egyptians and to people today who continue to express themselves though written language.

Work Cited Duiker, William J.. World History To 1500. 2nd. Albany: West/Wadsworth, 1998. "Hieroglyphs," Microsoftｮ Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2008http://encarta.msn.com ｩ 1997-2008 Microsoft Corporation