Hieroglyphics

What is a Hieroglyph Anyway?

Hieroglyphs are what the ancient egyptians used to write with.

They were pictures that meant words or sometimes they were two words combined.

How The Alphabet Works

• Hieroglyphs are signs, they are usually divide into 4 categories.

• Alphabetic signs represent a single sound. But the Egyptians took most vowels for granted.

• We may never know how the words were formed.

How Did People Learn To Write It?

• How you would learn to write it would be to attend a special school.

• At this school you would learn how to write and read them.

• If you learned how to write the langue you would be considered a “Scribe”.

What Are Scribes?

• Scribes are people who attended a 5 year school on how to read or write hieroglyphics.

• They were usually men but experts have found that there was women doctors and in order to be a doctor they had to be able to read hieroglyphics.

Scribes For a Thought

• Not all people could learn how to write, Most often it was the children of scribes.

• But many craftsmen were able to get there kids into the school. But, it was very rare

What Did They Write on and With?

They used a plant called papyrus and cut thin layers off the stem. Then laid it flat as in the picture. They then used a mallet. Finally they used a smoothing stone to smooth it out.

They wrote with reed pens which they dipped into ink.

They also carved, and painted on tombs and temple walls

Did They Use Colors?

Yes, Actually hieroglyphs were often written in red and black ink and on papyrus.

They used many colors to do tombs and temple.

How Were Hieroglyphs Found?

• By The Rosetta Stone• The Rosetta Stone

was found in a village called Rosetta (Rashid).

• The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799

About The Rosetta Stone

• They think the Rosetta Stone was made in 196 b.c.

• The Rosetta Stone was found by French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt.

• The Rosetta Stone was text written by the priests in Egypt to honor the Pharaohs. It would list all the good things the Pharaohs have done for the people and priests.

Compare and Contrast

Past• Use Pictures• Only a few people

knew how to write and read.

• They had to use papyrus.

• Use Reed Pens

Present• We don’t use pictures• Many people know how to write and read

our langue.• We use paper from trees.• Use Pencils

Bibliography

• http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/writing/explore/school.html We used this for all about scribes and the Rosetta Stone.

• http://schools.mukilteo.wednet.edu/ex/Library/ancient%20egypt/ancient_egypt%20student.htm We used this whole site for everything.

• We used the book Hieroglyphs from A to Z