Amazing Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics Facts That You Didn't Know Before!

Hieroglyphics were the writing system used by ancient Egyptians.

Hieroglyphics were symbols. Just like the letters in our language stand for their sound, the hieroglyphs also stood for a sound. There were over 700 ancient Egyptian symbols as compared to the 26 letters of the alphabet of the English language.

Hieroglyphs means 'sacred carvings'. They were the symbols used to write the ancient Egyptian language. The word hieroglyph was first used by Clement of Alexandria. There were more than 700 ancient Egyptian characters in the hieroglyphic writing.

It was written by people that were trained specially for this. They were known as scribes. Egyptians started training as scribes from a young age. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics were carved on tombs, papyrus, the stone walls of temples, and stone.

This Egyptian language was used in daily life for communication. Hieroglyphic writing was known as hieratic. Hieratic was used by ancient Greeks to write religious texts. Demotic was a cursive writing script.

After reading about this ancient form of writing used by early Egyptians, also check facts about ancient Egyptian games for kids and ancient Egyptian history for kids.

History Of Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs were used by ancient Egyptians. Most of the Egyptian scripts were written in hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics were a form of picture writing. Scribes used to write ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. Below are some important facts on the history of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The origins of hieroglyphs date back to the artistic traditions of preliterate of Egypt. One of the few examples of early hieroglyphic writing can be seen on pottery jars belonging to the Gerzean era of 4000 BC.

On the tomb of Seth-Peribsen in Ummel el-Qa’ab, the first sentence comprised of hieroglyphs was discovered. The tomb dates back to the 28th century BC. Over 800 ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics were found during various eras. They included the New King Era, Old Kingdom Era, and Middle Kingdom Era.

Over 5000 hieroglyphs were discovered that belong to the Greco-Roman Era. Hieroglyphs are believed to have been invented after the Sumerian script. Egyptians used to carve temple walls, tombs, papyrus, and wooden boards using hieroglyphic symbols.

Many other ancient forms like hieratic and demotic evolved from the original hieroglyphs. The Temple of Philae belonging to 450 AD has the last text written in hieroglyphs. Dhul-Nun-al-Misri and Ibn Wahshiyya were among the first to try to decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphs text.

Jean-Francois Champollion finally deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs' words were believed by the Egyptians to have magical powers.

The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian stone. It has been carved with texts in various languages. The Rosetta Stone was found near Rosetta by Bouchard (also known as Boussard), a French soldier and engineer, in August 1799. Some of the most essential facts and details about the Rosetta Stone are mentioned below.

The Rosetta stone is 44.9 in (114 cm) long and 28.3 in (72 cm) broad. The Rosetta Stone was taken by the British after 1801. The Rosetta Stone is now kept in London in the British Museum.

The Rosetta Stone has carvings in two languages and three writing systems. The languages are Greek and Egyptian. The Egyptian writing systems were the Greek alphabet, hieroglyphics, and demotic script.

The Rosetta Stone was deciphered by Jean-Francois Champollion (French) and Thomas Young (British). The Rosetta Stone is believed to have been created in 196 BC during the Hellenistic Era. It is believed to have been displayed in a temple near Sais when it was made.

The Rosetta Stone is a part of the stele that was meant to be a royal decree of Memphis. The Rosetta Stone was inside a wall of an Ottoman fortress for several centuries. The Rosetta Stone has 14 lines of hieroglyphs, 32 lines in demotic, and 53 lines in ancient Greek.

Invention And Uses Of Hieroglyphic Writing

Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphic systems to communicate and document various things. Scribes used to write hieroglyphics in Egypt. Some important facts related to the invention and uses of hieroglyphic writing are mentioned below.

The hieroglyphic writing of ancient Egypt is believed to have been developed during the Early Dynastic Period. The first written script in hieroglyphics was in Mesopotamia. It is believed to have come to Egypt by trade.

The ancient Egyptians called hieroglyphics God’s words and believed that Thoth, a God, gave the writing to them. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics were developed using pictures and symbols. As a form of writing, it was developed after the Sumerian script.

A hieroglyphic spell was carved on tomb walls and coffins as it was believed to help souls move to the afterlife. Various hieroglyphic words were written on the walls of temples, papyrus, and wooden boards.

Hieroglyphic writing was used in ancient Egypt to communicate and document various things. The Egyptian hieroglyphic system was used to show gratitude and respect towards the Gods. The hieroglyphic writing was believed to have magical powers due to which spells in hieroglyphic form were used for protection.

Development Of Egyptian Hieroglyphic Writing

Hieroglyphics were used in ancient Egypt. The words were written in the form of pictures. Scribes used to start training at a very young age to write hieroglyphs. Here are some extremely interesting facts about the development of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing:

The hieroglyphics that constitute ancient Egyptian writing are approximately 4000 years. Evidence of hieroglyphic writing has been found on tombs, papyrus, walls of temples, and religious objects.

The origins of hieroglyphics date back to 3100 BC. The system was developed after the Sumerian script which is the oldest writing known. Hieroglyphic writing included symbols and pictorials .

Egyptians used hieroglyphic writing to communicate and to document things regarding government and religion. Hieroglyphic writing is the longest surviving language. The last text in hieroglyphics was written in the fifth century AD.

The Hieroglyphic System

The hieroglyphic writing system is over 4000 years old. It is the oldest writing of Egypt. The words were in the form of pictures or symbols. Egyptians believed that a God called Thoth gave it to them. Below are some facts on the characteristics of the hieroglyphic system.

The Egyptians called hieroglyphic script the words of God. The hieroglyphic script can be written from top to bottom or right to left.

Hieroglyphic writing did not have any punctuation marks or spaces. There were approximately 800 symbols in the hieroglyphic system. They were called glyphs.

The hieroglyphic system was mostly used as a phonetic language. The hieroglyphic system only used consonants. It did not use vowels a lot and did not include silent letters. The numbers in the hieroglyphic system are units of tens.

In the system, a single picture symbol could stand for a whole word, called an ideogram, or a sound called a phonogram.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ancient Egypt hieroglyphics facts then why not take a look at ancient Egypt Nile river facts or ancient Egypt maps for kids.

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