The Egyptian hieroglyphic writing

The Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system consists of several hundred picture signs. The signs can be divided into two classes, phonograms and ideograms. Phonograms represent sounds, much as alphabet letters do. Ideograms are signs that represent whole words or concepts. The first hieroglyphs we know about appeared as early as 3100 BC and only the Sumerian language is believed to be older. Hieroglyph also had a variety of definitions of its own they were written in phonographs or ideograms. The Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphics to make a record of what their view of the universe was. It is believed that the hieroglyphic system of writing was brought to Egypt by invaders who came from the north-east. The word hieroglyphics is made up of two Greek words hieros which means sacred, and glyphe, which means carving. Ancient Egyptian writing used over 2,000 hieroglyphic characters. The hieroglyphics picture signs can be written from right to left; from left to right; or vertically, reading downwards. Hieroglyphs turned out to be a combination of picture-writing and sound-writing.

This knowledge that we have today is all due to the Rosetta Stone without her we can never translate the Hieroglyphics.



I'll be posting about the Rosetta stone soon.

Egypt announces new archaeological discovery in Luxor's Valley of Kings

Egypt announced Thursday 10/4/2008 the discovery of a quartzite Ushabti figure and the cartouche of King Seti I, second king of the 19th Dynasty (1314-1304 BC).They were found inside the corridor of the tomb of Seti I (KV 17) in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor's west bank, read more at http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/EgyptOnline/Culture/000001/0203000000000000000979.htm. Leave a Comment.

Giant Statue of Ancient Egypt Queen Found

I've just found out that this 31 of january 2008 on National Geograhpic Archaeologists have uncovered a pristinely preserved statue of a powerful Egyptian queen at the sprawling mortuary temple of Amenhotep III on Luxor's West Bank. You can read the entire story in http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080331-egypt-statue.html. leave a comment.

Burial chamber of the Old Kingdom's Middle class

i've just found that in national geographic this 18 of january 2008 Archaeologists have unsealed the intact burial chamber of an ancient Egyptian official, providing a rare glimpse into the burial customs of the Old Kingdom's middle class. you can read all about it in http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080118-egypt-tomb.html, leave your comment.