Possibly the oldest writing system in the world – predating Sumerian cuneiform – Egyptian hieroglyphics have been dated back to 3,400 BC. The actual origins of hieroglyphics are a bit murky because there seems to be no written forerunner to their development, however the ancients believed that writing was a gift from the god, Thoth. They referred to their script as “God’s Words”. The complex, yet straightforward method of picture writing blended phonetic sounds and symbols into a very effective written language. 

 
Egyptian Hieroglyphics

The word hieroglyph means “sacred carvings” in Greek, which is appropriate for the elaborate language that covered the walls of ancient temples and palaces. When Napoleon’s army discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799, scientists were finally given the opportunity to read the long lost language of Egypt by translating it through ancient Greek.  The hieroglyphic language is made up of a few parts. Determinatives are pictures that represent a word, but have no corresponding phonetic sound. The phonetic aspect of the language in the forms of phonograms and ideograms are more common.

• An Overview of Hieroglyphs – A definition and description of its parts
• What are Hieroglyphics? – An introduction to hieroglyphics
• Hieroglyph Tutorial – All parts of the Hieroglyphic alphabet and a tutorial
• Hieroglyphic Images – Pictures of various hieroglyphic scripts
• Cracking the Code – How hieroglyphs were first deciphered

Phonograms

Phonograms are symbols or pictures representing a specific sound or combination of sounds. There is an alphabet of single sounds (uni-consonantal), as well as a list of symbols that represent two (bi-consonantal) or three (tri-consonantal) sound combinations. Personal names were usually made up of uni-consonantal symbols. Though pharaohs in the later kingdoms had elaborate names that often included a god’s name, the early pharaohs also used the uni-consonantal phonograms to spell their names.

• The Sounds and Alphabet – An interactive tutorial is available to learn the sounds of the alphabet
• The Alphabet – The alphabet, pronunciation, and symbols
• Hieroglyphic Translator – Write a message in hieroglyphic phonetic symbols!

Ideograms

An ideogram, also known as a logogram, represents an entire word. Ideograms can also serve as a phonogram. If the sign is intended to act as an ideogram, there is usually a vertical line underneath it. For example, the sign for the letter “n” becomes the sign for the word "water" when there is a vertical line written beneath it.

• Hieroglyphic Directory – Pictures and explanations of phonetic blends and words
• All About Egyptian Hieroglyphs – A detailed site with explanations and pictures
• Understanding Glyphs – An overview of hieroglyphics and how they were used

While everyday writing was done with the less intricate hieratic script, the elaborate images that are usually associated with Egypt’s hieroglyphic writing were only used for formal writing and are most prevalent on the walls of temples and tombs. The hieroglyphics were placed with artistic consideration and the direction in which the people and animals are looking will tell the reader if the symbols are to be read from the right or the left. Their heads will face the direction of the beginning point. The last recorded hieroglyphs have been dated to 396 AD. The art and language of hieroglyphic pictures and sounds faded into history when 4^th century order from the Roman emperor forced the closing of pagan temples. Fortunately, their rediscovery continues to ensure that the stories of Egypt’s past live on.