Hieroglyphics

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All through the ancient ruins in Egypt, small images are found in great numbers. They cover everything from the once hidden walls within the tombs of the pharaohs to the lustrous artifacts that were found there. They appear on the great columns of the many temples along the Nile River and upon the coffins of the departed. These intriguing forms are known as hieroglyphics.

Hieroglyphics is a form of picture writing invented by the Egyptians. Small images are used to represent letters, sounds or numbers. They were usually placed in columns which extended horizontally or vertically.

Hieroglyphic script was used in royal and religious texts. These were not only carved into stone tablets as permanent documents but appear on the walls of tombs and temples painted form or a bas-relief.

A scribe was someone hired to write personal or official letters and draw up legal documents. Sometimes they would write out poetry and literature for others to read for pleasure. They might also have the task of keeping lists or recording other things like progress reports.

This form of writing appeared on a variety of objects, including common, everyday items. Hieroglyphics were usually worked into the many paintings found within tombs and temples.

One of the most impressive examples of illustrations and hieroglyphics appears on coffins and throughout the walls of the burial chamber. They covered everything, including obelisks, columns, and most every entrance to a tomb or temple.

Another material used to write on was papyrus. This is a marsh plant found along the Nile River. The stems were stripped and cut into small pieces. These were then interlocked and then pounded until they fused together. The fibers were bound further with glue and often made into long scrolls. Beautiful paintings were done on papyrus as well.

The Egyptians loved to record everything from the simplest forms of pleasure to the great events in a pharaoh's life.

This was done through their many illustrations and hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics is a form of picture writing, while illustrations are pictures that tell a story.

Decorative motif borders were often added. A motif is a simple design that is repeated.

The English language uses 26 characters to write with. There are over 2,000 hieroglyphic signs. Most of these tiny images are of animals, people, plants and objects.

Some images represent particular sounds while others can stand for a letter, action, object, number or an idea.

For instance a simple drawing of a vase represents the heart. This is because the heart was removed from the dead and placed in a jar for safekeeping.

A cartouche is a sort of early day nametag. The name was encircled by a twisted rope, which has sometimes been modified.

This symbol meant "that which the sun encircles". When a pharaoh's name appears in a cartouche it signified that the world belonged to him.

Fallow the scarab to create your own cartouche.