Ancient Egypt is often associated with hieroglyphic writing, so much so that one, be it limitative way to define Egyptology would be the study of these intriguing signs carved or painted on the walls of temples and tombs, on statues, boxes ...

In this section, we will not only see that the writings of the Ancient Egyptians consisted of more than mere hieroglyphs, we will also learn how to read and understand hieroglyphic writing. This section is divided into the following chapters:

• Different types of writing
• Where does one start reading?
• Disposition of the signs
• Idea-signs or ideograms
• Uniliteral signs
• Biliteral signs
• Triliteral signs
• Phonetic complements
• Combining signs
• Ptolemaic writing
• Magic and writing

Learning the language of the Ancient Egyptians obviously is more than "just" the written language: knowledge of the basic grammar will enhance the understanding of the many texts the Ancient Egyptians left for posterity.

- Overview -

One of the two cartouches of Ramesses II in the Great Hypostyle Hall of the temple of Amun at Karnak.