Hierático

Hierático refers to a cursive form of ancient Egyptian script derived from hieroglyphs. It emerged around the First Dynasty and was used primarily for religious and monumental texts. Over time, hieratic developed into a more simplified and flowing script, making it quicker to write than the more elaborate hieroglyphic system. This made it ideal for everyday use, such as writing on papyrus for administrative, literary, and personal documents.

The name "hieratic" itself comes from the Greek word "hieratikos," meaning "priestly." This reflects its widespread use by priests for religious texts and rituals. While it was derived from hieroglyphs, hieratic signs were not necessarily pictorial in appearance, and their meanings were often only understood by those familiar with the original hieroglyphic forms.

Hieratic script was written from right to left, typically in horizontal lines. It remained in use for over three millennia, evolving through different periods of Egyptian history. Eventually, it was largely superseded by the more simplified demotic script, which developed from hieratic in the Late Period, and later by Greek and Coptic scripts. Despite its eventual decline, hieratic played a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of ancient Egyptian knowledge and culture.