Hieratisch

Hieratic is a cursive script derived from Egyptian hieroglyphs. It emerged during the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt, around the 3rd millennium BCE, and was used primarily for religious texts and literature. Hieratic is essentially a simplified and more quickly written form of hieroglyphic writing, designed for use on papyrus and ostraca. While hieroglyphs were often carved into stone for monumental inscriptions, hieratic was the script of choice for everyday administrative, religious, and literary documents.

The structure of hieratic characters generally follows that of hieroglyphs, but with many ligatures and abbreviations. Individual signs were often simplified or altered to facilitate rapid writing with a reed brush. Over time, hieratic developed distinct styles, with variations appearing in different regions and periods of Egyptian history. It remained in common use for over two millennia, gradually being supplanted by the more cursive demotic script from the 7th century BCE onwards, and eventually by Greek and Coptic scripts. Despite its decline, hieratic continued to be used for certain religious purposes for a time. Understanding hieratic is crucial for deciphering many important ancient Egyptian texts.