Hieroglüüfide

Hieroglüüfide, meaning "sacred carvings" in Greek, refers to the formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians. It combined logographic, syllabic, and alphabetic elements in a system that contained over 1,000 distinct characters. These intricate symbols were used for religious texts, monumental inscriptions, and official records. The direction of reading could vary, often indicated by the direction the figures faced. While often associated with elaborate tomb paintings and temple walls, hieroglyphs also appeared on papyrus, ostraca, and other portable objects.

The decipherment of hieroglyphs was a monumental task, famously achieved by Jean-François Champollion in the 1820s with the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. This trilingual inscription, featuring the same text in hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and ancient Greek, provided the key to understanding the ancient Egyptian language and its writing system. Hieroglyphic writing ceased to be used around the 4th century AD, replaced by other scripts and the rise of Christianity in Egypt. The study of hieroglyphs remains central to Egyptology, offering invaluable insights into ancient Egyptian culture, religion, and history.