Ancient History of the Hieroglyphics
Ancient History of the Hieroglyphics
Have you every wondered where all writing began ? Have you often thought of the secrets about life that ancient civilizations took to their graves with them ? If so, you should be very interested in learning about an ancient writing technique called hieroglyphics, which many scientists believe is the origin of all writing (Bolia 2).
Hieroglyphics are not only one of the oldest recorded languages, but it also has a documented history longer by far than that of any other. Hieroglyphics were first written down towards the end of the fourth millennium BC, and thereafter remained in continuous recorded use down to about the eleventh century AD, a period of over 4,000 years (Reagal 6).
There are many misconceptions about where that hieroglyphics were first invented. Many people feel that because of the name, Egyptian hieroglyphics, that the system of writing was invented in Egypt (“Hieroglyphics” 237). However, it is hardly probable that the hieroglyphic system of writing was invented in Egypt (Bolia 1). Most evidence supports the theory that certain invaders who came from northeast or central Asia brought the system of writing into Egypt.
Hieroglyphics were written by cutting pictures and symbols, which stood for words into stone, wood, and other materials. They were carved with marvelous accuracy, and they varied at depths of anywhere from one to three inches deep. Sometimes hieroglyphics were written on a special kind of paper called papyrus, which was formed from reed stems which had to be flattened, dried, and stuck together to make pages. After the pictures and symbols were carved they were usually colored. Generally, celestial objects were colored blue, along with metal vessels and instruments. As for the carvings of animals, birds, and reptiles, they were painted as far as possible to represent their natural colors. The hieroglyphics of ancient men were generally painted red, and the women were painted yellow ( Katan 42). The system consists of several hundred picture signs which can be divided into two classes, phonograms and ideograms (Katan 12).
Phonograms are signs used to write the sounds of the Egyptian language. The particular sound value of a sign was usually obtained from the Egyptian name for the object represented. Since the Egyptians did not normally write the vowels, only the consonantal “skeleton” of a word is given (Katan 47)....