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Definition
Egyptian Hieroglyphs
The Egyptian hieroglyphic script was one of the writing systems used by ancient Egyptians to represent their language. Because of their pictorial elegance, Herodotus and other important Greeks believed that Egyptian hieroglyphs were something...
Image
Luwian Hieroglyphs in Hattusa
Luwian Hieroglyphs in Hattusa (the capital of the Hittite Empire) which adorned a chamber perhaps representing a symbolic entrance to the Underworld. The chamber was commissioned by Suppiluliuma II (1207–1178 BCE), the last of the famous...
Image
Shell Clappers with Luwian Hieroglyphs
These musical instruments were given to the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (reigned 858-824 BCE) by the king of Hamath (now Hama) in Syria. His name, Urhilina, appears in Luwian hieroglyphs on the underside of the right shell. The border was...
Video
Dr. Mark Van Stone - How Maya Hieroglyphs are written - Demonstration
Mark Van Stone explains how Maya hieroglyphs are constructed, by writing a modern name in phonetic glyphs. Dr. Van Stone is an expert decipherer and calligrapher; author of "2012 - Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya" and co-author of...
Definition
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is an incomplete grey and pink granodiorite stela dating from 196 BCE which presents a priestly decree concerning King Ptolemy V of Egypt. The text is in three different versions: Hieroglyphic, Demotic and Greek, a fact...
Definition
Ancient Egyptian Writing
Ancient Egyptian writing is known as hieroglyphics ('sacred carvings') and developed at some point prior to the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 -2613 BCE). According to some scholars, the concept of the written word was first developed in...
Lesson Pack
Egyptian Pyramids, Hieroglyphics, & Art
We have prepared three lesson plans including classroom activities, assignments, homework, and keys as well as: Multiple choice quiz questions in an excel format. Glossary of keywords and concepts in an excel format. Open questions...
Definition
Alphabet
The history of the alphabet started in ancient Egypt. By 2700 BCE Egyptian writing had a set of some 22 hieroglyphs to represent syllables that begin with a single consonant of their language, plus a vowel (or no vowel) to be supplied by...
Definition
The Ankh
The Ankh is one of the most recognizable symbols from ancient Egypt, known as "the key of life" or "cross of life" and dated to the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 - 2613 BCE). It is a cross with a loop at the top sometimes ornamented with...
Definition
Ancient Egyptian Culture
Ancient Egyptian culture flourished between c. 6000 BCE with the rise of technology (as evidenced in the glasswork of faience) and 30 BCE with the death of Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. It is famous today for the great...