Why read Hieroglyphics?

Book cover of Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt

Book description

Both literal and highly lyrical, hieroglyphics bring alive a distant world, with descriptions of the natural environment, the art, the society, the religious beliefs, and even the philosophical basis of a culture that flourished 5,000 years ago. Presenting and explaining almost 600 of the figures used in the classic phase…

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Topics

Ancient Egypt

Genres

History

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Why read it?

1 author picked Hieroglyphics as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Melusine Draco

Author

I’ve always struggled with reading hieroglyphics but this handbook is the perfect explanation of what each of the 600 figures mean by tracing the origins and meanings of each sign, as well as its graphic stylization. For me, it was the first book to make the symbols ‘come alive’ and it’s been an invaluable desk companion over the years – having been written by a scholar and a language expert and provides a still-vivid snapshot of the gods, the people, and the every-day life of the ancient Egyptians. There is also a complete glossary, a bibliography, and an index, providing…

From Melusine's list on The best books for exploring Ancient Egyptian Magic.