272
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + − + Line 13:
Line 13: − + + + − === Decline, Loss and Rediscovery ===+ + + + + + + + + + Line 33:
Line 44: − + Line 66:
Line 77: − +
Added loss and modern rediscovery - will tidy later
[[Image:Hieroglyphs.jpg|thumb|right|Egyptian hieroglyphs on a Late Period [[sarcophagus]] at the [[British Museum]] in [[London]].]]
[[Image:Hieroglyphs.jpg|thumb|right|Egyptian hieroglyphs on a Late Period [[sarcophagus]] at the [[British Museum]] in [[London]].]]
'''Hieroglyphs''' are a form of [[writing]] developed in [[Ancient Egypt]], and was used to write the [[Egyptian language]]. Other cultures, most notably the [[Maya]] civilization also used hieroglyphic writing systems, though the Maya system was an entirely independent development, taking place several thousand years laterd, and was much more restricted in it's usage. Whilst Egyptian hieroglyphs were first deciphered in the 19th century by [[Jean Francois Champollion]], Maya hieroglyphs have only recently begun to be understood, and much work remains to be done.
'''Hieroglyphs''' are a form of [[writing]] developed in [[Ancient Egypt]], that was used to write the [[Egyptian language]]. Other cultures, most notably the [[Maya]] civilization also used similar writing systems, though Maya hieroglyphs were an entirely independent development, taking place several thousand years later, and wwere much more restricted in use. Whilst Egyptian hieroglyphs were first deciphered in the 19th century by [[Jean Francois Champollion]], Maya hieroglyphs have only recently begun to be understood, and much work remains to be done.
''Note: This article only deals with [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] Hieroglpyhs.''
''Note: This article only deals with [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] Hieroglpyhs.''
== Basic Concepts ==
== Basic Concepts ==
Contrary to popular belief, Egyptian hieroglyphs are notpictographic. Like the Latin and Greek alphabets, glyphs record the sounds that make up a word. Unlike these alphabets however, one sign can convey up to three consonants, whilst some words also feature an additional silent sign at the end as a determinative, that helps convey the meaning of the word, and avoiding confusion between words that would otherwise be spelt with exactly the same signs. This is especially important as, like in modern Arabic and Hebrew alphabets, vowels are not included in the text. Only consonants are recorded.
Contrary to popular belief, Egyptian hieroglyphs are '''not''' generally pictograms or logorams. Like the Latin and Greek alphabets, hieroglyphs are primarily phonograms. Unlike these alphabets however, one sign can convey up to three consonants, whilst some words also feature an additional silent sign at the end (a ''determinative'') that helps convey the meaning of the word, and avoid confusion between words that would otherwise be spelt with exactly the same signs. This is especially important as, like in modern Arabic and Hebrew alphabets, vowels are not included in the text. Only consonants are recorded.
== Development ==
== Development ==
=== Classical (Middle) Egyptian ===
=== Classical (Middle) Egyptian ===
=== Ptolemaic and Roman Era Developments ===
=== Ptolemaic Era and Cryptographic Inscriptions ===
During the Ptolemaic era the number of signs was increased dramatically, from around 800 to several thousand, many of which were ligatures of existing signs. The rise in the complexity co-incided with the rise of so-called cryptographic texts in temple inscriptions that aimed to deliberately obscure and challenge the reader. The reasons for this are unknown, and various reasons from xenophobia, cultural pride and nationalism (see also: [[Great Egyptian Revolt]]) to marginlisation and isolation of traditional religion and the rise of Hellenic and syncretic cults have all been suggested.
During the Ptolemaic era the number of signs was increased dramatically, from around 800 to several thousand, many of which were ligatures of existing signs. The rise in the complexity co-incided with the rise of so-called cryptographic texts in temple inscriptions that aimed to deliberately obscure and challenge the reader. The reasons for this are unknown, and various reasons from xenophobia, cultural pride and nationalism (see also: [[Great Egyptian Revolt]]) to marginlisation and isolation of traditional religion and the rise of Hellenic and syncretic cults have all been suggested.
=== Decline, Loss and Rediscovery ===
The Roman era sees the decline of the hieroglyphic system of writing. The last surviving knowledgeable and literate hieroglyphic inscription in ancient times dates from August 24th, 396 AD and was inscribed in the temple complex of Philae, five years after Theodosius I forced the closure of all non-Christian places of worship in Roman territory. The inscription, the Graffito of Esmet-Akhom is catalogued as Philae 436 ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkubecka/2093092240/ picture]).
The Roman era sees the decline of the hieroglyphic system of writing. The last surviving knowledgeable and literate hieroglyphic inscription in ancient times dates from August 24th, 396 AD and was inscribed in the temple complex of Philae, five years after Theodosius I forced the closure of all non-Christian places of worship in Roman territory. The inscription, the Graffito of Esmet-Akhom is catalogued as Philae 436 ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/mkubecka/2093092240/ picture]).
Even before this some Greco-Roman writers had written elaborate and wholly inaccurate works on the “mystical” or “symbolic” interpretations of the signs, and such works continued into the Islamic era. These works inadvertently frustrated attempts at translation into the modern era.
The French invasion of Egypt at the end of the 18th century focused European scholarly and academic attention on Egypt for the first time, and over the course of the next century led to more progress being made in regards knowledge of Egyptian history than had been done in the previous 1000 years. The discovery of the [[Rosetta Stone]] was recognised immediately by Napoleon’s savants as the “key” to correct interpretation of Egyptian hieroglyphs, having the same text recorded in Greek, which was already known, and in the Egyptian language in hieroglyphs and demotic, both of which were unknown.
The British captured the stone when French forces were defeated, but not before the French had taken copies, with which they returned to Paris. The British believed a method of mathematical deduction would eventually allow the text to be translated, given sufficient time. However, John Francois Champollion, a brilliant linguist familiar with 24 languages, realised both that hieroglyphs had to be phonogrammatic in nature, and also that translating the language was as important as the alphabet.
Champollion was familiar with the Coptic language, and he correctly realised that this was the final evolution of the Egyptian language written in hieroglyphs. By applying his knowledge of Coptic, Champollion successfully transliterated the first hieroglyphs and translated the first Egyptian words. His work, however, was constantly thwarted by the religious-political situation in [[France]] during the reign of [[Charles X]]. In return for part-funding mission to Egypt by the state to test his theories, he was forbidden to publish anything contravening the Biblical account of history. As such, many of his dairies, containing details of monuments and tombs pre-dating the supposed date of the “[[Great Flood]]” were only published after his death.
Despite this, his mission was sucessful. However, in recent times his reputation has been damaged due to the looting of artefacts undertaken during the mission, including cutting of scenes from tomb walls, even Royal tombs. It should be noted, however, that this was standard practice at the time, and Champollion was expected to return with treasures as a "return" on the "investment" the state made in his mission.
== Relationship with Hieratic and Demotic ==
== Relationship with Hieratic and Demotic ==
== Sign Usage ==
== Sign Usage ==
[[image:Jsesh-khufu001.jpg|center]]
[[image:Jsesh-khufu001.jpg|center]]
When tourists in Egypt often have their name spelt in hieroglyphs on jewellery or papyrus, it is commonly done with single consonant signs. Single consonant signs are also used in the first stage of teaching Egyptology students to read Egyptian texts, even if their ultimate aim is to learn one of the other scripts (hieratic or demotic).
When tourists in Egypt often have their name spelt in hieroglyphs on jewellery or papyrus, it is commonly done with monoliteral signs. These signs are also used in the first stage of teaching Egyptology students to read Egyptian texts, even if their ultimate aim is to learn one of the other scripts (hieratic or demotic).
== Transliteration and Electronic Reproduction ==
== Transliteration and Electronic Reproduction ==
[[Image:Jseshscreenshot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Application for digital rednering of hieroglyphs in documents and digital media have become more widespread in recent years. JSesh, pictured here running under WindowsXP, is a popular open source solution available for mutiple platforms]]
[[Image:Jseshscreenshot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Application for digital rendering of hieroglyphs in documents and digital media have become more widespread in recent years. JSesh, pictured here running under WindowsXP, is a popular open source solution available for multiple platforms]]
The 24 consonantal sounds represented by hieroglyphs can be transliterated into a Latin based alphabet. This alphabet is available as a font that can be added to a computer system for use in any modern word processing software, as well as in dedicated software for handling hieroglyphs.
The 24 consonantal sounds represented by hieroglyphs can be transliterated into a Latin based alphabet. This alphabet is available as a font that can be added to a computer system for use in any modern word processing software, as well as in dedicated software for handling hieroglyphs.