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Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated: A Formal Writing System Used in Ancient Egypt
Presented in a high-quality Chinese-bound format with accompanying artwork, Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated provides a compact, easy-to-understand introduction to the writing system of Ancient Egypt.
The Ancient Egyptians used a hieroglyphic writing system that still resonates today. These hieroglyphics were discovered by adventurers and archeologists in temples and tombs and on papyrus documents, telling of the everyday life, religion, and history of this 5,000-year-old civilization. In Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated , explore the logograms for popular concepts such as “sun,” “house,” and “mountain,” as well as more complex ideas such as Ajet, or “sun rising over mountains”; marvel at Tutankhamun’s full name as marked on his tomb, which is portrayed using a reed, a wave of water, a falcon, an ankh symbol, and a series of staffs; learn about the two outstretched arms of the Ka symbol, which represents the mortal life and soul of a person; and wonder at the Ouroboros, a symbol that shows a snake-like animal that swallows its own tail, representing eternal struggle. Each of more than 150 entries includes a description of the written form and an explanation of its meaning.
The Ancient Egyptians used a hieroglyphic writing system that still resonates today. These hieroglyphics were discovered by adventurers and archeologists in temples and tombs and on papyrus documents, telling of the everyday life, religion, and history of this 5,000-year-old civilization. In Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated , explore the logograms for popular concepts such as “sun,” “house,” and “mountain,” as well as more complex ideas such as Ajet, or “sun rising over mountains”; marvel at Tutankhamun’s full name as marked on his tomb, which is portrayed using a reed, a wave of water, a falcon, an ankh symbol, and a series of staffs; learn about the two outstretched arms of the Ka symbol, which represents the mortal life and soul of a person; and wonder at the Ouroboros, a symbol that shows a snake-like animal that swallows its own tail, representing eternal struggle. Each of more than 150 entries includes a description of the written form and an explanation of its meaning.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 14, 2023
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37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 21, 2023
A Wealth of Information
Trevor Naylor describes Hieroglyphs as an formal writing system used in ancient Egypt. He provides information on the history of the language, stating that the first early writings, referred as Old Egyptian, date to the period that ended in c. 2240 BC. and was mostly linked to recording royal and religious history, and included much of the era known as the Old Kingdom. He, further, states that the second period of language development, Middle or Classical Egyptian, lasted until c. 1990 BC. and this language had
by then achieved a sophisticated and consistent voice, which is why this is opened the period of hieroglyphs used for study.
He provides illustrations of and discusses many of the symbols and their meaning. He , also, discusses Royal Cartouches, who they were, and names a few, such as:
1. Tutankhamun
2. Nefertari
3. Rameses the Great
4. Alexander the Great (III)
5. Cleopatra VII
I enjoyed reading this book, especially, the section on Gods and Myths. In this section, the author states that there are a number of hieroglyphs connected to gods and their mythology is large. He discusses deities to Egyptians,
and symbols from the complex world of myth that evolved over more than 5000 years. Some of such symbols and their meaning are:
1. The Eye of Horus
2. The Eye of Ra
3. Osiris
4. The Ankh
5. The Tyet
6. The Scarab (Dung) Beetle, and many others.
This is a fascinating book of Egyptian knowledge dealing with hieroglyphs, and I highly recommend it for anyone desiring to expand their knowledge of ancient beliefs and culture.
Trevor Naylor describes Hieroglyphs as an formal writing system used in ancient Egypt. He provides information on the history of the language, stating that the first early writings, referred as Old Egyptian, date to the period that ended in c. 2240 BC. and was mostly linked to recording royal and religious history, and included much of the era known as the Old Kingdom. He, further, states that the second period of language development, Middle or Classical Egyptian, lasted until c. 1990 BC. and this language had
by then achieved a sophisticated and consistent voice, which is why this is opened the period of hieroglyphs used for study.
He provides illustrations of and discusses many of the symbols and their meaning. He , also, discusses Royal Cartouches, who they were, and names a few, such as:
1. Tutankhamun
2. Nefertari
3. Rameses the Great
4. Alexander the Great (III)
5. Cleopatra VII
I enjoyed reading this book, especially, the section on Gods and Myths. In this section, the author states that there are a number of hieroglyphs connected to gods and their mythology is large. He discusses deities to Egyptians,
and symbols from the complex world of myth that evolved over more than 5000 years. Some of such symbols and their meaning are:
1. The Eye of Horus
2. The Eye of Ra
3. Osiris
4. The Ankh
5. The Tyet
6. The Scarab (Dung) Beetle, and many others.
This is a fascinating book of Egyptian knowledge dealing with hieroglyphs, and I highly recommend it for anyone desiring to expand their knowledge of ancient beliefs and culture.
September 30, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated is an interesting illustrated collection of line drawn hieroglyphs with explanations curated and written by Trevor Naylor. Released 14th Sept 2023 by Amber Books, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover format. North American release is due out in early Nov, 2023.
The hieroglyphs are arranged in thematic chapters: A general introduction with history, life & land, religion & ritual, pharaohs & power, royal cartouches, gods & myths, the afterlife, key discoveries, and a chapter with facsimiles of contemporary letters.
The book is well illustrated throughout, with many colour photos and facsimiles of historical documents, illustrations, and buildings. The author writes accessibly and knowledgeably about the subject. The actual hieroglyph illustrations are simple and line drawn and would be fun to use as a study guide for learning and copying.
Five stars. Very interesting. It would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, and home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated is an interesting illustrated collection of line drawn hieroglyphs with explanations curated and written by Trevor Naylor. Released 14th Sept 2023 by Amber Books, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover format. North American release is due out in early Nov, 2023.
The hieroglyphs are arranged in thematic chapters: A general introduction with history, life & land, religion & ritual, pharaohs & power, royal cartouches, gods & myths, the afterlife, key discoveries, and a chapter with facsimiles of contemporary letters.
The book is well illustrated throughout, with many colour photos and facsimiles of historical documents, illustrations, and buildings. The author writes accessibly and knowledgeably about the subject. The actual hieroglyph illustrations are simple and line drawn and would be fun to use as a study guide for learning and copying.
Five stars. Very interesting. It would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, and home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
September 30, 2023
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated by Trevor Naylor is an excellent introduction to the topic that will likely appeal to a wide range of readers.
While I find this a very interesting topic, I also have to admit my ignorance of much detail. My experience has largely been restricted to sidebars to ancient history rather than analyzing the language and/or texts (used broadly). So as someone with little specific knowledge in the area this was a wonderful way to begin to understand the development and uses of hieroglyphs. I think even those with more knowledge, but not full-time scholars in the area, will be rewarded with what is offered here. While much is new to me, I can see it serving as a quick and easy reference for a hobbyist or someone studying a topic to which this is peripheral but helpful.
This is one of those books that can be read straight through or read in bits and pieces. The less you know, such as myself, I think you'll benefit from reading through it completely first, then dipping back in for things that piqued your interest. If you have a decent foundation in the material, you may prefer to pick and choose what you read, though eventually working through it all should still be rewarding.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
While I find this a very interesting topic, I also have to admit my ignorance of much detail. My experience has largely been restricted to sidebars to ancient history rather than analyzing the language and/or texts (used broadly). So as someone with little specific knowledge in the area this was a wonderful way to begin to understand the development and uses of hieroglyphs. I think even those with more knowledge, but not full-time scholars in the area, will be rewarded with what is offered here. While much is new to me, I can see it serving as a quick and easy reference for a hobbyist or someone studying a topic to which this is peripheral but helpful.
This is one of those books that can be read straight through or read in bits and pieces. The less you know, such as myself, I think you'll benefit from reading through it completely first, then dipping back in for things that piqued your interest. If you have a decent foundation in the material, you may prefer to pick and choose what you read, though eventually working through it all should still be rewarding.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 27, 2023
Trevor Naylor’s Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated is a great expansion on beginning texts about hieroglyphs. Usually beginner guides just cover the hieroglyph equivalent of the romanized alphabet, but Naylor gives us more depth and range by discussing first the symbol (ie bee, it’s role and importance in Ancient Egypt) and then it’s meaning in Ancient Egyptian (representing both bee and honey, and the symbol of king of Lower Egypt). Naylor has a nice breakdown of chapters of where/what context hieroglyphs were used, covering everything from the everyday to royal names, to the all important afterlife. There are some really nice illustrations and photos which helped since hieroglyphs are complex.
My only nitpicks are that during his discussion of pharaoh names, that he actually break the hieroglyphs in the name down. We get the Horus name and birth name, but I actually wanted to read more about how each hieroglyph combines to make their name,
The other small issue was I wish it had a nice conclusion section. It ends so abruptly and left me wanting more!
Overall this book would be a fantastic addition for anyone interested in dipping their toes further into reading and understanding hieroglyphs better. Thank you NetGalley and @amberbooks for the ARC!
My only nitpicks are that during his discussion of pharaoh names, that he actually break the hieroglyphs in the name down. We get the Horus name and birth name, but I actually wanted to read more about how each hieroglyph combines to make their name,
The other small issue was I wish it had a nice conclusion section. It ends so abruptly and left me wanting more!
Overall this book would be a fantastic addition for anyone interested in dipping their toes further into reading and understanding hieroglyphs better. Thank you NetGalley and @amberbooks for the ARC!
September 30, 2023
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated by Trevor Naylor is a book that shows a short selection of hieroglyphs. The book is divided by subject, such as hieroglyphs that are connected to daily life or to religion. This book also includes a short introduction, which goes over the discovery of how to read hieroglyphs and how our knowledge has changed over the years.
I found this book to be a very good introduction to learning hieroglyphics. Each entry shows a drawing of a hieroglyph, the significance of the symbol, and the meaning of the hieroglyph. Many of the entries also include a picture of the hieroglyph in real life. This allows for very easy understanding. I especially appreciate the addition of the significance of the symbol, because it allows the reader to learn a snapshot of Ancient Egyptian life.
I wish the book had been longer and that there had been more real life photos of the hieroglyphs, especially since some of the descriptions mention how the hieroglyphs are used to make different words but does not show that.
I would recommend this book to people who are interested in learning hieroglyphs but are overwhelmed by it.
Thank you to Amber House for this ARC on NetGalley.
I found this book to be a very good introduction to learning hieroglyphics. Each entry shows a drawing of a hieroglyph, the significance of the symbol, and the meaning of the hieroglyph. Many of the entries also include a picture of the hieroglyph in real life. This allows for very easy understanding. I especially appreciate the addition of the significance of the symbol, because it allows the reader to learn a snapshot of Ancient Egyptian life.
I wish the book had been longer and that there had been more real life photos of the hieroglyphs, especially since some of the descriptions mention how the hieroglyphs are used to make different words but does not show that.
I would recommend this book to people who are interested in learning hieroglyphs but are overwhelmed by it.
Thank you to Amber House for this ARC on NetGalley.
September 14, 2023
*4.5 stars*
Clear, concise, informative…
From the illustrations to the text, I found this highly readable and very informative. I’ve read a few books on hieroglyphs over the years and this one was one of the better ones. How it was laid out – from format to groupings – invited you to read and learn as you went. The background given for each hieroglyph was interesting and had great detail with the language geared for anyone, not just an expert or scholar on the subject.
I would love more – an encyclopedia really – laid out in just this way, including any and all symbols. Having interpretations of statues and monuments – actually working through the hieroglyphs and their translation – would be icing on the cake.
I read the e-book version which I think may not have given the illustrations justice so will be looking for a print copy…
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you Amber Books & NetGalley
Clear, concise, informative…
From the illustrations to the text, I found this highly readable and very informative. I’ve read a few books on hieroglyphs over the years and this one was one of the better ones. How it was laid out – from format to groupings – invited you to read and learn as you went. The background given for each hieroglyph was interesting and had great detail with the language geared for anyone, not just an expert or scholar on the subject.
I would love more – an encyclopedia really – laid out in just this way, including any and all symbols. Having interpretations of statues and monuments – actually working through the hieroglyphs and their translation – would be icing on the cake.
I read the e-book version which I think may not have given the illustrations justice so will be looking for a print copy…
*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you Amber Books & NetGalley
August 28, 2023
For any Egyptophile, this is a must. Hieroglyphs are explained, illustrated, and combined with historic photos and context to create a book that is an amateur archaeologist or Egyptologist's dream. This book will lead you to further research!
September 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! There was a lot of great information, and the symbols were well defined, with a lot of historical data shared.
This is one that I am going to need to add into my regular library - as it would be helpful to share with students as we work through Egyptian history.
This is one that I am going to need to add into my regular library - as it would be helpful to share with students as we work through Egyptian history.
September 18, 2023
I thought this was fantastic. It is a simplified index, detailing each symbol and their meaning, with some real world examples as well. Truly fascinating. I loved it.
*Temporary Access to e-copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Temporary Access to e-copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2023
I found the Hyerogliphs fascinating and wanted to learn to read them. This is a good introduction to how they work and there's plenty of beautiful pictures
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 9, 2023
If you have been looking for an easy to read introduction to hieroglyphs and ancient Egyptian history, then "Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated" by Trevor Naylor is just the book for you. Essentially, this book introduces a number of easy to understand hieroglyphs while explaining ancient Egyptian culture, history, religion, mythology, etc. The many photographs both enhance the explanations and inspire the imagination.
I recommend this book for anyone who finds this topic interesting. In particular, it might be a good starting point for someone preparing to visit Egypt as a tourist hoping to enhance their visit.
I thank Amber Books and Trevor Naylor for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
I recommend this book for anyone who finds this topic interesting. In particular, it might be a good starting point for someone preparing to visit Egypt as a tourist hoping to enhance their visit.
I thank Amber Books and Trevor Naylor for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
December 9, 2023
What a fantastic read! I love Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated as an Egyptomaniac, as an artist, and as a communicator. Trevor Naylor explains and illustrates how the complicated hieroglyphs integrated into the Egyptians’ world and how it has been carried forward to today. Symbolism and logograms have always fascinated me, how we distill large concepts into simple, easy-to-communicate forms and the Egyptians give us a master class in visual (rather than text) communication. Graphic languages is an interesting topic in and of itself, add ancient Egypt and I’m sold. If Egypt, graphic design, or languages interest you, this is one to read! Highly recommended and five out of five on the enJOYment scale.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Amber Books Lyd through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Amber Books Lyd through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews