Write Your Own Egyptian Hieroglyphs

by Angela McDonald

The Egyptian hieroglyphic script is one of the most beautiful, fascinating, and expressive writing systems ever invented. In Ancient Egypt, only an elite few could read and write hieroglyphs, but now you too can recognize and write a selection of names, titles, descriptions, sayings, greetings--even insults For the ancient Egyptians, nothing could exist without a name--names held the spark of life. In this colorful illustrated guide, Angela McDonald explains how the Egyptians composed names for the elements of their world and along the way opens a fascinating window on their ancient culture--their gods, enemies, animals, and more. With practical guides and a lively, informative text, she shows how to create many charming and useful phrases in hieroglyphs for yourself, your friends, your pets--even your house. There are step-by-step tips on how to draw some of the trickier signs and a collection of genuine Egyptian phrases--greetings, laments, and insults--for use in your own compositions. In the words of one Egyptian papyrus, "By day write with your fingers, recite by night. Befriend the scroll and the palette--it's more fulfilling than wine "
"Copub: British Museum Press "

Genres: Nonfiction, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2007

Reviews

[Elika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and fun to read and you learn so much more about ancient Egyptian culture than just writing your name in Hieroglyphics! I read this on my trip to Egypt and found it providing a useful insight into some of the ancient landmarks, tombs and monuments I visited. Definitely recommended!

[Lingwijournal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really-really fun book to journey into the world of Egyptian Hieroglyphs. <3

[SmokingMirror · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of curiosities of Egyptian writing: nicknames, names of obscure meaning, sayings and proverbs, ib words relating to emotions and qualities, traits of divinities, mnemonics for reading determinatives, etc. Includes a few reproductions of funeral steles, including one I love, that of Neferhotep the harpist, whose stele in Abydos was sponsored by his friends, depicting him naturalistically rather than the usual idealized portrait. Their tribute to him is unusual and touching. Recommended for all ages of Egypt lovers and all but the more advanced levels of hieroglyph readers (because they doubtless would already know the interesting trivia and have on hand the texts used in examples.)

[Jonathan Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and easy to assimilate book on Egyptian Hieroglyphics.