6. SCRIPTURES

Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs were a writing system invented by the ancient Egyptians. It was used from pre-dynastic times until the 4th century. The ancient Egyptians used three basic types of writing: hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic; the latter corresponds to the Late Period of Egypt.

The use of hieroglyphic writing arose from proto-literate symbol systems in the Early Bronze Age, around the 32nd century BC (Naqada III), with the first decipherable sentence written in the Egyptian language dating to the Second Dynasty (28th century BC). Egyptian hieroglyphs developed into a mature writing system used for monumental inscription in the classical language of the Middle Kingdom period; during this period, the system made use of about 900 distinct signs. The use of this writing system continued through the New Kingdom and Late Period, and on into the Persian and Ptolemaic periods. Late survivals of hieroglyphic use are found well into the Roman period, extending into the 4th century AD.