Archaeology is one of the most interesting subjects that tie us to our past. We study past patterns with the help of clues left behind by people who walked on this land before us. However, one of the most intriguing civilizations, the Egyptian civilization, was way ahead of its time, and even now we keep learning unbelievable facts about the people who worshipped cats and were advanced at mummification.

Fancied Facts | Ancient Egyptians bore a strange obsession with cats and even considered them holy

We can sneak a peek into the past through various means like the existence of the great pyramids, the relics, tombs, the brilliantly preserved mummies, and the sacred hieroglyphs. Hieroglyph is a Greek word that translates to sacred carvings. They served as characters for the ancient Egyptians to write messages across the walls or on the stones.

Here we are looking at some interesting facts regarding Hieroglyphic writing.

1. More than Just Photos

Many of us are generally under the impression that hieroglyphics are picture writings when in reality it is a language on its own. Despite the carving blatantly paint out a scenario, they are referred to as characters rather than pictures that are depicting a scene.

2. It’s an Elite thing

In every society, whether modern or age-old, there is a social construct where there are certain people who are on the top, and then they are followed by the rest of the society. These elites get the best of everything and the same was the case with ancient Egyptians. Professor at the University of Chicago’s oriental institute, Peter F. Dorman talks about how the earliest hieroglyphic writing is mainly found in the graves or the tombs of the elites like priests, kings, and nobles.

Teahub | Only the rich and noble could get hieroglyphics carved on their tombs

3. Began Fading out Quickly

Historian James P. Allen wrote in his book Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs that we usually think that everyone in the Ancient Egyptian civilization knew and understood the hieroglyphic writing when in fact, in the late stages of the ancient civilization, the language began fading out on its own and it was only the priests who understood it.

4. Still Not Easy to Decode

Despite having invested years and years’ worth of study and research, there is no guarantee that we’ve decoded the hieroglyphic writing. Shocking, isn’t it? Experts believe that they’ve only scratched the surface of what happens to be an intricate and complex language.

Getty Images | There is still so much that is to be discovered like the pronunciation, the grammar, and the punctuation

Wrapping It Up

There you have it, some facts about a language that is still in the process of being discovered. Experts have studied this hieroglyphic writing for years in order to comprehend the messages written and even now, they continue to attempt to create the link of communication between us and the Egyptians who lived 4000 years ago.